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Weather · head to head

Hello Weather vs OpenWeatherMap

Hello Weather logo

Hello Weather

Weather

Simple beautiful weather with multiple sources

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: Hello Weather limited features in free version compared to competitors with native rain alerts; OpenWeatherMap free tier capped at 60 calls/minute and 1,000,000 calls/month
  • They diverge on capability: Hello Weather covers Multiple data sources, OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Hello Weather and OpenWeatherMap actually diverge.

Attributes where Hello Weather and OpenWeatherMap differ
AttributeHello WeatherOpenWeatherMap
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsiOS, iPadOS, Android, watchOSWeb
Founded20162017

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 Hello Weather

  • Multiple data sources
  • Simple design
  • Comparison mode
  • Custom icons
  • Apple Watch
  • iOS widgets
  • Siri shortcuts
  • Ios support

Only in OpenWeatherMap

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

Both cover

  • Widgets

What people use each for

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

Hello Weather

  • Professional Worknot OpenWeatherMap
  • Content Creationnot OpenWeatherMap

OpenWeatherMap

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

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

OpenWeatherMap

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

Which should you pick?

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.
Hello Weather 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 Hello Weather or OpenWeatherMap better?
Neither clearly leads. Hello Weather 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, Hello Weather or OpenWeatherMap?
Hello Weather starts at Free and OpenWeatherMap at Free.
Does Hello Weather or OpenWeatherMap run on more platforms?
Hello Weather runs on iOS, iPadOS, Android, watchOS. OpenWeatherMap runs on Web.
Can I use Hello Weather for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Hello Weather best used for?
Hello Weather is most often used for professional work, content creation. Of those, professional work and content creation are not what OpenWeatherMap is typically brought in for.
What can Hello Weather do that OpenWeatherMap cannot?
Hello Weather covers Multiple data sources, Simple design, Comparison mode, Custom icons. OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Current conditions, Forecasts, Historical data. 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.

Source
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
Hello 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.

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
Hello 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.

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
Hello 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.

Source
Hello 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.

Source
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