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Weather · head to head

Foreca vs OpenWeatherMap

Foreca logo

Foreca

Weather

Finnish precision weather data for digital services

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: Foreca free version includes advertisements (only removable via paid subscription); OpenWeatherMap free tier capped at 60 calls/minute and 1,000,000 calls/month
  • They diverge on capability: Foreca covers Global forecasts, OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Foreca and OpenWeatherMap actually diverge.

Attributes where Foreca and OpenWeatherMap differ
AttributeForecaOpenWeatherMap
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsiOS, macOSWeb
Founded19962017

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 Foreca

  • Global forecasts
  • Automotive weather
  • Mobile SDK
  • White-label apps
  • Marine weather
  • Mobile platforms
  • Automotive systems
  • Digital services

Only in OpenWeatherMap

  • Weather API
  • Current conditions
  • Forecasts
  • Historical data
  • Weather maps
  • REST API
  • JSON format
  • Widgets

Both cover

  • Api support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Foreca

  • Checking hourly/daily forecasts and animated weather/radar mapsnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Receiving government weather alerts and rain notificationsnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Tracking air quality index and UV levelsnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Monitoring multiple saved locationsnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Apple Watch complications and home-screen widgets for at-a-glance weathernot OpenWeatherMap

OpenWeatherMap

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

Where each one falls short

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

Foreca

  • Free version includes advertisements (only removable via paid subscription)
  • Requires relatively recent OS versions on Apple platforms (iOS 16.4+/macOS 13.0+) per App Store listing
  • Only paid differentiator is ad removal, no deeper feature tier beyond that

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

Foreca

Free
  • Ad-free (3 months)$1.59/3 months
  • Ad-free (1 year)$4.99/year

OpenWeatherMap

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Foreca if

  • You need global forecasts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, macOS.
  • You also want automotive weather.
Foreca 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 Foreca or OpenWeatherMap better?
Neither clearly leads. Foreca 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, Foreca or OpenWeatherMap?
Foreca starts at Free and OpenWeatherMap at Free.
Does Foreca or OpenWeatherMap run on more platforms?
Foreca runs on iOS, macOS. OpenWeatherMap runs on Web.
Can I use Foreca for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Foreca best used for?
Foreca is most often used for checking hourly/daily forecasts and animated weather/radar maps, receiving government weather alerts and rain notifications, tracking air quality index and uv levels, monitoring multiple saved locations. Of those, checking hourly/daily forecasts and animated weather/radar maps and receiving government weather alerts and rain notifications are not what OpenWeatherMap is typically brought in for.
What can Foreca do that OpenWeatherMap cannot?
Foreca covers Global forecasts, Automotive weather, Mobile SDK, White-label apps. OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Current conditions, Forecasts, Historical data. Both handle Api support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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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