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Atmotube vs PurpleAir

Atmotube logo

Atmotube

Weather

Portable air quality monitor for on-the-go tracking

From
$179/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PurpleAir logo

PurpleAir

Weather

Real-time air quality monitoring for communities

From
$229/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Atmotube a hardware purchase: the readings come from the Atmotube PRO 2 or Atmocube device rather than from the app alone; PurpleAir purpleAir sensors are one-time hardware purchases rather than a subscription, priced $199 to $279 USD per unit for named models (PA-I-Indoor, PA-II, PA-II-SD), per the vendor's own store (archived, 2021).
  • They diverge on capability: Atmotube covers Portable design, PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Atmotube and PurpleAir actually diverge.

Attributes where Atmotube and PurpleAir differ
AttributeAtmotubePurpleAir
Starting price$179/one-time$229/one-time
PlatformsIos, Android, HardwareWeb, Api, Hardware

Identical on both: pricing model (one-time), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Weather), founded (2015).

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 Atmotube

  • Portable design
  • PM1/2.5/10 sensors
  • VOC detection
  • Temperature/humidity
  • GPS tracking
  • Mobile app
  • PlanetWatch
  • Data export

Only in PurpleAir

  • PM2.5 monitoring
  • Real-time map
  • Historical data
  • Community network
  • API access
  • API access
  • Home Assistant
  • Data downloads

Both cover

  • Hardware support

What people use each for

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

Atmotube

  • Personal exposure tracking for PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 while moving aroundnot PurpleAir
  • Indoor air quality monitoring for CO2 and VOCsnot PurpleAir
  • Commercial building air quality dashboards with Atmocubenot PurpleAir
  • Noise and light monitoring alongside air quality in officesnot PurpleAir

PurpleAir

  • Professional Worknot Atmotube
  • Content Creationnot Atmotube

Where each one falls short

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

Atmotube

  • A hardware purchase: the readings come from the Atmotube PRO 2 or Atmocube device rather than from the app alone
  • Prices are not shown on the main site and sit in a separate store
  • The two devices measure different things, with formaldehyde, light and noise on Atmocube only

PurpleAir

  • PurpleAir sensors are one-time hardware purchases rather than a subscription, priced $199 to $279 USD per unit for named models (PA-I-Indoor, PA-II, PA-II-SD), per the vendor's own store (archived, 2021).

Pricing, plan by plan

Atmotube

$179/one-time
  • Atmotube Pro$179/one-time
    • PM sensors
    • VOC detection
    • Bluetooth

PurpleAir

$229/one-time
  • Outdoor Sensor$229/one-time
    • PM2.5 monitoring
    • Cloud connectivity
    • Map access
  • Indoor Sensor$199/one-time
    • Indoor monitoring
    • WiFi enabled
    • Real-time data

Which should you pick?

Choose Atmotube if

  • You need portable design.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Hardware.
  • You also want pm1/2.5/10 sensors.
Atmotube review

Choose PurpleAir if

  • You need pm2.5 monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Api, Hardware.
  • You also want real-time map.
PurpleAir review

Questions people ask

Is Atmotube or PurpleAir better?
Neither clearly leads. Atmotube starts at $179/one-time and PurpleAir at $229/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Atmotube or PurpleAir?
Atmotube starts at $179/one-time and PurpleAir at $229/one-time.
Does Atmotube or PurpleAir run on more platforms?
Atmotube runs on Ios, Android, Hardware. PurpleAir runs on Web, Api, Hardware.
What is Atmotube best used for?
Atmotube is most often used for personal exposure tracking for pm1, pm2.5 and pm10 while moving around, indoor air quality monitoring for co2 and vocs, commercial building air quality dashboards with atmocube, noise and light monitoring alongside air quality in offices. Of those, personal exposure tracking for pm1, pm2.5 and pm10 while moving around and indoor air quality monitoring for co2 and vocs are not what PurpleAir is typically brought in for.
What can Atmotube do that PurpleAir cannot?
Atmotube covers Portable design, PM1/2.5/10 sensors, VOC detection, Temperature/humidity. PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Real-time map, Historical data, Community network. Both handle Hardware support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Atmotube: What products does Atmotube offer and what are their prices?

The landing page mentions two products: Atmotube PRO 2 and Atmocube. However, actual pricing is not disclosed on this page. You must visit the external shop (eu.store.atmotube.com) to see prices.

Source
Atmotube: Is there a way to evaluate Atmotube before purchasing?

The page does not mention a free trial, evaluation period, or money-back guarantee. Pricing and trial options would need to be discussed through the 'Talk to Sales' contact option.

Source
Atmotube: Is there ongoing subscription or just one-time purchase?

The page does not clarify whether Atmotube products are one-time purchases, require subscriptions, or have recurring costs. This information would need to be obtained from the shop or sales team.

Source
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