Weather & Environment · head to head
EPA AirNow vs Hello Weather
EPA AirNow
Weather & Environment
Official U.S. government air quality information
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Hello Weather
Weather & Environment
Simple beautiful weather with multiple sources
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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; Hello Weather limited features in free version compared to competitors with native rain alerts
- They diverge on capability: EPA AirNow covers Official AQI data, Hello Weather covers Multiple data sources.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which EPA AirNow and Hello Weather actually diverge.
| Attribute | EPA AirNow | Hello Weather |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, iPadOS, Android, watchOS |
| Founded | 1970 | 2016 |
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 EPA AirNow
- Official AQI data
- Air quality forecasts
- Fire & smoke data
- Health recommendations
- API access
- Data feeds
- API
- Web support
Only in Hello Weather
- Multiple data sources
- Simple design
- Comparison mode
- Custom icons
- Apple Watch
- iOS widgets
- Siri shortcuts
- Ios support
Both cover
- Widgets
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
EPA AirNow
- Checking current Air Quality Index (AQI) for a location or any searched areanot Hello Weather
- Viewing next-day AQI forecasts to plan outdoor activitiesnot Hello Weather
- Monitoring wildfire smoke via the Fire and Smoke Map (built with the U.S. Forest Service)not Hello Weather
- Saving multiple locations for quick referencenot Hello Weather
- Receiving optional push notifications for local AQI forecastsnot Hello Weather
Hello Weather
- Professional Worknot EPA AirNow
- Content Creationnot EPA AirNow
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Hello Weather
- Limited features in free version compared to competitors with native rain alerts
- Smaller development team means slower feature updates compared to enterprise weather apps
- No native invoicing or team management for business use
Pricing, plan by plan
EPA AirNow
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the EPA AirNow review.
Hello Weather
Free- FreeFree
- Current, hourly, daily forecasts
- Multiple data source options
- Dark mode
- VIP$3/year
- Home screen and lock screen widgets
- Push notifications for precipitation
- Apple Watch app
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Hello Weather if
- You need multiple data sources.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, iPadOS, Android, watchOS.
- You also want simple design.
Questions people ask
- Is EPA AirNow or Hello Weather better?
- Neither clearly leads. EPA AirNow starts at Free and Hello Weather at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, EPA AirNow or Hello Weather?
- EPA AirNow starts at Free and Hello Weather at Free.
- Does EPA AirNow or Hello Weather run on more platforms?
- EPA AirNow runs on iOS, Android, Web. Hello Weather runs on iOS, iPadOS, Android, watchOS.
- Can I use EPA AirNow for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is EPA AirNow best used for?
- EPA AirNow is most often used for checking current air quality index (aqi) for a location or any searched area, viewing next-day aqi forecasts to plan outdoor activities, monitoring wildfire smoke via the fire and smoke map (built with the u.s. forest service), saving multiple locations for quick reference. Of those, checking current air quality index (aqi) for a location or any searched area and viewing next-day aqi forecasts to plan outdoor activities are not what Hello Weather is typically brought in for.
- What can EPA AirNow do that Hello Weather cannot?
- EPA AirNow covers Official AQI data, Air quality forecasts, Fire & smoke data, Health recommendations. Hello Weather covers Multiple data sources, Simple design, Comparison mode, Custom icons. Both handle Widgets.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Hello Weather: What is Hello Weather's business model?
Hello Weather is free to download from the App Store with optional VIP membership. VIP costs $3 for one year, $5 for two years, or $7 for lifetime access.
SourceHello Weather: What weather data sources does Hello Weather support?
Hello Weather supports multiple weather data sources including Apple Weather, AccuWeather, Foreca, OpenWeather, Pirate Weather, The Weather Company, Tomorrow.io, Visual Crossing, Weatherbit, and Xweather.
SourceHello Weather: What platforms does Hello Weather support?
Hello Weather is available on iPhone, iPad, and Android. It includes Apple Watch app and complications, plus home screen and lock screen widgets.
SourceHello Weather: Is Hello Weather an independent project?
Yes, Hello Weather is developed by indie developers Jonas Downey and Trevor as a side project. The team describes themselves as friends with day jobs who make the app for fun.
SourceHello Weather: When was Hello Weather first launched?
Hello Weather was launched in 2016 and has achieved half a million downloads with thousands of paying VIP customers.
SourceRelated pages
More on Hello Weather
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