Software · head to head
OpenWeatherMap vs AccuWeather
OpenWeatherMap
Software
Developer-friendly weather API with global coverage
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
AccuWeather
Software
Superior accuracy with proprietary RealFeel technology
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: OpenWeatherMap free tier capped at 60 calls/minute and 1,000,000 calls/month; AccuWeather free API tier limited to 500 calls/day (14-day trial), forcing quick upgrade to paid plans
- They diverge on capability: OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, AccuWeather covers RealFeel temperature.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which OpenWeatherMap and AccuWeather actually diverge.
| Attribute | OpenWeatherMap | AccuWeather |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android, macOS |
| Founded | 2017 | 1962 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 OpenWeatherMap
- Weather API
- Current conditions
- Forecasts
- Historical data
- Weather maps
- REST API
- JSON format
- Widgets
Only in AccuWeather
- RealFeel temperature
- MinuteCast
- 45-day forecasts
- Severe weather alerts
- Air quality
- Smart TV apps
- Automotive
- Smart speakers
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
OpenWeatherMap
- Embedding current weather and short-term forecasts into third-party apps/websitesnot AccuWeather
- Pulling historical and statistical weather data for researchnot AccuWeather
- Displaying weather map overlays (precipitation, clouds, etc.) via the Weather Maps APInot AccuWeather
- Monitoring air pollution levels via the Air Pollution APInot AccuWeather
- Geocoding locations for weather lookupsnot AccuWeather
AccuWeather
- Checking hyperlocal current conditions and minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts (MinuteCast)not OpenWeatherMap
- Getting severe weather alerts and notificationsnot OpenWeatherMap
- Viewing extended daily/hourly forecasts for trip planningnot OpenWeatherMap
- Building weather-driven features into third-party apps via the Core Weather APInot OpenWeatherMap
- Ad-free or premium in-app weather viewing via AccuWeather Premium/Premium+ subscriptionsnot OpenWeatherMap
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal 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
AccuWeather
- Free API tier limited to 500 calls/day (14-day trial), forcing quick upgrade to paid plans
- Entry paid API tier (Starter, $2/month) capped at 15,000 monthly calls with only Current Conditions and 5-day Forecast
- Higher-tier forecast features (72-hour/10-day/120-hour/15-day forecasts, Alerts, Imagery) gated behind Prime ($250/mo) and Elite ($500/mo) API plans
- Consumer app requires iOS 17 / iPadOS 17 / macOS 14 or later, excluding older Apple devices
Pricing, plan by plan
OpenWeatherMap
Free- FreeFree
- 60 calls/min
- 1,000,000 calls/month
- current weather, 3-hr/5-day forecast, air pollution, 15 map layers, geocoding
AccuWeather
Free- FreeFree
- 500 daily API calls (14-day trial)
- AccuWeather Premium$1.99/month
- AccuWeather Premium+$4.99/month
Which should you pick?
Choose OpenWeatherMap if
- You need weather api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want current conditions.
Choose AccuWeather if
- You need realfeel temperature.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS.
- You also want minutecast.
Questions people ask
- Is OpenWeatherMap or AccuWeather better?
- Neither clearly leads. OpenWeatherMap starts at Free and AccuWeather at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, OpenWeatherMap or AccuWeather?
- OpenWeatherMap starts at Free and AccuWeather at Free.
- Does OpenWeatherMap or AccuWeather run on more platforms?
- OpenWeatherMap runs on Web. AccuWeather runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS.
- Can I use OpenWeatherMap for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is OpenWeatherMap best used for?
- OpenWeatherMap is most often used for embedding current weather and short-term forecasts into third-party apps/websites, pulling historical and statistical weather data for research, displaying weather map overlays (precipitation, clouds, etc.) via the weather maps api, monitoring air pollution levels via the air pollution api. Of those, embedding current weather and short-term forecasts into third-party apps/websites and pulling historical and statistical weather data for research are not what AccuWeather is typically brought in for.
- What can OpenWeatherMap do that AccuWeather cannot?
- OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Current conditions, Forecasts, Historical data. AccuWeather covers RealFeel temperature, MinuteCast, 45-day forecasts, Severe weather alerts. Both handle Web support.