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Carrot Weather vs OpenWeatherMap

Carrot Weather logo

Carrot Weather

Weather

Hilariously accurate weather app with personality

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenWeatherMap logo

OpenWeatherMap

Weather

Developer-friendly weather API with global coverage

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; OpenWeatherMap free tier capped at 60 calls/minute and 1,000,000 calls/month
  • They diverge on capability: Carrot Weather covers Personality modes, OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Carrot Weather and OpenWeatherMap actually diverge.

Attributes where Carrot Weather and OpenWeatherMap differ
AttributeCarrot WeatherOpenWeatherMap
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, macOSWeb
Founded20132017

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 Carrot Weather

  • Personality modes
  • Multiple data sources
  • Custom layouts
  • Secret locations
  • Snarky commentary
  • Apple Watch
  • Siri shortcuts
  • Ios support

Only in OpenWeatherMap

  • Weather API
  • Current conditions
  • Forecasts
  • Historical data
  • Weather maps
  • REST API
  • JSON format
  • Api 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 OpenWeatherMap
  • Viewing radar, storm cell, and weather alert mapsnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Receiving push notifications for rain, lightning, or storm cells (premium)not OpenWeatherMap
  • Tracking historical weather data (up to 70 years back) or long-range forecasts via the 'weather time machine' featurenot OpenWeatherMap
  • Using Apple Watch complications/widgets for at-a-glance forecastsnot OpenWeatherMap

OpenWeatherMap

  • Embedding current weather and short-term forecasts into third-party apps/websitesnot Carrot Weather
  • Pulling historical and statistical weather data for researchnot Carrot Weather
  • Displaying weather map overlays (precipitation, clouds, etc.) via the Weather Maps APInot Carrot Weather
  • Monitoring air pollution levels via the Air Pollution APInot Carrot Weather
  • Geocoding locations for weather lookupsnot 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

OpenWeatherMap

  • Free tier capped at 60 calls/minute and 1,000,000 calls/month
  • Free tier limited to current weather, 3-hour/5-day forecast, air pollution, 15 map layers, and geocoding only
  • One Call API free allowance is only 1,000 calls/day before pay-per-call charges apply
  • Paid tier (Startup, Developer, Professional, Expert) exact USD prices are not published on the public pricing page

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

OpenWeatherMap

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 1,000 free API calls per day

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.
Carrot Weather review

Choose OpenWeatherMap if

  • You need weather api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want current conditions.
OpenWeatherMap review

Questions people ask

Is Carrot Weather or OpenWeatherMap better?
Neither clearly leads. Carrot Weather starts at Free and OpenWeatherMap at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Carrot Weather or OpenWeatherMap?
Carrot Weather starts at Free and OpenWeatherMap at Free.
Does Carrot Weather or OpenWeatherMap run on more platforms?
Carrot Weather runs on iOS, Android, macOS. OpenWeatherMap runs on 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 OpenWeatherMap is typically brought in for.
What can Carrot Weather do that OpenWeatherMap cannot?
Carrot Weather covers Personality modes, Multiple data sources, Custom layouts, Secret locations. OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Current conditions, Forecasts, Historical data. Both handle Widgets.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Carrot Weather: How much does Carrot Weather cost?

Carrot Weather pricing is not displayed on the vendor website. The app offers a Premium Club membership model for access to advanced features like custom widgets, notifications, data source switching, weather maps, and customization options, but specific costs require checking the app store. Source: https://www.meetcarrot.com/weather

Source
OpenWeatherMap: How much does OpenWeatherMap cost?

OpenWeatherMap operates on a pay-as-you-call usage-based pricing model. The platform offers a free tier with 1,000 API calls per day, and customers can purchase additional calls based on their needs.

Source
Carrot Weather: What features require Carrot Weather Premium Club?

Advanced features including custom widgets, notifications, data source switching, detailed weather maps, and interface customization require Carrot Weather Premium Club membership. Basic weather forecasting is available without a paid membership. Source: https://www.meetcarrot.com/weather

Source
OpenWeatherMap: Is there a free weather API service?

Yes. OpenWeatherMap provides a free tier that includes up to 1,000 API calls per day. Users can subscribe for free at home.openweathermap.org without providing payment information.

Source
OpenWeatherMap: Does OpenWeatherMap offer enterprise plans?

OpenWeatherMap offers separate service tiers for enterprise customers, with pricing and features determined on a case-by-case basis. Contact the company directly for enterprise plan details and custom pricing.

Source
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