Weather & Environment · head to head
Apple Weather (Dark Sky) vs Weatherstack
Apple Weather (Dark Sky)
Weather & Environment
Hyperlocal precipitation forecasts built into iOS
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Weatherstack
Weather & Environment
Real-time weather API trusted by thousands
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Apple Weather (Dark Sky) and Weatherstack actually diverge.
| Attribute | Apple Weather (Dark Sky) | Weatherstack |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | freemium |
| Platforms | iOS, macOS | Api |
| Founded | 2011 | 2016 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 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.
Choose Weatherstack if
- You need real-time weather.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Api.
- You also want historical data.
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.