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OpenWeatherMap vs Storm Radar

OpenWeatherMap logo

OpenWeatherMap

Software

Developer-friendly weather API with global coverage

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Storm Radar logo

Storm Radar

Software

Advanced storm tracking from The Weather Channel

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: OpenWeatherMap free tier capped at 60 calls/minute and 1,000,000 calls/month; Storm Radar iOS-only at launch with Android support still pending
  • They diverge on capability: OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Storm Radar covers Future radar.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenWeatherMap and Storm Radar actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenWeatherMap and Storm Radar differ
AttributeOpenWeatherMapStorm Radar
PlatformsWebiOS
Founded20171982

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 Storm Radar

  • Future radar
  • Storm tracking
  • Lightning detection
  • Hurricane tracker
  • Severe alerts
  • Weather Channel ecosystem
  • Smart devices
  • Ios 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 Storm Radar
  • Pulling historical and statistical weather data for researchnot Storm Radar
  • Displaying weather map overlays (precipitation, clouds, etc.) via the Weather Maps APInot Storm Radar
  • Monitoring air pollution levels via the Air Pollution APInot Storm Radar
  • Geocoding locations for weather lookupsnot Storm Radar

Storm Radar

  • Professional Worknot OpenWeatherMap
  • Content Creationnot 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

Storm Radar

  • iOS-only at launch with Android support still pending
  • Premium subscription required for advanced features like future radar and custom alerts
  • Limited integration options with other weather or emergency alert services

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

Storm Radar

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic weather radar
    • Real-time precipitation alerts
    • Severe weather warnings
  • Premium$3.99/month
    • Future radar (6-72 hours)
    • 30 advanced tracking features
    • AI Weather Assistant

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenWeatherMap if

  • You need weather api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want current conditions.
OpenWeatherMap review

Choose Storm Radar if

  • You need future radar.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS.
  • You also want storm tracking.
Storm Radar review

Questions people ask

Is OpenWeatherMap or Storm Radar better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenWeatherMap starts at Free and Storm Radar at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenWeatherMap or Storm Radar?
OpenWeatherMap starts at Free and Storm Radar at Free.
Does OpenWeatherMap or Storm Radar run on more platforms?
OpenWeatherMap runs on Web. Storm Radar runs on iOS.
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 Storm Radar is typically brought in for.
What can OpenWeatherMap do that Storm Radar cannot?
OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Current conditions, Forecasts, Historical data. Storm Radar covers Future radar, Storm tracking, Lightning detection, Hurricane tracker.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Storm Radar: How much does Storm Radar cost?

Storm Radar is free to download on iOS. Premium features cost $3.99 per month or $19.99 per year. The Weather Channel Premium Pro subscribers get all Storm Radar premium features for $4.99/month or $29.99/year.

Source
Storm Radar: What platforms does Storm Radar support?

Storm Radar is currently available on iOS. An Android version is planned for future release.

Source
Storm Radar: What storm tracking features does Storm Radar provide?

Storm Radar offers 6 hours of global future radar and up to 72 hours in the US, real-time precipitation alerts, NOAA severe weather warnings, lightning alerts, and up to 30 advanced tracking features for hurricanes, tornadoes, and other storms.

Source
Storm Radar: Does Storm Radar include an AI Weather Assistant?

Yes, Storm Radar includes an AI-Powered Weather Assistant that provides personal meteorologist-level insights using generative AI to transform complex weather data into natural updates.

Source
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