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Weather · head to head

AccuWeather vs Weather Underground

AccuWeather logo

AccuWeather

Weather

Superior accuracy with proprietary RealFeel technology

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Weather Underground logo

Weather Underground

Weather

Crowdsourced hyperlocal weather from personal stations

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; Weather Underground free public API discontinued as of December 31, 2018 with no new developer accounts accepted
  • They diverge on capability: AccuWeather covers RealFeel temperature, Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AccuWeather and Weather Underground actually diverge.

Attributes where AccuWeather and Weather Underground differ
AttributeAccuWeatherWeather Underground
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOSWeb, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network
Founded19622003

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 AccuWeather

  • RealFeel temperature
  • MinuteCast
  • 45-day forecasts
  • Severe weather alerts
  • Air quality
  • Smart TV apps
  • Automotive
  • Smart speakers

Only in Weather Underground

  • Personal weather stations
  • Hyperlocal data
  • Historical records
  • Webcams
  • Community forums
  • PWS networks
  • Smart home
  • APIs

Both cover

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

Weather Underground

  • Professional Worknot AccuWeather
  • Content Creationnot 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

Weather Underground

  • Free public API discontinued as of December 31, 2018 with no new developer accounts accepted
  • Previous enterprise pricing was expensive at $150/month for Cumulus Drizzle plan
  • No longer competitive for developers needing reliable weather API access
  • Service is in wind-down phase with limited future development

Pricing, plan by plan

AccuWeather

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

Weather Underground

Free
  • FreeFree
    • PWS data access
    • Forecasts
    • Historical data
  • Ad-Free$1.99/month
    • No advertisements
    • Premium features

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 Weather Underground if

  • You need personal weather stations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network.
  • You also want hyperlocal data.
Weather Underground review

Questions people ask

Is AccuWeather or Weather Underground better?
Neither clearly leads. AccuWeather starts at Free and Weather Underground at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AccuWeather or Weather Underground?
AccuWeather starts at Free and Weather Underground at Free.
Does AccuWeather or Weather Underground run on more platforms?
AccuWeather runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS. Weather Underground runs on Web, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network.
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 Weather Underground is typically brought in for.
What can AccuWeather do that Weather Underground cannot?
AccuWeather covers RealFeel temperature, MinuteCast, 45-day forecasts, Severe weather alerts. Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations, Hyperlocal data, Historical records, Webcams. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Weather Underground: What happened to the Weather Underground API?

The free public API was discontinued on December 31, 2018, after IBM acquired The Weather Company. The service is now in a wind-down phase with no new developer accounts accepted.

Source
Weather Underground: Can I still use Weather Underground's data?

Free API keys are still available for Personal Weather Station (PWS) owners who upload data to the network. General developers need to migrate to alternative weather API providers.

Source
Weather Underground: What was the pricing for Weather Underground's Cumulus plans?

The Cumulus Drizzle plan cost $150/month, which many developers found prohibitively expensive for weather data compared to modern alternatives.

Source
Weather Underground: Does Weather Underground still offer a consumer-facing service?

Yes. The consumer website continues to provide weather forecasts, news, alerts, and access to personal weather station data through the PWS network.

Source
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