Weather & Environment · head to head
Carrot Weather vs EPA AirNow
Carrot Weather
Weather & Environment
Hilariously accurate weather app with personality
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
EPA AirNow
Weather & Environment
Official U.S. government air quality information
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Carrot Weather most advanced weather data sources (AccuWeather, The Weather Channel, Aeris Weather, Netatmo personal stations) and map layers (lightning, alerts, wind, humidity, dew point, snow depth) are locked behind paid Premium/Ultrapremium Club subscriptions, not included in the base app; EPA AirNow air quality data availability depends on nearby monitoring stations, can show no data found near a location when no monitor is close enough
- They diverge on capability: Carrot Weather covers Personality modes, EPA AirNow covers Official AQI data.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Carrot Weather and EPA AirNow actually diverge.
| Attribute | Carrot Weather | EPA AirNow |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, Android, macOS | iOS, Android, Web |
| Founded | 2013 | 1970 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), 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 Carrot Weather
- Personality modes
- Multiple data sources
- Custom layouts
- Secret locations
- Snarky commentary
- Apple Watch
- Siri shortcuts
- Ios support
Only in EPA AirNow
- Official AQI data
- Air quality forecasts
- Fire & smoke data
- Health recommendations
- API access
- Data feeds
- API
- Web support
Both cover
- Widgets
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Carrot Weather
- Checking current, hourly, and daily weather forecasts with a humorous AI personalitynot EPA AirNow
- Viewing radar, storm cell, and weather alert mapsnot EPA AirNow
- Receiving push notifications for rain, lightning, or storm cells (premium)not EPA AirNow
- Tracking historical weather data (up to 70 years back) or long-range forecasts via the 'weather time machine' featurenot EPA AirNow
- Using Apple Watch complications/widgets for at-a-glance forecastsnot EPA AirNow
EPA AirNow
- Checking current Air Quality Index (AQI) for a location or any searched areanot Carrot Weather
- Viewing next-day AQI forecasts to plan outdoor activitiesnot Carrot Weather
- Monitoring wildfire smoke via the Fire and Smoke Map (built with the U.S. Forest Service)not Carrot Weather
- Saving multiple locations for quick referencenot Carrot Weather
- Receiving optional push notifications for local AQI forecastsnot Carrot Weather
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Carrot Weather
- Most advanced weather data sources (AccuWeather, The Weather Channel, Aeris Weather, Netatmo personal stations) and map layers (lightning, alerts, wind, humidity, dew point, snow depth) are locked behind paid Premium/Ultrapremium Club subscriptions, not included in the base app
- Background Apple Watch updates for premium data sources require an active subscription
- Pricing for named tiers (Premium Club, Premium Ultra, Premium Family) is disclosed only via in-app purchase screens rather than a public pricing page with fixed dollar figures
- Mac App Store listing shows a separate $14.99 one-time purchase price for macOS, a different pricing model than the free-to-download iOS/Android version
EPA AirNow
- Air quality data availability depends on nearby monitoring stations, can show no data found near a location when no monitor is close enough
- Interactive monitor map (PM2.5, PM10, ozone) coverage documented on the primary source is U.S.-focused
- As a government-run service it offers no paid tiers, proprietary data sources, or customization options found in commercial weather/air-quality apps
Pricing, plan by plan
Carrot Weather
Free- Premium Club$undefined/mo
- Additional data sources and map layers
- Ultrapremium Club$undefined/mo
- Full data sources, map layers, notifications
- Premium Family$undefined/mo
- Shares Premium/Ultrapremium across up to 5 family members
EPA AirNow
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the EPA AirNow review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Carrot Weather if
- You need personality modes.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, macOS.
- You also want multiple data sources.
Choose EPA AirNow if
- You need official aqi data.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want air quality forecasts.
Questions people ask
- Is Carrot Weather or EPA AirNow better?
- Neither clearly leads. Carrot Weather starts at Free and EPA AirNow at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Carrot Weather or EPA AirNow?
- Carrot Weather starts at Free and EPA AirNow at Free.
- Does Carrot Weather or EPA AirNow run on more platforms?
- Carrot Weather runs on iOS, Android, macOS. EPA AirNow runs on iOS, Android, Web.
- Can I use Carrot Weather for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Carrot Weather best used for?
- Carrot Weather is most often used for checking current, hourly, and daily weather forecasts with a humorous ai personality, viewing radar, storm cell, and weather alert maps, receiving push notifications for rain, lightning, or storm cells (premium), tracking historical weather data (up to 70 years back) or long-range forecasts via the 'weather time machine' feature. Of those, checking current, hourly, and daily weather forecasts with a humorous ai personality and viewing radar, storm cell, and weather alert maps are not what EPA AirNow is typically brought in for.
- What can Carrot Weather do that EPA AirNow cannot?
- Carrot Weather covers Personality modes, Multiple data sources, Custom layouts, Secret locations. EPA AirNow covers Official AQI data, Air quality forecasts, Fire & smoke data, Health recommendations. Both handle Widgets.