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Weather & Environment · head to head

AirVisual vs Visual Crossing Weather

AirVisual logo

AirVisual

Weather & Environment

World's largest air quality information platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Visual Crossing Weather logo

Visual Crossing Weather

Weather & Environment

Historical and forecast weather data for any location

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AirVisual outdoor readings depend on nearby government or crowdsourced monitors, so accuracy varies with local coverage; 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: AirVisual covers Global AQI coverage, Visual Crossing Weather covers Historical weather.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where AirVisual and Visual Crossing Weather differ
AttributeAirVisualVisual Crossing Weather
PlatformsIos, Android, WebApi, Web
Founded20152003

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 AirVisual

  • Global AQI coverage
  • 3-day forecasts
  • Health recommendations
  • City rankings
  • Historical data
  • Widgets
  • Apple Watch
  • Smart displays

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.

AirVisual

  • Checking local air quality and PM2.5 levelsnot Visual Crossing Weather
  • Seven day air quality forecastsnot Visual Crossing Weather
  • Health guidance based on current pollutionnot Visual Crossing Weather
  • Comparing indoor and outdoor air with an IQAir monitornot Visual Crossing Weather

Visual Crossing Weather

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

Where each one falls short

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

AirVisual

  • Outdoor readings depend on nearby government or crowdsourced monitors, so accuracy varies with local coverage
  • Indoor measurement needs an IQAir AirVisual monitor bought separately
  • The app pages do not state what, if anything, costs money

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

AirVisual

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Global AQI data
    • Forecasts
    • Health tips
  • Pro$4.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Historical data
    • Widgets

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 AirVisual if

  • You need global aqi coverage.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want 3-day forecasts.
AirVisual 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 AirVisual or Visual Crossing Weather better?
Neither clearly leads. AirVisual 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, AirVisual or Visual Crossing Weather?
AirVisual starts at Free and Visual Crossing Weather at Free.
Does AirVisual or Visual Crossing Weather run on more platforms?
AirVisual runs on Ios, Android, Web. Visual Crossing Weather runs on Api, Web.
Can I use AirVisual for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is AirVisual best used for?
AirVisual is most often used for checking local air quality and pm2.5 levels, seven day air quality forecasts, health guidance based on current pollution, comparing indoor and outdoor air with an iqair monitor. Of those, checking local air quality and pm2.5 levels and seven day air quality forecasts are not what Visual Crossing Weather is typically brought in for.
What can AirVisual do that Visual Crossing Weather cannot?
AirVisual covers Global AQI coverage, 3-day forecasts, Health recommendations, City rankings. Visual Crossing Weather covers Historical weather, 15-day forecasts, Weather query builder, Bulk downloads. Both handle Web support.
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