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Weather · head to head

1Weather vs PurpleAir

1Weather logo

1Weather

Weather

Beautiful award-winning weather app design

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PurpleAir logo

PurpleAir

Weather

Real-time air quality monitoring for communities

From
$229/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only 1Weather has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 1Weather free version includes banner ads, creating visual clutter in weather interface; PurpleAir purpleAir sensors are one-time hardware purchases rather than a subscription, priced $199 to $279 USD per unit for named models (PA-I-Indoor, PA-II, PA-II-SD), per the vendor's own store (archived, 2021).
  • They diverge on capability: 1Weather covers Animated backgrounds, PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 1Weather and PurpleAir actually diverge.

Attributes where 1Weather and PurpleAir differ
Attribute1WeatherPurpleAir
Starting priceFree$229/one-time
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsAndroid, iOSWeb, Api, Hardware
Founded20112015

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Weather).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 1Weather

  • Animated backgrounds
  • 12-day forecasts
  • Customizable widgets
  • Radar maps
  • Severe alerts
  • Android widgets
  • Wear OS
  • Android support

Only in PurpleAir

  • PM2.5 monitoring
  • Real-time map
  • Historical data
  • Community network
  • API access
  • API access
  • Home Assistant
  • Data downloads

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

1Weather

  • Checking current conditions and 24-hour forecastsnot PurpleAir
  • Live radar and severe weather warningsnot PurpleAir
  • Tracking air quality index and pollen levels (premium)not PurpleAir
  • Minute-by-minute precipitation tracking (premium)not PurpleAir
  • Sun/moon tracking and home-screen weather widgetsnot PurpleAir

PurpleAir

  • Professional Worknot 1Weather
  • Content Creationnot 1Weather

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

1Weather

  • Free version includes banner ads, creating visual clutter in weather interface
  • Smaller global weather data coverage compared to AccuWeather and Apple Weather integration
  • Limited offline functionality compared to competitors with cached forecast systems

PurpleAir

  • PurpleAir sensors are one-time hardware purchases rather than a subscription, priced $199 to $279 USD per unit for named models (PA-I-Indoor, PA-II, PA-II-SD), per the vendor's own store (archived, 2021).

Pricing, plan by plan

1Weather

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Weather forecasts
    • Radar maps
    • Widgets
  • Pro$undefined/mo
    • All free features
    • No ads
    • Extended 10-day forecasts

PurpleAir

$229/one-time
  • Outdoor Sensor$229/one-time
    • PM2.5 monitoring
    • Cloud connectivity
    • Map access
  • Indoor Sensor$199/one-time
    • Indoor monitoring
    • WiFi enabled
    • Real-time data

Which should you pick?

Choose 1Weather if

  • You need animated backgrounds.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Android, iOS.
  • You also want 12-day forecasts.
1Weather review

Choose PurpleAir if

  • You need pm2.5 monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Api, Hardware.
  • You also want real-time map.
PurpleAir review

Questions people ask

Is 1Weather or PurpleAir better?
Neither clearly leads. 1Weather starts at Free and PurpleAir at $229/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 1Weather or PurpleAir?
1Weather has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for 1Weather and $229/one-time for PurpleAir.
Does 1Weather or PurpleAir run on more platforms?
1Weather runs on Android, iOS. PurpleAir runs on Web, Api, Hardware.
Can I use 1Weather for free?
Yes. 1Weather has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PurpleAir starts at $229/one-time.
What is 1Weather best used for?
1Weather is most often used for checking current conditions and 24-hour forecasts, live radar and severe weather warnings, tracking air quality index and pollen levels (premium), minute-by-minute precipitation tracking (premium). Of those, checking current conditions and 24-hour forecasts and live radar and severe weather warnings are not what PurpleAir is typically brought in for.
What can 1Weather do that PurpleAir cannot?
1Weather covers Animated backgrounds, 12-day forecasts, Customizable widgets, Radar maps. PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Real-time map, Historical data, Community network.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

1Weather: What are 1Weather's core features?

1Weather provides current conditions, 12-week hourly forecasts, 10-day forecasts, animated radar maps with minute-by-minute precipitation tracking, air quality metrics, and customizable widgets for up to 12 locations.

Source
1Weather: What platforms does 1Weather support?

1Weather is available on both Android and iOS platforms, developed by OneLouder Apps. It has 180+ million downloads and is rated 4.32 out of 5 stars on app stores.

Source
1Weather: What widget options does 1Weather offer?

1Weather offers a wide range of attractive, customizable widgets for home screen display. Multiple widget styles allow users to personalize their at-a-glance weather updates.

Source
1Weather: Is there a paid version of 1Weather?

Yes. 1Weather is free with ads (small banner ads), while the Pro version removes ads and unlocks additional features like extended 10-day forecasts and air quality index cards.

Source
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