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Weather · head to head

Awair vs OpenWeatherMap

Awair logo

Awair

Weather

Smart indoor air quality monitor for healthy spaces

From
$149/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenWeatherMap logo

OpenWeatherMap

Weather

Developer-friendly weather API with global coverage

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenWeatherMap has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Awair a hardware purchase, with the Element at $299 before any software value; OpenWeatherMap free tier capped at 60 calls/minute and 1,000,000 calls/month
  • They diverge on capability: Awair covers 5-factor monitoring, OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Awair and OpenWeatherMap actually diverge.

Attributes where Awair and OpenWeatherMap differ
AttributeAwairOpenWeatherMap
Starting price$149/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Android, HardwareWeb
Founded20132017

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 Awair

  • 5-factor monitoring
  • Awair Score
  • Personalized tips
  • Historical trends
  • Smart displays
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • IFTTT

Only in OpenWeatherMap

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

What people use each for

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

Awair

  • Indoor air quality monitoring at homenot OpenWeatherMap
  • Tracking CO2, humidity, temperature, VOCs and particulatesnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Workplace air quality monitoring across a building with Omninot OpenWeatherMap
  • Correlating air quality with sleep or productivitynot OpenWeatherMap

OpenWeatherMap

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

Where each one falls short

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

Awair

  • A hardware purchase, with the Element at $299 before any software value
  • The consumer Element tracks 5 environmental factors against 7 on the business Omni
  • Business deployments run on subscriptions, and Omni pricing is not published

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

Awair

$149/one-time
  • Element$149/one-time
    • 5 air factors
    • Smart home integration
    • App access
  • Omni$299/one-time
    • Enterprise features
    • API access
    • Advanced analytics

OpenWeatherMap

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Awair if

  • You need 5-factor monitoring.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Hardware.
  • You also want awair score.
Awair 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 Awair or OpenWeatherMap better?
Neither clearly leads. Awair starts at $149/one-time and OpenWeatherMap at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Awair or OpenWeatherMap?
OpenWeatherMap has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $149/one-time for Awair and Free for OpenWeatherMap.
Does Awair or OpenWeatherMap run on more platforms?
Awair runs on Ios, Android, Hardware. OpenWeatherMap runs on Web.
Can I use OpenWeatherMap for free?
Yes. OpenWeatherMap has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Awair starts at $149/one-time.
What is Awair best used for?
Awair is most often used for indoor air quality monitoring at home, tracking co2, humidity, temperature, vocs and particulates, workplace air quality monitoring across a building with omni, correlating air quality with sleep or productivity. Of those, indoor air quality monitoring at home and tracking co2, humidity, temperature, vocs and particulates are not what OpenWeatherMap is typically brought in for.
What can Awair do that OpenWeatherMap cannot?
Awair covers 5-factor monitoring, Awair Score, Personalized tips, Historical trends. OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Current conditions, Forecasts, Historical data.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Awair: What are the current prices for Awair devices?

Awair Element is priced at $299 USD (£229 / €259 for UK/EU). Awair Omni pricing for business use is not displayed on the homepage.

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
Awair: What is the difference between Element and Omni models?

Element tracks 5 environmental factors for home use. Omni tracks 7 factors and is targeted at businesses to protect tenants, employees, and students.

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
Awair: Is there a trial or free access period before purchasing?

No trial is mentioned on the homepage. Users can download the free mobile app and set up devices within minutes after purchase.

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
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