Best UV Index Apps and Websites to Check Before You Go Outside

Most people check the weather before they go outside. But temperature does not tell you how quickly you might burn. That is why the UV index matters.

The UV index shows how strong the sun's ultraviolet radiation is. The higher the number, the faster your skin can burn. A cool day can still have high UV. A cloudy day can still damage your skin. And if you are travelling somewhere tropical, the sun may be much stronger than you are used to.

A good UV tracker helps you answer simple questions:

• How strong is the sun right now?
• When will UV peak today?
• Do I need sunscreen?
• How long can I stay outside before I burn?
• Is tomorrow safer than today?

There are lots of UV index apps and websites, but they are not all the same. Some are big weather websites. Some are public-health tools. Some are simple UV apps. Some are full of ads. Some are cleaner and more focused.

Here are the biggest UV index trackers people are likely to find in search, and what each one is actually good for.

Quick Comparison: Best UV Trackers

Ad status can change depending on country, device, cookie settings and app version, so treat this as a practical guide rather than a permanent guarantee.

1. Daily UV Tracker

Daily UV Tracker is built for people who want to understand the sun, not just check the weather.

Instead of hiding UV inside a full weather forecast, Daily UV Tracker puts UV first. You can check the live UV index, see forecasted UV levels, understand your sunburn risk and get practical SPF guidance for destinations around the world.

It is especially useful for holidays, beach days, surfing, hiking, outdoor workouts, school trips and everyday sun safety.

The biggest difference is that Daily UV Tracker does not just show you a number. It helps you understand what that number means. A UV index of 3, 6 or 10 can mean very different things depending on your skin type, the time of day and how long you plan to stay outside. Try the burn time calculator to see how quickly your skin might burn at today's UV level.

Best for: checking live UV, burn time, SPF guidance, skin-type risk and destination-level UV forecasts. Ads: No obvious display ads at the time of review. Weakness: Daily UV Tracker is newer than huge weather brands like AccuWeather, Weather.com and The Weather Network, so it is still building search authority.

2. The Weather Network

The Weather Network is one of the most familiar places to check local weather, and it also includes useful UV information. Its UV pages usually show the current UV index, the day's maximum UV level and a short UV forecast. That makes it a good option if you want a quick local check before going outside.

The main benefit is trust. People already know The Weather Network, so it feels familiar and reliable. The downside is that UV is still part of a wider weather experience. It gives you the number, but it does not always explain what that number means for your skin, your sunscreen or your time outside.

Best for: quick local UV checks from a familiar weather brand. Ads: Yes, the standard experience may include ads, although ad-free options may be available. Weakness: Useful for UV data, but not as strong for burn-time guidance or personalised sun-safety advice.

3. Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is a strong option if you want more detail throughout the day. Its UV pages often include hourly UV levels, daily peaks, sunshine hours, sunrise and sunset times, and multi-day forecasts. That makes it helpful if you are planning when to walk, run, swim or spend time outdoors.

It is also useful for international users because Weather & Radar works across many countries and languages. The downside is that it still feels like a weather website first. The UV data is helpful, but the experience is not always built around the real-life question most people have: "When am I most likely to burn?"

Best for: hourly UV forecasts and international weather coverage. Ads: Yes, ads may appear. Ad-free options may be available. Weakness: Strong data, but less focused on skin type, burn time and practical sunscreen planning.

4. WillyWeather

WillyWeather is one of the stronger UV-specific websites, especially in countries such as Australia, the United States and the UK. Unlike many general weather platforms, WillyWeather has pages that are clearly built around UV. It often shows detailed UV charts, local UV levels and forecast patterns throughout the day.

That makes it useful for people who want more than a simple "low, moderate or high" UV rating. The downside is that it can feel more technical than friendly. If you just want a simple answer like "Do I need sunscreen now?" the charts may be more detail than you need.

Best for: detailed UV charts and location-specific UV forecasts. Ads: Yes, WillyWeather uses advertising. Weakness: Useful, but not always the cleanest or easiest experience for casual users.

5. AccuWeather

AccuWeather is one of the biggest weather brands in the world. It includes UV index information inside its broader weather forecasts, alongside temperature, humidity, wind, cloud cover and rain risk. If you already use AccuWeather, it can be a convenient way to check UV without opening another tool.

The benefit is coverage. AccuWeather has forecasts for a huge number of places and is already trusted by many users. The weakness is that UV is not the main focus. You may have to scroll through a full weather page to find it. For people who care specifically about sunburn risk, sunscreen timing or safe time outdoors, it can feel less direct.

Best for: checking UV as part of a general weather forecast. Ads: Yes, AccuWeather includes advertising. Weakness: UV is useful but secondary.

6. Weather.com / The Weather Channel

Weather.com is another major weather platform that many people already use. It usually includes UV index information as part of its city and hourly forecasts. This is helpful if you want one place to check temperature, rain, wind and UV together.

The benefit is familiarity. Weather.com is widely used and easy to access. The downside is that it is not a dedicated UV tracker. The site is built for everything weather-related, so UV can get buried among radar, storms, humidity, air quality and general forecast information. For a quick weather check, it works. For sunburn planning, it may not be specific enough.

Best for: general weather checks with UV included. Ads: Yes, Weather.com includes advertising. Weakness: Not UV-first, and the experience can feel busy.

7. Tutiempo

Tutiempo is a weather and climate website that also provides UV index forecasts for many locations. It is useful if you want straightforward UV data, including hourly values and daily maximums. It is more of a data tool than a modern lifestyle app.

The benefit is that it covers many places and gives practical UV information without needing much explanation. The downside is the experience. Compared with newer UV apps and websites, the design can feel dated. You get the numbers, but not always the clearest advice on what to do with them.

Best for: simple UV data by location. Ads: Yes, Tutiempo uses advertising. Weakness: Functional, but not especially modern or beginner-friendly.

8. National Weather Services

Official weather services can be some of the most trustworthy sources for UV information. These include national meteorological offices, government weather agencies and public weather services. They often provide UV maps, official forecasts, warnings and sun-safety guidance.

The biggest benefit is trust. These organisations are usually highly reliable and may even provide data used by other weather platforms. The downside is that they are often limited to one country. If you are travelling, you may need to use a different official website for each destination. Some official websites can also feel technical or harder to use on mobile.

Best for: official UV forecasts and public weather information. Ads: Usually no or mixed, depending on the organisation. Weakness: Trusted, but often country-specific and less user-friendly.

9. SunSmart, WHO and Cancer Council Tools

SunSmart, WHO-backed resources and Cancer Council tools are built around health and sun protection. These tools are especially useful for understanding when sun protection is needed. They are designed to help reduce sun damage and skin cancer risk, rather than simply show another weather number.

This makes them great for families, schools, outdoor workers and anyone who wants reliable sun-safety advice. The downside is that these tools are often app-focused or public-health focused. They may not be as useful for searching thousands of destinations around the world.

Best for: sun-safety education and health-led UV advice. Ads: Usually no obvious commercial ads. Weakness: Strong for health guidance, but not always ideal for travel or global location searches.

10. CurrentUVIndex.com

CurrentUVIndex.com is a simple UV tracker focused on showing current UV levels. Its biggest strength is simplicity. The site is clearly about UV, so users do not have to dig through a full weather forecast to find what they came for.

It can be useful if you just want to know the current UV index quickly. The weakness is that it feels more limited than larger weather platforms and newer UV-first tools. It may not offer the same level of travel coverage, burn-time estimates, skin-type guidance or SPF advice.

Best for: quick current UV checks. Ads: No clear ad status. This may vary by location and device. Weakness: Simple, but limited.

11. UVLens, Sun Tracker and UV Index Widget

UVLens, Sun Tracker and UV Index Widget are app-focused UV trackers. They are useful if you want UV information on your phone, smartwatch or home screen. Many include features such as UV alerts, peak UV forecasts, sunscreen reminders, widgets and personal sun-exposure settings.

The biggest benefit is convenience. You do not always need to search online. The information can sit directly on your phone. The downside is that apps are not always the best option for travel research. If you are planning a trip and searching for something like "UV index in Bali today" or "UV index in Sydney this week," a website can be easier to find, open and share.

Best for: mobile widgets, reminders and daily UV alerts. Ads: Mixed. Some apps may be ad-free, some may include ads, and some may use paid upgrades or subscriptions. Weakness: Convenient on mobile, but less useful for search-led travel planning.

Which UV Tracker Should You Use?

The best UV tracker depends on what you care about.

• If you want a general weather forecast with UV included, use AccuWeather, Weather.com or The Weather Network.
• If you want detailed UV charts, try WillyWeather, Weather & Radar or Tutiempo.
• If you want official public-health guidance, use SunSmart, Cancer Council tools or your national weather service.
• If you want a simple UV-first experience with burn time, SPF guidance, skin-type risk and destination-level forecasts, use Daily UV Tracker.

Why UV Matters More Than Temperature

One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming that hot weather means dangerous sun, and cool weather means safe sun. That is not how UV works.

You can burn on a cool day. You can burn when it is cloudy. You can burn while skiing, hiking, swimming or sitting outside for lunch.

UV is strongest around the middle of the day, but the exact risk depends on your location, altitude, season, cloud cover and skin type. That is why checking the UV index is more useful than simply checking whether it is sunny. If you want to understand this better, read our guide on how altitude and cloud cover impact UV.

Final Thought

A weather forecast tells you what the day feels like. A UV tracker tells you how careful you need to be in the sun.

Before you go to the beach, take the kids outside, go for a run, sit by the pool or travel somewhere sunny, check the UV index first. It only takes a few seconds, and it can help you avoid a painful burn later.

Check the UV — not just the temperature.