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Weather · head to head

Ambient Weather Network vs Yr.no

Ambient Weather Network logo

Ambient Weather Network

Weather

Connect your weather station to the cloud

From
Free
Rated
-
Yr.no logo

Yr.no

Weather

Norway's trusted free weather service for the world

From
Free
Rated
-

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.; Yr.no full API/data usage requires attribution to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK per their terms, not a no-strings-attached free service
  • They diverge on capability: Ambient Weather Network covers Cloud connectivity, Yr.no covers Hourly forecasts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ambient Weather Network and Yr.no actually diverge.

Attributes where Ambient Weather Network and Yr.no differ
AttributeAmbient Weather NetworkYr.no
Founded20032007

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 Yr.no

  • Hourly forecasts
  • Long-term predictions
  • Precipitation graphs
  • Wind data
  • Aurora forecasts
  • Open API
  • Widgets
  • Smart displays

Both cover

  • 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 Worknot Yr.no
  • Content Creationnot Yr.no

Yr.no

  • Checking day-by-day and hour-by-hour weather forecasts with graph detailsnot Ambient Weather Network
  • Now-cast alerts for rainfall expected within the next 90 minutesnot Ambient Weather Network
  • Viewing UV forecasts, pollen spread, and air pollution overviewsnot Ambient Weather Network
  • Embedding free weather widgets/modules on third-party websitesnot Ambient Weather Network
  • Building weather features into apps via Yr's free REST APIs (forecasts, alerts, radar, ocean data)not 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.

Yr.no

  • Full API/data usage requires attribution to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK per their terms, not a no-strings-attached free service
  • Product and documentation are heavily Norway/Nordic-centric in framing even though forecasts cover any location on earth
  • No paid/pro consumer tier is published, monetization/support model beyond the free service is unclear from primary sources

Pricing, plan by plan

Ambient Weather Network

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Data upload
    • Dashboard
    • API access

Yr.no

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full weather data
    • Hourly forecasts
    • Long-term outlook

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.

Choose Yr.no if

  • You need hourly forecasts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want long-term predictions.

Questions people ask

Is Ambient Weather Network or Yr.no better?
Neither clearly leads. Ambient Weather Network starts at Free and Yr.no at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ambient Weather Network or Yr.no?
Ambient Weather Network starts at Free and Yr.no at Free.
Does Ambient Weather Network or Yr.no run on more platforms?
Ambient Weather Network runs on Web, Ios, Android. Yr.no runs on Web, iOS, Android.
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 Yr.no is typically brought in for.
What can Ambient Weather Network do that Yr.no cannot?
Ambient Weather Network covers Cloud connectivity, Real-time data, Historical storage, Alerts. Yr.no covers Hourly forecasts, Long-term predictions, Precipitation graphs, Wind data. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Yr.no: Is Yr.no free to use?

Yes, Yr.no is a free weather forecasting service. It is a collaboration between NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) and The Norwegian Meteorological Institute.

Source
Yr.no: Does Yr.no require registration or payment to access weather forecasts?

The website does not mention any registration requirements, subscription tiers, or payment obligations. Access to weather information appears to be free without account creation.

Source
Yr.no: Who funds and maintains Yr.no if it is free?

Yr.no is maintained as a public service collaboration between NRK (Norwegian public broadcasting) and The Norwegian Meteorological Institute, both government-supported organizations.

Source
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