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Weather · head to head

OpenWeatherMap vs Tomorrow.io

OpenWeatherMap logo

OpenWeatherMap

Weather

Developer-friendly weather API with global coverage

From
Free
Rated
-
Tomorrow.io logo

Tomorrow.io

Weather

Weather intelligence platform for business decisions

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; Tomorrow.io no transparent pricing displayed on marketing website
  • They diverge on capability: OpenWeatherMap covers Current conditions, Tomorrow.io covers Minute-by-minute forecasts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenWeatherMap and Tomorrow.io actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenWeatherMap and Tomorrow.io differ
AttributeOpenWeatherMapTomorrow.io
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWebWeb API
Founded20172016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 OpenWeatherMap

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

Only in Tomorrow.io

  • Minute-by-minute forecasts
  • Road conditions
  • Air quality
  • Pollen data
  • Webhooks
  • Enterprise systems
  • Ios support
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Weather API
  • REST API
  • Api support
  • 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 Tomorrow.io
  • Pulling historical and statistical weather data for researchnot Tomorrow.io
  • Displaying weather map overlays (precipitation, clouds, etc.) via the Weather Maps APInot Tomorrow.io
  • Monitoring air pollution levels via the Air Pollution APInot Tomorrow.io
  • Geocoding locations for weather lookupsnot Tomorrow.io

Tomorrow.io

  • Real-time weather data for mobile applicationsnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Enterprise weather risk managementnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Fleet management and routing optimizationnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Agricultural decision-making systemsnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Supply chain planningnot 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

Tomorrow.io

  • No transparent pricing displayed on marketing website
  • Requires contacting sales for enterprise platform demos
  • Free tier limited to Weather API with usage restrictions
  • Custom pricing model makes budget planning difficult for prospective customers

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenWeatherMap

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

Tomorrow.io

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Tomorrow.io review.

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenWeatherMap if

  • You need current conditions.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want forecasts.

Choose Tomorrow.io if

  • You need minute-by-minute forecasts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web API.
  • You also want road conditions.

Questions people ask

Is OpenWeatherMap or Tomorrow.io better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenWeatherMap starts at Free and Tomorrow.io at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenWeatherMap or Tomorrow.io?
OpenWeatherMap starts at Free and Tomorrow.io at Free.
Does OpenWeatherMap or Tomorrow.io run on more platforms?
OpenWeatherMap runs on Web. Tomorrow.io runs on Web API.
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 Tomorrow.io is typically brought in for.
What can OpenWeatherMap do that Tomorrow.io cannot?
OpenWeatherMap covers Current conditions, Forecasts, Historical data, Weather maps. Tomorrow.io covers Minute-by-minute forecasts, Road conditions, Air quality, Pollen data. Both handle Weather API, REST API, Api support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Tomorrow.io: Does Tomorrow.io offer free access?

Yes, Tomorrow.io offers a free Weather API tier for development and limited production use. Access the free tier by signing up at app.tomorrow.io/signup.

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
Tomorrow.io: How much do Tomorrow.io enterprise solutions cost?

Tomorrow.io does not publish specific enterprise pricing. Customers must contact sales or request a demo to receive custom quotes for their platform suites (Shield, Forge, GroundControl, Altitude, Gridline).

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
Tomorrow.io: What platforms does Tomorrow.io offer?

Tomorrow.io offers weather data via its free API, plus enterprise platforms including Shield for risk management, Forge for operations, GroundControl for aviation, Altitude for advanced analytics, Gridline for utilities, and Trackline for transportation.

Source
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