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Apple Weather (Dark Sky) vs Meteomatics

Apple Weather (Dark Sky) logo

Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

Software

Hyperlocal precipitation forecasts built into iOS

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Meteomatics logo

Meteomatics

Software

Weather API with drone-enhanced forecasting

From
€150/month
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; Meteomatics higher cost compared to free or freemium weather APIs for basic use cases
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Weather (Dark Sky) covers Minute-by-minute precipitation, Meteomatics covers Weather API.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Weather (Dark Sky) and Meteomatics differ
AttributeApple Weather (Dark Sky)Meteomatics
Starting priceFree€150/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, macOSWeb, API
Founded20112012

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Meteomatics

  • Weather API
  • Drone measurements
  • High-resolution data
  • Historical archive
  • Custom models
  • REST API
  • Python SDK
  • Enterprise systems

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 Meteomatics
  • Viewing hourly forecasts for the next 10 daysnot Meteomatics
  • Viewing high-resolution precipitation radar mapsnot Meteomatics
  • Receiving severe weather notificationsnot Meteomatics

Meteomatics

  • Professional Worknot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
  • Content Creationnot 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

Meteomatics

  • Higher cost compared to free or freemium weather APIs for basic use cases

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

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

Meteomatics

€150/month
  • Starter$150/month
    • API access
    • Basic data
    • Support
  • Professional$500/month
    • Full API
    • Historical data
    • Priority support

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 Meteomatics if

  • You need weather api.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want drone measurements.
Meteomatics review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Weather (Dark Sky) or Meteomatics better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Weather (Dark Sky) starts at Free and Meteomatics at €150/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Weather (Dark Sky) or Meteomatics?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Weather (Dark Sky) and €150/month for Meteomatics.
Does Apple Weather (Dark Sky) or Meteomatics run on more platforms?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) runs on iOS, macOS. Meteomatics runs on Web, API.
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. Meteomatics starts at €150/month.
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 Meteomatics is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Weather (Dark Sky) do that Meteomatics cannot?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) covers Minute-by-minute precipitation, Next-hour forecasts, Severe weather alerts, Air quality. Meteomatics covers Weather API, Drone measurements, High-resolution data, Historical archive.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Meteomatics: What weather data does Meteomatics provide?

Meteomatics provides global forecast and historical weather data through a RESTful API and WMS/WFS-compatible interface, with custom weather models including EURO1k covering Europe at 1km resolution.

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