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Weather · head to head

Meteomatics vs RainViewer

Meteomatics logo

Meteomatics

Weather

Weather API with drone-enhanced forecasting

From
€150/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
RainViewer logo

RainViewer

Weather

Global rain radar with accurate precipitation forecasts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only RainViewer has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Meteomatics higher cost compared to free or freemium weather APIs for basic use cases; RainViewer limited to precipitation forecasting without comprehensive weather data like temperature or wind
  • They diverge on capability: Meteomatics covers Weather API, RainViewer covers Global rain radar.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Meteomatics and RainViewer actually diverge.

Attributes where Meteomatics and RainViewer differ
AttributeMeteomaticsRainViewer
Starting price€150/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20122015

Identical on both: 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 Meteomatics

  • Weather API
  • Drone measurements
  • High-resolution data
  • Historical archive
  • Custom models
  • REST API
  • Python SDK
  • Enterprise systems

Only in RainViewer

  • Global rain radar
  • Smooth animations
  • 2-hour forecasts
  • Lightning data
  • Satellite imagery
  • API access
  • Widgets
  • Notifications

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Meteomatics

  • Professional Work
  • Content Creation

RainViewer

  • Professional Work
  • Content Creation

Both are used for professional work, content creation, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

Meteomatics

  • Higher cost compared to free or freemium weather APIs for basic use cases

RainViewer

  • Limited to precipitation forecasting without comprehensive weather data like temperature or wind
  • Forecast window limited to 2 hours, not suitable for extended weather planning
  • Smaller global weather station network compared to national meteorological services
  • Limited historical weather data compared to competing weather platforms

Pricing, plan by plan

Meteomatics

€150/month
  • Starter$150/month
    • API access
    • Basic data
    • Support
  • Professional$500/month
    • Full API
    • Historical data
    • Priority support

RainViewer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Global radar
    • Animations
    • Forecasts
  • Premium$2.99/month
    • No ads
    • API access
    • Extended history

Which should you pick?

Choose Meteomatics if

  • You need weather api.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want drone measurements.
Meteomatics review

Choose RainViewer if

  • You need global rain radar.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want smooth animations.
RainViewer review

Questions people ask

Is Meteomatics or RainViewer better?
Neither clearly leads. Meteomatics starts at €150/month and RainViewer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Meteomatics or RainViewer?
RainViewer has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at €150/month for Meteomatics and Free for RainViewer.
Does Meteomatics or RainViewer run on more platforms?
Meteomatics runs on Web, API. RainViewer runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use RainViewer for free?
Yes. RainViewer has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Meteomatics starts at €150/month.
What is Meteomatics best used for?
Meteomatics is most often used for professional work, content creation.
What can Meteomatics do that RainViewer cannot?
Meteomatics covers Weather API, Drone measurements, High-resolution data, Historical archive. RainViewer covers Global rain radar, Smooth animations, 2-hour forecasts, Lightning data. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Meteomatics: What weather data does Meteomatics provide?

Meteomatics provides global forecast and historical weather data through a RESTful API and WMS/WFS-compatible interface, with custom weather models including EURO1k covering Europe at 1km resolution.

Source
RainViewer: What weather data does RainViewer use?

RainViewer processes radar data from over 1,000 radar stations worldwide to provide precipitation forecasts with sub-kilometer accuracy updated every 5 minutes.

Source
RainViewer: How far ahead can RainViewer forecast rain?

RainViewer provides 2-hour precipitation forecasts updated frequently throughout the day with hyperlocal predictions.

Source
RainViewer: Is RainViewer available on all platforms?

RainViewer offers both a mobile app and web platform for accessing precipitation forecasts and radar data.

Source
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