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Weather · head to head

Aeris Weather vs PurpleAir

Aeris Weather logo

Aeris Weather

Weather

Powerful weather API with mapping solutions

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 Aeris Weather has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Aeris Weather aerisWeather now sells as Xweather under Vaisala; 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: Aeris Weather covers Weather API, PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Aeris Weather and PurpleAir differ
AttributeAeris WeatherPurpleAir
Starting priceFree$229/one-time
Pricing modelfreemiumone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsApi, Web, MobileWeb, 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 Aeris Weather

  • Weather API
  • Interactive maps
  • Severe weather alerts
  • Tropical data
  • Historical records
  • REST API
  • Mapping SDKs
  • Mobile SDKs

Only in PurpleAir

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

Both cover

  • Api support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Aeris Weather

  • Weather data and forecastingnot PurpleAir
  • Mission-critical weather-dependent decisionsnot PurpleAir
  • High-reliability weather intelligence servicesnot PurpleAir
  • Multi-industry weather data distributionnot PurpleAir

PurpleAir

  • Professional Worknot Aeris Weather
  • Content Creationnot Aeris Weather

Where each one falls short

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

Aeris Weather

  • AerisWeather now sells as Xweather under Vaisala
  • The free Developer tier is capped at 15,000 API accesses per month and the service pauses once the limit is reached
  • The Developer tier gets community support only
  • The self-serve paid subscription is EUR 300 per month for 1,000,000 accesses per month
  • Anything beyond 1,000,000 accesses per month requires contacting sales for a custom arrangement
  • Dedicated support and custom SLA guarantees are enterprise only
  • Free tier usage resets on the account creation date rather than the calendar month

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

Aeris Weather

Free
  • DeveloperFree
    • 1,000 calls/day
    • Basic data
    • Maps
  • Professional$100/month
    • Unlimited calls
    • All data
    • Premium support

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 Aeris Weather if

  • You need weather api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Api, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want interactive maps.
Aeris Weather 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 Aeris Weather or PurpleAir better?
Neither clearly leads. Aeris Weather 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, Aeris Weather or PurpleAir?
Aeris Weather has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Aeris Weather and $229/one-time for PurpleAir.
Does Aeris Weather or PurpleAir run on more platforms?
Aeris Weather runs on Api, Web, Mobile. PurpleAir runs on Web, Api, Hardware.
Can I use Aeris Weather for free?
Yes. Aeris Weather has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PurpleAir starts at $229/one-time.
What is Aeris Weather best used for?
Aeris Weather is most often used for weather data and forecasting, mission-critical weather-dependent decisions, high-reliability weather intelligence services, multi-industry weather data distribution. Of those, weather data and forecasting and mission-critical weather-dependent decisions are not what PurpleAir is typically brought in for.
What can Aeris Weather do that PurpleAir cannot?
Aeris Weather covers Weather API, Interactive maps, Severe weather alerts, Tropical data. PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Real-time map, Historical data, Community network. Both handle Api support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Aeris Weather: How is Xweather pricing structured?

Xweather offers custom pricing for its software products and weather API. Pricing reflects deployment scale, data complexity, reliability requirements, and service scope. Contact Xweather for a personalized quote tailored to your needs.

Source
Aeris Weather: Does Xweather offer a pay-as-you-go weather API?

Yes. Xweather provides a free weather API key with pay-as-you-go pricing available. Specific rates and API tier details are available at the Xweather API signup portal or by contacting the sales team.

Source
Aeris Weather: What products does Xweather offer pricing for?

Xweather's software products include Protect, Optimize, Observe, Horizon, RoadAI, WeatherDesk, and Powerup. Individual pricing for each product is determined by your deployment requirements and service agreements. Contact Xweather to discuss subscriptions, tiers, SLAs, and specific pricing.

Source
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