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Weather · head to head

Ambient Weather Network vs OpenWeatherMap

Ambient Weather Network logo

Ambient Weather Network

Weather

Connect your weather station to the cloud

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenWeatherMap logo

OpenWeatherMap

Weather

Developer-friendly weather API with global coverage

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Ambient Weather Network the App Store listing states the Ambient Weather Network app requires iOS 14.1 or later, and the underlying station apps (awnet, AmbientTool) are tied to specific discontinued hardware models.; OpenWeatherMap free tier capped at 60 calls/minute and 1,000,000 calls/month
  • They diverge on capability: Ambient Weather Network covers Cloud connectivity, OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ambient Weather Network and OpenWeatherMap actually diverge.

Attributes where Ambient Weather Network and OpenWeatherMap differ
AttributeAmbient Weather NetworkOpenWeatherMap
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded20032017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 Ambient Weather Network

  • Cloud connectivity
  • Real-time data
  • Historical storage
  • Alerts
  • Public sharing
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • IFTTT

Only in OpenWeatherMap

  • Weather API
  • Current conditions
  • Forecasts
  • Historical data
  • Weather maps
  • REST API
  • JSON format
  • Widgets

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Ambient Weather Network

  • Professional Worknot OpenWeatherMap
  • Content Creationnot OpenWeatherMap

OpenWeatherMap

  • Embedding current weather and short-term forecasts into third-party apps/websitesnot Ambient Weather Network
  • Pulling historical and statistical weather data for researchnot Ambient Weather Network
  • Displaying weather map overlays (precipitation, clouds, etc.) via the Weather Maps APInot Ambient Weather Network
  • Monitoring air pollution levels via the Air Pollution APInot Ambient Weather Network
  • Geocoding locations for weather lookupsnot Ambient Weather Network

Where each one falls short

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

Ambient Weather Network

  • The App Store listing states the Ambient Weather Network app requires iOS 14.1 or later, and the underlying station apps (awnet, AmbientTool) are tied to specific discontinued hardware models.

OpenWeatherMap

  • Free tier capped at 60 calls/minute and 1,000,000 calls/month
  • Free tier limited to current weather, 3-hour/5-day forecast, air pollution, 15 map layers, and geocoding only
  • One Call API free allowance is only 1,000 calls/day before pay-per-call charges apply
  • Paid tier (Startup, Developer, Professional, Expert) exact USD prices are not published on the public pricing page

Pricing, plan by plan

Ambient Weather Network

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Data upload
    • Dashboard
    • API access

OpenWeatherMap

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1,000 free API calls per day

Which should you pick?

Choose Ambient Weather Network if

  • You need cloud connectivity.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want real-time data.
Ambient Weather Network review

Choose OpenWeatherMap if

  • You need weather api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want current conditions.
OpenWeatherMap review

Questions people ask

Is Ambient Weather Network or OpenWeatherMap better?
Neither clearly leads. Ambient Weather Network starts at Free and OpenWeatherMap at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ambient Weather Network or OpenWeatherMap?
Ambient Weather Network starts at Free and OpenWeatherMap at Free.
Does Ambient Weather Network or OpenWeatherMap run on more platforms?
Ambient Weather Network runs on Web, Ios, Android. OpenWeatherMap runs on Web.
Can I use Ambient Weather Network for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Ambient Weather Network best used for?
Ambient Weather Network is most often used for professional work, content creation. Of those, professional work and content creation are not what OpenWeatherMap is typically brought in for.
What can Ambient Weather Network do that OpenWeatherMap cannot?
Ambient Weather Network covers Cloud connectivity, Real-time data, Historical storage, Alerts. OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Current conditions, Forecasts, Historical data. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

OpenWeatherMap: How much does OpenWeatherMap cost?

OpenWeatherMap operates on a pay-as-you-call usage-based pricing model. The platform offers a free tier with 1,000 API calls per day, and customers can purchase additional calls based on their needs.

Source
OpenWeatherMap: Is there a free weather API service?

Yes. OpenWeatherMap provides a free tier that includes up to 1,000 API calls per day. Users can subscribe for free at home.openweathermap.org without providing payment information.

Source
OpenWeatherMap: Does OpenWeatherMap offer enterprise plans?

OpenWeatherMap offers separate service tiers for enterprise customers, with pricing and features determined on a case-by-case basis. Contact the company directly for enterprise plan details and custom pricing.

Source
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