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Weather & Environment · head to head

IQAir vs Weather Underground

IQAir logo

IQAir

Weather & Environment

Global air quality information and purification

From
$399/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Weather Underground logo

Weather Underground

Weather & Environment

Crowdsourced hyperlocal weather from personal stations

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Weather Underground has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: IQAir extremely expensive compared to competitors with similar particle filtration performance; Weather Underground free public API discontinued as of December 31, 2018 with no new developer accounts accepted
  • They diverge on capability: IQAir covers Global AQI data, Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IQAir and Weather Underground actually diverge.

Attributes where IQAir and Weather Underground differ
AttributeIQAirWeather Underground
Starting price$399/one-timeFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, HardwareWeb, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network
Founded19632003

Identical on both: 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 IQAir

  • Global AQI data
  • City rankings
  • Health recommendations
  • Forecasts
  • Historical data
  • API access
  • Mobile apps
  • Api support

Only in Weather Underground

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

Both cover

  • Smart home
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

IQAir

  • Checking real-time outdoor and indoor air quality (AQI, PM2.5, etc.) via the AirVisual appnot Weather Underground
  • Getting air quality forecasts for a locationnot Weather Underground
  • Remotely monitoring and controlling IQAir air purifiers from a smartphonenot Weather Underground
  • Integrating air quality/weather data into third-party apps via the AirVisual APInot Weather Underground
  • Tracking global air pollution using monitoring station datanot Weather Underground

Weather Underground

  • Professional Worknot IQAir
  • Content Creationnot IQAir

Where each one falls short

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

IQAir

  • Extremely expensive compared to competitors with similar particle filtration performance
  • Energy inefficient motors consume 215W at comparable CFM to cheaper models
  • Limited sensor specificity for users with specific allergies or respiratory concerns
  • Bulky design and outdated appearance unsuitable for modern interior design
  • Replacement filters are very expensive at $199.99 with high ongoing costs

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

IQAir

$399/one-time
  • Atem Desk$399/one-time
    • Portable desktop air purifier
    • Small room coverage
  • Atem Eco$799.99/one-time
    • Smart air purification
    • Most affordable smart model
    • Released June 2026
  • Atem X$1399/one-time
    • Premium smart purifier
    • Large room coverage
    • Advanced filtration
  • HealthPro Plus$949/one-time
    • Medical-grade HyperHEPA filtration
    • Large room coverage
    • Gas and particle filtration

Weather Underground

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

Which should you pick?

Choose IQAir if

  • You need global aqi data.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Hardware.
  • You also want city rankings.
IQAir 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 IQAir or Weather Underground better?
Neither clearly leads. IQAir starts at $399/one-time and Weather Underground at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IQAir or Weather Underground?
Weather Underground has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $399/one-time for IQAir and Free for Weather Underground.
Does IQAir or Weather Underground run on more platforms?
IQAir runs on Web, iOS, Android, Hardware. Weather Underground runs on Web, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network.
Can I use Weather Underground for free?
Yes. Weather Underground has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. IQAir starts at $399/one-time.
What is IQAir best used for?
IQAir is most often used for checking real-time outdoor and indoor air quality (aqi, pm2.5, etc.) via the airvisual app, getting air quality forecasts for a location, remotely monitoring and controlling iqair air purifiers from a smartphone, integrating air quality/weather data into third-party apps via the airvisual api. Of those, checking real-time outdoor and indoor air quality (aqi, pm2.5, etc.) via the airvisual app and getting air quality forecasts for a location are not what Weather Underground is typically brought in for.
What can IQAir do that Weather Underground cannot?
IQAir covers Global AQI data, City rankings, Health recommendations, Forecasts. Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations, Hyperlocal data, Historical records, Webcams. Both handle Smart home, Web support, Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

IQAir: What does IQAir do?

IQAir is a Swiss company providing two main services: air purification hardware (home and commercial air purifiers and filters) and air quality monitoring (real-time global air quality data from 80,000+ sensors worldwide, accessible via the AirVisual app and IQAir.com).

Source
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
IQAir: How much do IQAir air purifiers cost?

IQAir air purifiers range from $399 for portable Atem models to $949 for the HealthPro Plus. The new Atem Eco model is $799.99. Replacement filters cost $199.99 and last 1-4 years depending on usage.

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
IQAir: What real-time air quality data does IQAir provide?

IQAir provides real-time air quality data covering 500,000+ locations in 100+ countries, integrating data from government monitoring stations and 80,000+ IQAir-validated sensors. The platform measures PM2.5, PM10, and AQI for each location.

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
IQAir: Does IQAir have a mobile app?

Yes. IQAir's AirVisual app is available on iOS and Android, providing real-time air quality information, AQI rankings, health recommendations, and remote control of IQAir smart air purifiers.

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
IQAir: Is IQAir affordable compared to other air purifiers?

No. IQAir air purifiers are significantly more expensive than alternatives. The HealthPro Plus at $900 offers similar particle filtering to the Winix 5500-2 at $300. Higher cost is primarily due to superior gas filtration but poor overall value for most users.

Source
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Related pages

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