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EPA AirNow vs Weather Underground

EPA AirNow logo

EPA AirNow

Software

Official U.S. government air quality information

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Weather Underground logo

Weather Underground

Software

Crowdsourced hyperlocal weather from personal stations

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Weather Underground free public API discontinued as of December 31, 2018 with no new developer accounts accepted
  • They diverge on capability: EPA AirNow covers Official AQI data, Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which EPA AirNow and Weather Underground actually diverge.

Attributes where EPA AirNow and Weather Underground differ
AttributeEPA AirNowWeather Underground
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network
Founded19702003

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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
  • Widgets
  • API

Only in Weather Underground

  • Personal weather stations
  • Hyperlocal data
  • Historical records
  • Webcams
  • Community forums
  • PWS networks
  • Smart home
  • APIs

Both cover

  • Web support

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 Weather Underground
  • Viewing next-day AQI forecasts to plan outdoor activitiesnot Weather Underground
  • Monitoring wildfire smoke via the Fire and Smoke Map (built with the U.S. Forest Service)not Weather Underground
  • Saving multiple locations for quick referencenot Weather Underground
  • Receiving optional push notifications for local AQI forecastsnot Weather Underground

Weather Underground

  • 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

Weather Underground

  • Free public API discontinued as of December 31, 2018 with no new developer accounts accepted
  • Previous enterprise pricing was expensive at $150/month for Cumulus Drizzle plan
  • No longer competitive for developers needing reliable weather API access
  • Service is in wind-down phase with limited future development

Pricing, plan by plan

EPA AirNow

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the EPA AirNow review.

Weather Underground

Free
  • FreeFree
    • PWS data access
    • Forecasts
    • Historical data
  • Ad-Free$1.99/month
    • No advertisements
    • Premium features

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.
EPA AirNow review

Choose Weather Underground if

  • You need personal weather stations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network.
  • You also want hyperlocal data.
Weather Underground review

Questions people ask

Is EPA AirNow or Weather Underground better?
Neither clearly leads. EPA AirNow starts at Free and Weather Underground at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, EPA AirNow or Weather Underground?
EPA AirNow starts at Free and Weather Underground at Free.
Does EPA AirNow or Weather Underground run on more platforms?
EPA AirNow runs on iOS, Android, Web. Weather Underground runs on Web, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network.
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 Weather Underground is typically brought in for.
What can EPA AirNow do that Weather Underground cannot?
EPA AirNow covers Official AQI data, Air quality forecasts, Fire & smoke data, Health recommendations. Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations, Hyperlocal data, Historical records, Webcams. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Weather Underground: What happened to the Weather Underground API?

The free public API was discontinued on December 31, 2018, after IBM acquired The Weather Company. The service is now in a wind-down phase with no new developer accounts accepted.

Source
Weather Underground: Can I still use Weather Underground's data?

Free API keys are still available for Personal Weather Station (PWS) owners who upload data to the network. General developers need to migrate to alternative weather API providers.

Source
Weather Underground: What was the pricing for Weather Underground's Cumulus plans?

The Cumulus Drizzle plan cost $150/month, which many developers found prohibitively expensive for weather data compared to modern alternatives.

Source
Weather Underground: Does Weather Underground still offer a consumer-facing service?

Yes. The consumer website continues to provide weather forecasts, news, alerts, and access to personal weather station data through the PWS network.

Source
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Related pages

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