Softwr

Weather · head to head

MyRadar vs PurpleAir

MyRadar logo

MyRadar

Weather

Fast animated weather radar at your fingertips

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PurpleAir logo

PurpleAir

Weather

Real-time air quality monitoring for communities

From
$229/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only MyRadar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: MyRadar rain and storm time predictions are inaccurate approximately 60 percent of the time according to user reports; PurpleAir purpleAir sensors are one-time hardware purchases rather than a subscription, priced $199 to $279 USD per unit for named models (PA-I-Indoor, PA-II, PA-II-SD), per the vendor's own store (archived, 2021).
  • They diverge on capability: MyRadar covers Animated radar, PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MyRadar and PurpleAir actually diverge.

Attributes where MyRadar and PurpleAir differ
AttributeMyRadarPurpleAir
Starting priceFree$229/one-time
Pricing modelfreemiumone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, Android, WebWeb, Api, Hardware
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 MyRadar

  • Animated radar
  • Fast loading
  • Hurricane tracking
  • Flight tracking
  • Weather layers
  • Apple Watch
  • CarPlay
  • Android Auto

Only in PurpleAir

  • PM2.5 monitoring
  • Real-time map
  • Historical data
  • Community network
  • API access
  • API access
  • Home Assistant
  • Data downloads

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

MyRadar

  • Professional Work
  • Content Creation

PurpleAir

  • 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.

MyRadar

  • Rain and storm time predictions are inaccurate approximately 60 percent of the time according to user reports
  • Radar coverage is limited to areas with land-based radar sites
  • Only supports weather alerts for USA and Australia, not international coverage

PurpleAir

  • PurpleAir sensors are one-time hardware purchases rather than a subscription, priced $199 to $279 USD per unit for named models (PA-I-Indoor, PA-II, PA-II-SD), per the vendor's own store (archived, 2021).

Pricing, plan by plan

MyRadar

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Radar animation
    • Location tracking
    • Alerts
  • Premium$4.99/year
    • No ads
    • Hurricane tracker
    • Extended features

PurpleAir

$229/one-time
  • Outdoor Sensor$229/one-time
    • PM2.5 monitoring
    • Cloud connectivity
    • Map access
  • Indoor Sensor$199/one-time
    • Indoor monitoring
    • WiFi enabled
    • Real-time data

Which should you pick?

Choose MyRadar if

  • You need animated radar.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want fast loading.
MyRadar review

Choose PurpleAir if

  • You need pm2.5 monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Api, Hardware.
  • You also want real-time map.
PurpleAir review

Questions people ask

Is MyRadar or PurpleAir better?
Neither clearly leads. MyRadar starts at Free and PurpleAir at $229/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MyRadar or PurpleAir?
MyRadar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for MyRadar and $229/one-time for PurpleAir.
Does MyRadar or PurpleAir run on more platforms?
MyRadar runs on Ios, Android, Web. PurpleAir runs on Web, Api, Hardware.
Can I use MyRadar for free?
Yes. MyRadar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PurpleAir starts at $229/one-time.
What is MyRadar best used for?
MyRadar is most often used for professional work, content creation.
What can MyRadar do that PurpleAir cannot?
MyRadar covers Animated radar, Fast loading, Hurricane tracking, Flight tracking. PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Real-time map, Historical data, Community network. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MyRadar: Does MyRadar work internationally?

MyRadar provides radar coverage in the USA and Australia. Weather watches and warnings for countries other than Australia and the USA cannot be viewed in the app.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on MyRadar

More on PurpleAir

Keep looking

Other head to heads