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Apple Weather (Dark Sky) vs Weatherstack

Apple Weather (Dark Sky) logo

Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

Weather

Hyperlocal precipitation forecasts built into iOS

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Weatherstack logo

Weatherstack

Weather

Real-time weather API trusted by thousands

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Weatherstack the free tier allows 100 API calls a month, which is a demo rather than a usable allowance
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Weather (Dark Sky) covers Minute-by-minute precipitation, Weatherstack covers Real-time weather.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Weather (Dark Sky) and Weatherstack differ
AttributeApple Weather (Dark Sky)Weatherstack
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsiOS, macOSApi
Founded20112016

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 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 Weatherstack

  • Real-time weather
  • Historical data
  • Forecasts
  • Location lookup
  • Bulk queries
  • REST API
  • JSON responses
  • HTTPS

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

Weatherstack

  • Current weather lookups by location in an applicationnot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
  • Historical weather data for analysis on the paid tiersnot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
  • Short and medium range forecastsnot Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
  • Bulk location queries on the higher plansnot 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

Weatherstack

  • The free tier allows 100 API calls a month, which is a demo rather than a usable allowance
  • Historical weather data starts at the Standard plan, $9.99 a month for 50,000 calls
  • Forecasting is tiered: 7 days from Professional at $49.99 a month and 14 days from Business at $99.99
  • Multi-language responses and bulk queries need Professional or above
  • Going past the monthly quota incurs overage charges rather than throttling

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Weather (Dark Sky)

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

Weatherstack

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 250 calls/month
    • Current weather
    • Basic data
  • Standard$9.99/month
    • 50,000 calls/month
    • Forecasts
    • Historical

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 Weatherstack if

  • You need real-time weather.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Api.
  • You also want historical data.
Weatherstack review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Weather (Dark Sky) or Weatherstack better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Weather (Dark Sky) starts at Free and Weatherstack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Weather (Dark Sky) or Weatherstack?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) starts at Free and Weatherstack at Free.
Does Apple Weather (Dark Sky) or Weatherstack run on more platforms?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) runs on iOS, macOS. Weatherstack runs on Api.
Can I use Apple Weather (Dark Sky) for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Weatherstack is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Weather (Dark Sky) do that Weatherstack cannot?
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) covers Minute-by-minute precipitation, Next-hour forecasts, Severe weather alerts, Air quality. Weatherstack covers Real-time weather, Historical data, Forecasts, Location lookup.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Apple Weather (Dark Sky): Is Dark Sky still available as a standalone service?

No. Dark Sky is no longer a standalone service. The Dark Sky API was discontinued on March 31, 2023, and replaced by Apple's WeatherKit API. Apple integrated Dark Sky's features into its native Weather app.

Source
Weatherstack: Is there a free plan for Weatherstack?

Yes, Weatherstack has a free plan that includes 100 API calls per month with real-time weather data and HTTPS encryption.

Source
Apple Weather (Dark Sky): What features from Dark Sky are now in Apple Weather?

Apple Weather includes hyperlocal forecasts down to 0.001° precision, next-hour precipitation forecasts with charts and maps, extended hourly forecasts for 10 days, high-resolution weather maps with precipitation and air quality overlays, and government-issued severe weather alerts.

Source
Weatherstack: What is the cheapest paid plan for Weatherstack?

The Standard plan costs $9.99 per month (or $8.99 monthly when billed annually) and includes 50,000 API calls per month.

Source
Apple Weather (Dark Sky): What API replaced Dark Sky's API?

Developers who used Dark Sky API can now use Apple's WeatherKit API, which works across multiple platforms and replaces the deprecated Dark Sky API.

Source
Weatherstack: Do Weatherstack's paid plans allow overage charges beyond the monthly limit?

Yes, all paid tiers allow overage charges for API calls beyond the monthly allocation.

Source
Apple Weather (Dark Sky): What versions of Apple OS support the new Weather features?

Apple Weather with the new features is accessible on iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and macOS 13 Ventura or newer, available through the App Store.

Source
Weatherstack: How much can I save with annual billing on Weatherstack?

Annual billing offers up to 15% savings compared to monthly payments across all paid tiers.

Source
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