Softwr

Software · head to head

AccuWeather vs Visual Crossing Weather

AccuWeather logo

AccuWeather

Software

Superior accuracy with proprietary RealFeel technology

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Visual Crossing Weather logo

Visual Crossing Weather

Software

Historical and forecast weather data for any location

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Visual Crossing Weather sub hourly weather history, solar and wind energy elements, soil and evapotranspiration data and degree day calculations are excluded from the Professional plan
  • They diverge on capability: AccuWeather covers RealFeel temperature, Visual Crossing Weather covers Historical weather.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AccuWeather and Visual Crossing Weather actually diverge.

Attributes where AccuWeather and Visual Crossing Weather differ
AttributeAccuWeatherVisual Crossing Weather
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOSApi, Web
Founded19622003

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Visual Crossing Weather

  • Historical weather
  • 15-day forecasts
  • Weather query builder
  • Bulk downloads
  • API access
  • REST API
  • Excel add-in
  • Python library

Both cover

  • Web 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 Visual Crossing Weather
  • Getting severe weather alerts and notificationsnot Visual Crossing Weather
  • Viewing extended daily/hourly forecasts for trip planningnot Visual Crossing Weather
  • Building weather-driven features into third-party apps via the Core Weather APInot Visual Crossing Weather
  • Ad-free or premium in-app weather viewing via AccuWeather Premium/Premium+ subscriptionsnot Visual Crossing Weather

Visual Crossing Weather

  • Pulling historical weather records for analysis and modellingnot AccuWeather
  • Adding forecast data to applications through a weather APInot AccuWeather
  • Weather driven analytics for energy, agriculture and logisticsnot 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

Visual Crossing Weather

  • Sub hourly weather history, solar and wind energy elements, soil and evapotranspiration data and degree day calculations are excluded from the Professional plan
  • Removing the attribution requirement needs the Corporate plan or above
  • Usage is metered in records rather than API calls, and the metered plan requires a cost calculator to work out the bill
  • Per record rates are not stated on the editions page
  • Enterprise terms are custom rather than published

Pricing, plan by plan

AccuWeather

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 500 daily API calls (14-day trial)
  • AccuWeather Premium$1.99/month
  • AccuWeather Premium+$4.99/month

Visual Crossing Weather

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1,000 records/day
    • 15-day forecast
    • Historical data
  • Professional$35/month
    • 10,000 records/day
    • Full API
    • Support

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.
AccuWeather review

Choose Visual Crossing Weather if

  • You need historical weather.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Api, Web.
  • You also want 15-day forecasts.
Visual Crossing Weather review

Questions people ask

Is AccuWeather or Visual Crossing Weather better?
Neither clearly leads. AccuWeather starts at Free and Visual Crossing Weather at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AccuWeather or Visual Crossing Weather?
AccuWeather starts at Free and Visual Crossing Weather at Free.
Does AccuWeather or Visual Crossing Weather run on more platforms?
AccuWeather runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS. Visual Crossing Weather runs on Api, Web.
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 Visual Crossing Weather is typically brought in for.
What can AccuWeather do that Visual Crossing Weather cannot?
AccuWeather covers RealFeel temperature, MinuteCast, 45-day forecasts, Severe weather alerts. Visual Crossing Weather covers Historical weather, 15-day forecasts, Weather query builder, Bulk downloads. Both handle Web support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on AccuWeather

More on Visual Crossing Weather

Keep looking

Other head to heads