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Weather & Environment · head to head

Apple Weather (Dark Sky) vs Awair

Apple Weather (Dark Sky) logo

Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

Weather & Environment

Hyperlocal precipitation forecasts built into iOS

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Awair logo

Awair

Weather & Environment

Smart indoor air quality monitor for healthy spaces

From
$149/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Apple Weather (Dark Sky) has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apple Weather (Dark Sky) dark Sky as a standalone app and API no longer exists, it was removed from the App Store and its API shut down; Dark Sky's technology now only exists folded into the built-in Apple Weather app, so any 'Dark Sky' branded product/API can no longer be evaluated or purchased; Awair a hardware purchase, with the Element at $299 before any software value
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Weather (Dark Sky) covers Minute-by-minute precipitation, Awair covers 5-factor monitoring.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Weather (Dark Sky) and Awair actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Weather (Dark Sky) and Awair differ
AttributeApple Weather (Dark Sky)Awair
Starting priceFree$149/one-time
Pricing modelfreeone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, macOSIos, Android, Hardware
Founded20112013

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 Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

  • Minute-by-minute precipitation
  • Next-hour forecasts
  • Severe weather alerts
  • Air quality
  • UV index
  • iOS widgets
  • Siri
  • Apple Watch

Only in Awair

  • 5-factor monitoring
  • Awair Score
  • Personalized tips
  • Historical trends
  • Smart displays
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • IFTTT

Both cover

  • Ios support

What people use each for

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

Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

  • Checking hyperlocal current conditions and next-hour precipitation forecasts on iPhone/iPad/Mac/Apple Watchnot Awair
  • Viewing hourly forecasts for the next 10 daysnot Awair
  • Viewing high-resolution precipitation radar mapsnot Awair
  • Receiving severe weather notificationsnot Awair

Awair

  • Indoor air quality monitoring at homenot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
  • Tracking CO2, humidity, temperature, VOCs and particulatesnot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
  • Workplace air quality monitoring across a building with Omninot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
  • Correlating air quality with sleep or productivitynot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

Where each one falls short

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

Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

  • Dark Sky as a standalone app and API no longer exists, it was removed from the App Store and its API shut down; Dark Sky's technology now only exists folded into the built-in Apple Weather app, so any 'Dark Sky' branded product/API can no longer be evaluated or purchased
  • Apple Weather has no public pricing/API tier of its own comparable to the old Dark Sky API, developers must use Apple's separate WeatherKit product instead
  • Apple Weather (the consumer app) is limited to Apple's own platforms; it is not available on Android or Windows

Awair

  • A hardware purchase, with the Element at $299 before any software value
  • The consumer Element tracks 5 environmental factors against 7 on the business Omni
  • Business deployments run on subscriptions, and Omni pricing is not published

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full weather features
    • Minute-by-minute rain
    • Severe alerts

Awair

$149/one-time
  • Element$149/one-time
    • 5 air factors
    • Smart home integration
    • App access
  • Omni$299/one-time
    • Enterprise features
    • API access
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Weather (Dark Sky) if

  • You need minute-by-minute precipitation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, macOS.
  • You also want next-hour forecasts.
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) review

Choose Awair if

  • You need 5-factor monitoring.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Hardware.
  • You also want awair score.
Awair review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Weather (Dark Sky) or Awair better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Weather (Dark Sky) starts at Free and Awair at $149/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Weather (Dark Sky) or Awair?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Weather (Dark Sky) and $149/one-time for Awair.
Does Apple Weather (Dark Sky) or Awair run on more platforms?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) runs on iOS, macOS. Awair runs on Ios, Android, Hardware.
Can I use Apple Weather (Dark Sky) for free?
Yes. Apple Weather (Dark Sky) has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Awair starts at $149/one-time.
What is Apple Weather (Dark Sky) best used for?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) is most often used for checking hyperlocal current conditions and next-hour precipitation forecasts on iphone/ipad/mac/apple watch, viewing hourly forecasts for the next 10 days, viewing high-resolution precipitation radar maps, receiving severe weather notifications. Of those, checking hyperlocal current conditions and next-hour precipitation forecasts on iphone/ipad/mac/apple watch and viewing hourly forecasts for the next 10 days are not what Awair is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Weather (Dark Sky) do that Awair cannot?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) covers Minute-by-minute precipitation, Next-hour forecasts, Severe weather alerts, Air quality. Awair covers 5-factor monitoring, Awair Score, Personalized tips, Historical trends. Both handle Ios support.
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