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Maritime & Shipping · head to head

exactEarth vs WeatherBug

exactEarth logo

exactEarth

Maritime & Shipping

Advanced satellite AIS data services

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WeatherBug logo

WeatherBug

Weather & Environment

Fastest weather alerts with live conditions

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only WeatherBug has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: exactEarth exactEarth's own homepage, as captured by the Internet Archive on 28 December 2021, carried a banner stating: 'We are happy to announce that exactEarth is now part of Spire Global,' confirming in the vendor's own words that exactEarth was absorbed into Spire (now sold as Kpler's spireMT product); no independent exactEarth pricing survives; WeatherBug requires persistent internet connection for real-time radar and live data
  • They diverge on capability: exactEarth covers Satellite AIS data, WeatherBug covers Lightning detection.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which exactEarth and WeatherBug actually diverge.

Attributes where exactEarth and WeatherBug differ
AttributeexactEarthWeatherBug
Starting price$1000/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsApi, WebiOS, Android, Windows, Web
CategoryMaritime & ShippingWeather & Environment
Founded20091995

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 exactEarth

  • Satellite AIS data
  • Global vessel tracking
  • Historical data archive
  • Anomaly detection
  • API
  • Data feeds
  • GIS platforms
  • Api support

Only in WeatherBug

  • Lightning detection
  • Spark lightning alerts
  • Live conditions
  • 18 weather maps
  • Pollen data
  • School networks
  • Home weather stations
  • Smart devices

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

exactEarth

No use cases recorded yet. See the exactEarth review.

WeatherBug

  • Checking current conditions and forecasts from a network of local weather stationsnot exactEarth
  • Viewing live weather radar mapsnot exactEarth
  • Receiving severe weather alertsnot exactEarth
  • Tracking lightning strikes near a locationnot exactEarth

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

exactEarth

  • exactEarth's own homepage, as captured by the Internet Archive on 28 December 2021, carried a banner stating: 'We are happy to announce that exactEarth is now part of Spire Global,' confirming in the vendor's own words that exactEarth was absorbed into Spire (now sold as Kpler's spireMT product); no independent exactEarth pricing survives

WeatherBug

  • Requires persistent internet connection for real-time radar and live data
  • Radar images are smoothed for appearance, reducing detail compared to raw radar data
  • No historical weather data available in the free version
  • Free version contains advertisements
  • Performance issues and lag reported, particularly during severe weather or high usage periods
  • Lacks direct integrations with third-party apps and home automation systems

Pricing, plan by plan

exactEarth

$1000/month
  • Enterprise$5000/month
    • Global AIS data
    • Historical archive
    • Custom analytics

WeatherBug

Free
  • Free$undefined/mo
    • 20+ weather maps
    • 10-day forecast
    • 140+ hours hourly forecast
  • Premium$4.99/month
    • Ad-free experience
    • Extended forecasts
    • Historical data

Which should you pick?

Choose exactEarth if

  • You need satellite ais data.
  • You work on Api, Web.
  • You also want global vessel tracking.
exactEarth review

Choose WeatherBug if

  • You need lightning detection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Windows, Web.
  • You also want spark lightning alerts.
WeatherBug review

Questions people ask

Is exactEarth or WeatherBug better?
Neither clearly leads. exactEarth starts at $1000/month and WeatherBug at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, exactEarth or WeatherBug?
WeatherBug has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1000/month for exactEarth and Free for WeatherBug.
Does exactEarth or WeatherBug run on more platforms?
exactEarth runs on Api, Web. WeatherBug runs on iOS, Android, Windows, Web.
Can I use WeatherBug for free?
Yes. WeatherBug has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. exactEarth starts at $1000/month.
What can exactEarth do that WeatherBug cannot?
exactEarth covers Satellite AIS data, Global vessel tracking, Historical data archive, Anomaly detection. WeatherBug covers Lightning detection, Spark lightning alerts, Live conditions, 18 weather maps. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

WeatherBug: Does WeatherBug work offline?

Partially. WeatherBug can cache weather data when you have an internet connection, allowing you to view cached information offline. However, real-time radar and live data require an active internet connection.

Source
WeatherBug: What weather maps and radar layers does WeatherBug include?

WeatherBug includes over 20 weather maps including Radar, Future Radar (1-hour), Lightning, Pollen, Severe Storm Risk, and Precipitation. The free version includes a 10-day forecast and over 140 hours of hourly forecast data.

Source
WeatherBug: Is there a cost to use WeatherBug?

WeatherBug is free with ads. Premium subscription costs $4.99 per month for ad-free experience and includes extended forecasts and historical data.

Source
WeatherBug: Can I customize weather alerts?

Yes. WeatherBug allows customizable alerts for severe weather conditions including lightning, storms, and precipitation.

Source
WeatherBug: What platforms is WeatherBug available on?

WeatherBug is available on iOS, Android, Windows, and the web. The desktop app provides real-time weather updates, interactive maps, live radar, and detailed forecasts.

Source
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Related pages

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