Software · head to head
OpenWeatherMap vs Visual Crossing Weather
OpenWeatherMap
Software
Developer-friendly weather API with global coverage
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Visual Crossing Weather
Software
Historical and forecast weather data for any location
- 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; Visual Crossing Weather sub hourly weather history, solar and wind energy elements, soil and evapotranspiration data and degree day calculations are excluded from the Professional plan
- They diverge on capability: OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Visual Crossing Weather covers Historical weather.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which OpenWeatherMap and Visual Crossing Weather actually diverge.
| Attribute | OpenWeatherMap | Visual Crossing Weather |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Platforms | Web | Api, Web |
| Founded | 2017 | 2003 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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
- JSON format
- Widgets
Only in Visual Crossing Weather
- Historical weather
- 15-day forecasts
- Weather query builder
- Bulk downloads
- API access
- Excel add-in
- Python library
Both cover
- 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 Visual Crossing Weather
- Pulling historical and statistical weather data for researchnot Visual Crossing Weather
- Displaying weather map overlays (precipitation, clouds, etc.) via the Weather Maps APInot Visual Crossing Weather
- Monitoring air pollution levels via the Air Pollution APInot Visual Crossing Weather
- Geocoding locations for weather lookupsnot Visual Crossing Weather
Visual Crossing Weather
- Pulling historical weather records for analysis and modellingnot OpenWeatherMap
- Adding forecast data to applications through a weather APInot OpenWeatherMap
- Weather driven analytics for energy, agriculture and logisticsnot 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
Visual Crossing Weather
- Sub hourly weather history, solar and wind energy elements, soil and evapotranspiration data and degree day calculations are excluded from the Professional plan
- Removing the attribution requirement needs the Corporate plan or above
- Usage is metered in records rather than API calls, and the metered plan requires a cost calculator to work out the bill
- Per record rates are not stated on the editions page
- Enterprise terms are custom rather than published
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
Visual Crossing Weather
Free- FreeFree
- 1,000 records/day
- 15-day forecast
- Historical data
- Professional$35/month
- 10,000 records/day
- Full API
- Support
Which should you pick?
Choose OpenWeatherMap if
- You need weather api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want current conditions.
Choose Visual Crossing Weather if
- You need historical weather.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Api, Web.
- You also want 15-day forecasts.
Questions people ask
- Is OpenWeatherMap or Visual Crossing Weather better?
- Neither clearly leads. OpenWeatherMap starts at Free and Visual Crossing Weather at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, OpenWeatherMap or Visual Crossing Weather?
- OpenWeatherMap starts at Free and Visual Crossing Weather at Free.
- Does OpenWeatherMap or Visual Crossing Weather run on more platforms?
- OpenWeatherMap runs on Web. Visual Crossing Weather runs on Api, Web.
- 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 Visual Crossing Weather is typically brought in for.
- What can OpenWeatherMap do that Visual Crossing Weather cannot?
- OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Current conditions, Forecasts, Historical data. Visual Crossing Weather covers Historical weather, 15-day forecasts, Weather query builder, Bulk downloads. Both handle REST API, Api support, Web support.