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Weather · head to head

Ambient Weather Network vs Weather Underground

Ambient Weather Network logo

Ambient Weather Network

Weather

Connect your weather station to the cloud

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: 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.; Weather Underground free public API discontinued as of December 31, 2018 with no new developer accounts accepted
  • They diverge on capability: Ambient Weather Network covers Cloud connectivity, 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 Ambient Weather Network and Weather Underground actually diverge.

Attributes where Ambient Weather Network and Weather Underground differ
AttributeAmbient Weather NetworkWeather Underground
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Weather), founded (2003).

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 Weather Underground

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

Both cover

  • APIs
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Ambient Weather Network

  • Professional Work
  • Content Creation

Weather Underground

  • Professional Work
  • Content Creation

Both are used for professional work, content creation, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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.

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

Ambient Weather Network

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Data upload
    • Dashboard
    • API access

Weather Underground

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

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 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 Ambient Weather Network or Weather Underground better?
Neither clearly leads. Ambient Weather Network 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, Ambient Weather Network or Weather Underground?
Ambient Weather Network starts at Free and Weather Underground at Free.
Does Ambient Weather Network or Weather Underground run on more platforms?
Ambient Weather Network runs on Web, Ios, Android. Weather Underground runs on Web, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network.
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.
What can Ambient Weather Network do that Weather Underground cannot?
Ambient Weather Network covers Cloud connectivity, Real-time data, Historical storage, Alerts. Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations, Hyperlocal data, Historical records, Webcams. Both handle APIs, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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
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
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