Software · head to head
AccuWeather vs Carrot Weather
AccuWeather
Software
Superior accuracy with proprietary RealFeel technology
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Carrot Weather
Software
Hilariously accurate weather app with personality
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: AccuWeather free API tier limited to 500 calls/day (14-day trial), forcing quick upgrade to paid plans; Carrot Weather most advanced weather data sources (AccuWeather, The Weather Channel, Aeris Weather, Netatmo personal stations) and map layers (lightning, alerts, wind, humidity, dew point, snow depth) are locked behind paid Premium/Ultrapremium Club subscriptions, not included in the base app
- They diverge on capability: AccuWeather covers RealFeel temperature, Carrot Weather covers Personality modes.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which AccuWeather and Carrot Weather actually diverge.
| Attribute | AccuWeather | Carrot Weather |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, macOS | iOS, Android, macOS |
| Founded | 1962 | 2013 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 AccuWeather
- RealFeel temperature
- MinuteCast
- 45-day forecasts
- Severe weather alerts
- Air quality
- Smart TV apps
- Automotive
- Smart speakers
Only in Carrot Weather
- Personality modes
- Multiple data sources
- Custom layouts
- Secret locations
- Snarky commentary
- Apple Watch
- Siri shortcuts
- Widgets
Both cover
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
AccuWeather
- Checking hyperlocal current conditions and minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts (MinuteCast)not Carrot Weather
- Getting severe weather alerts and notificationsnot Carrot Weather
- Viewing extended daily/hourly forecasts for trip planningnot Carrot Weather
- Building weather-driven features into third-party apps via the Core Weather APInot Carrot Weather
- Ad-free or premium in-app weather viewing via AccuWeather Premium/Premium+ subscriptionsnot Carrot Weather
Carrot Weather
- Checking current, hourly, and daily weather forecasts with a humorous AI personalitynot AccuWeather
- Viewing radar, storm cell, and weather alert mapsnot AccuWeather
- Receiving push notifications for rain, lightning, or storm cells (premium)not AccuWeather
- Tracking historical weather data (up to 70 years back) or long-range forecasts via the 'weather time machine' featurenot AccuWeather
- Using Apple Watch complications/widgets for at-a-glance forecastsnot AccuWeather
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
AccuWeather
- Free API tier limited to 500 calls/day (14-day trial), forcing quick upgrade to paid plans
- Entry paid API tier (Starter, $2/month) capped at 15,000 monthly calls with only Current Conditions and 5-day Forecast
- Higher-tier forecast features (72-hour/10-day/120-hour/15-day forecasts, Alerts, Imagery) gated behind Prime ($250/mo) and Elite ($500/mo) API plans
- Consumer app requires iOS 17 / iPadOS 17 / macOS 14 or later, excluding older Apple devices
Carrot Weather
- Most advanced weather data sources (AccuWeather, The Weather Channel, Aeris Weather, Netatmo personal stations) and map layers (lightning, alerts, wind, humidity, dew point, snow depth) are locked behind paid Premium/Ultrapremium Club subscriptions, not included in the base app
- Background Apple Watch updates for premium data sources require an active subscription
- Pricing for named tiers (Premium Club, Premium Ultra, Premium Family) is disclosed only via in-app purchase screens rather than a public pricing page with fixed dollar figures
- Mac App Store listing shows a separate $14.99 one-time purchase price for macOS, a different pricing model than the free-to-download iOS/Android version
Pricing, plan by plan
AccuWeather
Free- FreeFree
- 500 daily API calls (14-day trial)
- AccuWeather Premium$1.99/month
- AccuWeather Premium+$4.99/month
Carrot Weather
Free- Premium Club$undefined/mo
- Additional data sources and map layers
- Ultrapremium Club$undefined/mo
- Full data sources, map layers, notifications
- Premium Family$undefined/mo
- Shares Premium/Ultrapremium across up to 5 family members
Which should you pick?
Choose AccuWeather if
- You need realfeel temperature.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS.
- You also want minutecast.
Choose Carrot Weather if
- You need personality modes.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, macOS.
- You also want multiple data sources.
Questions people ask
- Is AccuWeather or Carrot Weather better?
- Neither clearly leads. AccuWeather starts at Free and Carrot Weather at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, AccuWeather or Carrot Weather?
- AccuWeather starts at Free and Carrot Weather at Free.
- Does AccuWeather or Carrot Weather run on more platforms?
- AccuWeather runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS. Carrot Weather runs on iOS, Android, macOS.
- Can I use AccuWeather for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is AccuWeather best used for?
- AccuWeather is most often used for checking hyperlocal current conditions and minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts (minutecast), getting severe weather alerts and notifications, viewing extended daily/hourly forecasts for trip planning, building weather-driven features into third-party apps via the core weather api. Of those, checking hyperlocal current conditions and minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts (minutecast) and getting severe weather alerts and notifications are not what Carrot Weather is typically brought in for.
- What can AccuWeather do that Carrot Weather cannot?
- AccuWeather covers RealFeel temperature, MinuteCast, 45-day forecasts, Severe weather alerts. Carrot Weather covers Personality modes, Multiple data sources, Custom layouts, Secret locations. Both handle Ios support.