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AirVisual vs Weather Underground

AirVisual logo

AirVisual

Weather

World's largest air quality information platform

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: AirVisual outdoor readings depend on nearby government or crowdsourced monitors, so accuracy varies with local coverage; Weather Underground free public API discontinued as of December 31, 2018 with no new developer accounts accepted
  • They diverge on capability: AirVisual covers Global AQI coverage, 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 AirVisual and Weather Underground actually diverge.

Attributes where AirVisual and Weather Underground differ
AttributeAirVisualWeather Underground
PlatformsIos, Android, WebWeb, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network
Founded20152003

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), 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 AirVisual

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

Only in Weather Underground

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

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • 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 Weather Underground
  • Seven day air quality forecastsnot Weather Underground
  • Health guidance based on current pollutionnot Weather Underground
  • Comparing indoor and outdoor air with an IQAir monitornot Weather Underground

Weather Underground

  • Professional Worknot AirVisual
  • Content Creationnot 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

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

AirVisual

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

Weather Underground

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

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 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 AirVisual or Weather Underground better?
Neither clearly leads. AirVisual 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, AirVisual or Weather Underground?
AirVisual starts at Free and Weather Underground at Free.
Does AirVisual or Weather Underground run on more platforms?
AirVisual runs on Ios, Android, Web. Weather Underground runs on Web, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network.
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 Weather Underground is typically brought in for.
What can AirVisual do that Weather Underground cannot?
AirVisual covers Global AQI coverage, 3-day forecasts, Health recommendations, City rankings. Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations, Hyperlocal data, Historical records, Webcams. Both handle Ios support, Android support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AirVisual: Why doesn't AirVisual publish pricing for its air quality products?

AirVisual does not publish specific prices on its product pages. The company offers various purchasing and financing programs instead, including 0% financing options, filter subscriptions, and trade-in programs.

Source
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
AirVisual: Does AirVisual offer financing for equipment purchases?

Yes, AirVisual offers 0% financing options for equipment purchases.

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
AirVisual: Are AirVisual products eligible for HSA or FSA spending accounts?

Yes, AirVisual products are eligible for FSA and HSA payments, allowing customers to use tax-advantaged health savings accounts for purchases.

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
AirVisual: What ongoing service does AirVisual offer beyond the initial product purchase?

AirVisual offers filter subscription services to ensure continued operation of air quality monitoring equipment.

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
AirVisual: Does AirVisual offer trade-in or upgrade programs?

Yes, AirVisual operates a trade-in program that allows customers to trade in older equipment, as well as a Restored Program for refurbished products.

Source
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