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Awair vs PurpleAir

Awair logo

Awair

Weather

Smart indoor air quality monitor for healthy spaces

From
$149/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: Awair a hardware purchase, with the Element at $299 before any software value; 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: Awair covers 5-factor monitoring, PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Awair and PurpleAir actually diverge.

Attributes where Awair and PurpleAir differ
AttributeAwairPurpleAir
Starting price$149/one-time$229/one-time
PlatformsIos, Android, HardwareWeb, Api, Hardware
Founded20132015

Identical on both: pricing model (one-time), free tier (No), 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 Awair

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

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.

Awair

  • Indoor air quality monitoring at homenot PurpleAir
  • Tracking CO2, humidity, temperature, VOCs and particulatesnot PurpleAir
  • Workplace air quality monitoring across a building with Omninot PurpleAir
  • Correlating air quality with sleep or productivitynot PurpleAir

PurpleAir

  • Professional Worknot Awair
  • Content Creationnot Awair

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

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

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 Awair if

  • You need 5-factor monitoring.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Hardware.
  • You also want awair score.
Awair 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 Awair or PurpleAir better?
Neither clearly leads. Awair starts at $149/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, Awair or PurpleAir?
Awair starts at $149/one-time and PurpleAir at $229/one-time.
Does Awair or PurpleAir run on more platforms?
Awair runs on Ios, Android, Hardware. PurpleAir runs on Web, Api, Hardware.
What is Awair best used for?
Awair is most often used for indoor air quality monitoring at home, tracking co2, humidity, temperature, vocs and particulates, workplace air quality monitoring across a building with omni, correlating air quality with sleep or productivity. Of those, indoor air quality monitoring at home and tracking co2, humidity, temperature, vocs and particulates are not what PurpleAir is typically brought in for.
What can Awair do that PurpleAir cannot?
Awair covers 5-factor monitoring, Awair Score, Personalized tips, Historical trends. PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Real-time map, Historical data, Community network. Both handle Hardware support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Awair: What are the current prices for Awair devices?

Awair Element is priced at $299 USD (£229 / €259 for UK/EU). Awair Omni pricing for business use is not displayed on the homepage.

Source
Awair: What is the difference between Element and Omni models?

Element tracks 5 environmental factors for home use. Omni tracks 7 factors and is targeted at businesses to protect tenants, employees, and students.

Source
Awair: Is there a trial or free access period before purchasing?

No trial is mentioned on the homepage. Users can download the free mobile app and set up devices within minutes after purchase.

Source
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