Weather & Environment · head to head
AirVisual vs WSI (The Weather Company)
AirVisual
Weather & Environment
World's largest air quality information platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
WSI (The Weather Company)
Weather & Environment
Professional weather solutions for business operations
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only AirVisual has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: AirVisual outdoor readings depend on nearby government or crowdsourced monitors, so accuracy varies with local coverage; WSI (The Weather Company) the Weather Company (which acquired WSI) states on its own site that it no longer owns The Weather Channel TV network, a separate entity from its data/API business (Internet Archive capture, 6 May 2021)
- They diverge on capability: AirVisual covers Global AQI coverage, WSI (The Weather Company) covers Aviation weather.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which AirVisual and WSI (The Weather Company) actually diverge.
| Attribute | AirVisual | WSI (The Weather Company) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | freemium | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Ios, Android, Web | Web, Api, Enterprise |
| Founded | 2015 | 1978 |
Identical on both: 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 WSI (The Weather Company)
- Aviation weather
- Energy forecasting
- Media solutions
- Insurance analytics
- Precision forecasts
- Enterprise systems
- Aviation networks
- Trading platforms
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 WSI (The Weather Company)
- Seven day air quality forecastsnot WSI (The Weather Company)
- Health guidance based on current pollutionnot WSI (The Weather Company)
- Comparing indoor and outdoor air with an IQAir monitornot WSI (The Weather Company)
WSI (The Weather Company)
- 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
WSI (The Weather Company)
- The Weather Company (which acquired WSI) states on its own site that it no longer owns The Weather Channel TV network, a separate entity from its data/API business (Internet Archive capture, 6 May 2021)
Pricing, plan by plan
AirVisual
Free- FreeFree
- Global AQI data
- Forecasts
- Health tips
- Pro$4.99/month
- Ad-free
- Historical data
- Widgets
WSI (The Weather Company)
On request- EnterpriseFree
- Industry solutions
- API access
- Custom analytics
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.
Choose WSI (The Weather Company) if
- You need aviation weather.
- You work on Web, Api, Enterprise.
- You also want energy forecasting.
Questions people ask
- Is AirVisual or WSI (The Weather Company) better?
- Neither clearly leads. AirVisual starts at Free and WSI (The Weather Company) at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, AirVisual or WSI (The Weather Company)?
- AirVisual has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for AirVisual and On request for WSI (The Weather Company).
- Does AirVisual or WSI (The Weather Company) run on more platforms?
- AirVisual runs on Ios, Android, Web. WSI (The Weather Company) runs on Web, Api, Enterprise.
- Can I use AirVisual for free?
- Yes. AirVisual has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. WSI (The Weather Company) starts at On request.
- 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 WSI (The Weather Company) is typically brought in for.
- What can AirVisual do that WSI (The Weather Company) cannot?
- AirVisual covers Global AQI coverage, 3-day forecasts, Health recommendations, City rankings. WSI (The Weather Company) covers Aviation weather, Energy forecasting, Media solutions, Insurance analytics. Both handle Web support.