Softwr

Weather · head to head

Carrot Weather vs PurpleAir

Carrot Weather logo

Carrot Weather

Weather

Hilariously accurate weather app with personality

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PurpleAir logo

PurpleAir

Weather

Real-time air quality monitoring for communities

From
$229/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Carrot Weather has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; 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: Carrot Weather covers Personality modes, PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Carrot Weather and PurpleAir differ
AttributeCarrot WeatherPurpleAir
Starting priceFree$229/one-time
Pricing modelUnknownone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, macOSWeb, Api, Hardware
Founded20132015

Identical on both: 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
  • Widgets

Only in PurpleAir

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

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 PurpleAir
  • Viewing radar, storm cell, and weather alert mapsnot PurpleAir
  • Receiving push notifications for rain, lightning, or storm cells (premium)not PurpleAir
  • Tracking historical weather data (up to 70 years back) or long-range forecasts via the 'weather time machine' featurenot PurpleAir
  • Using Apple Watch complications/widgets for at-a-glance forecastsnot PurpleAir

PurpleAir

  • Professional Worknot Carrot Weather
  • Content Creationnot 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

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

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

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 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 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 Carrot Weather or PurpleAir better?
Neither clearly leads. Carrot Weather starts at Free and PurpleAir at $229/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Carrot Weather or PurpleAir?
Carrot Weather has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Carrot Weather and $229/one-time for PurpleAir.
Does Carrot Weather or PurpleAir run on more platforms?
Carrot Weather runs on iOS, Android, macOS. PurpleAir runs on Web, Api, Hardware.
Can I use Carrot Weather for free?
Yes. Carrot Weather has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PurpleAir starts at $229/one-time.
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 PurpleAir is typically brought in for.
What can Carrot Weather do that PurpleAir cannot?
Carrot Weather covers Personality modes, Multiple data sources, Custom layouts, Secret locations. PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Real-time map, Historical data, Community network.

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
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
Share

Related pages

More on Carrot Weather

More on PurpleAir

Keep looking

Other head to heads