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Weather & Environment · head to head

Aeris Weather vs RainViewer

Aeris Weather logo

Aeris Weather

Weather & Environment

Powerful weather API with mapping solutions

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
RainViewer logo

RainViewer

Weather & Environment

Global rain radar with accurate precipitation forecasts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Aeris Weather aerisWeather now sells as Xweather under Vaisala; RainViewer limited to precipitation forecasting without comprehensive weather data like temperature or wind
  • They diverge on capability: Aeris Weather covers Weather API, RainViewer covers Global rain radar.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Aeris Weather and RainViewer differ
AttributeAeris WeatherRainViewer
PlatformsApi, Web, MobileWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20112015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Weather & Environment).

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 RainViewer

  • Global rain radar
  • Smooth animations
  • 2-hour forecasts
  • Lightning data
  • Satellite imagery
  • API access
  • Widgets
  • Notifications

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Aeris Weather

  • Adding weather data to an application through a REST APInot RainViewer
  • Rendering weather map layers with the MapsGL SDKnot RainViewer
  • High volume weather data feeds for commercial forecasting productsnot RainViewer

RainViewer

  • 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

RainViewer

  • Limited to precipitation forecasting without comprehensive weather data like temperature or wind
  • Forecast window limited to 2 hours, not suitable for extended weather planning
  • Smaller global weather station network compared to national meteorological services
  • Limited historical weather data compared to competing weather platforms

Pricing, plan by plan

Aeris Weather

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

RainViewer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Global radar
    • Animations
    • Forecasts
  • Premium$2.99/month
    • No ads
    • API access
    • Extended history

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 RainViewer if

  • You need global rain radar.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want smooth animations.
RainViewer review

Questions people ask

Is Aeris Weather or RainViewer better?
Neither clearly leads. Aeris Weather starts at Free and RainViewer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Aeris Weather or RainViewer?
Aeris Weather starts at Free and RainViewer at Free.
Does Aeris Weather or RainViewer run on more platforms?
Aeris Weather runs on Api, Web, Mobile. RainViewer runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Aeris Weather for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Aeris Weather best used for?
Aeris Weather is most often used for adding weather data to an application through a rest api, rendering weather map layers with the mapsgl sdk, high volume weather data feeds for commercial forecasting products. Of those, adding weather data to an application through a rest api and rendering weather map layers with the mapsgl sdk are not what RainViewer is typically brought in for.
What can Aeris Weather do that RainViewer cannot?
Aeris Weather covers Weather API, Interactive maps, Severe weather alerts, Tropical data. RainViewer covers Global rain radar, Smooth animations, 2-hour forecasts, Lightning data. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

RainViewer: What weather data does RainViewer use?

RainViewer processes radar data from over 1,000 radar stations worldwide to provide precipitation forecasts with sub-kilometer accuracy updated every 5 minutes.

Source
RainViewer: How far ahead can RainViewer forecast rain?

RainViewer provides 2-hour precipitation forecasts updated frequently throughout the day with hyperlocal predictions.

Source
RainViewer: Is RainViewer available on all platforms?

RainViewer offers both a mobile app and web platform for accessing precipitation forecasts and radar data.

Source
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Related pages

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