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Weather · head to head

OpenWeatherMap vs Weather Underground PWS

OpenWeatherMap logo

OpenWeatherMap

Weather

Developer-friendly weather API with global coverage

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Weather Underground PWS logo

Weather Underground PWS

Weather

World's largest personal weather station network

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; Weather Underground PWS personal weather station network relies on community contributions
  • They diverge on capability: OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Weather Underground PWS covers Station network.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenWeatherMap and Weather Underground PWS actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenWeatherMap and Weather Underground PWS differ
AttributeOpenWeatherMapWeather Underground PWS
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile
Founded20171995

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

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

Only in Weather Underground PWS

  • Station network
  • Real-time upload
  • Quality control
  • Community rankings
  • PWS devices
  • Data APIs
  • Weather apps

Both cover

  • Historical data
  • 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 Weather Underground PWS
  • Pulling historical and statistical weather data for researchnot Weather Underground PWS
  • Displaying weather map overlays (precipitation, clouds, etc.) via the Weather Maps APInot Weather Underground PWS
  • Monitoring air pollution levels via the Air Pollution APInot Weather Underground PWS
  • Geocoding locations for weather lookupsnot Weather Underground PWS

Weather Underground PWS

  • Community-sourced weather station networknot OpenWeatherMap
  • Personal weather monitoring and forecastingnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Historical weather data accessnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Severe weather alerts and notificationsnot 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

Weather Underground PWS

  • Personal weather station network relies on community contributions
  • Data accuracy varies by station quality

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenWeatherMap

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

Weather Underground PWS

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Station registration
    • Data upload
    • Dashboard

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 Weather Underground PWS if

  • You need station network.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want real-time upload.
Weather Underground PWS review

Questions people ask

Is OpenWeatherMap or Weather Underground PWS better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenWeatherMap starts at Free and Weather Underground PWS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenWeatherMap or Weather Underground PWS?
OpenWeatherMap starts at Free and Weather Underground PWS at Free.
Does OpenWeatherMap or Weather Underground PWS run on more platforms?
OpenWeatherMap runs on Web. Weather Underground PWS runs on Web, Mobile.
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 Weather Underground PWS is typically brought in for.
What can OpenWeatherMap do that Weather Underground PWS cannot?
OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Current conditions, Forecasts, Weather maps. Weather Underground PWS covers Station network, Real-time upload, Quality control, Community rankings. Both handle Historical data, 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
Weather Underground PWS: Is there a cost to join the Weather Underground Personal Weather Station network?

No cost is disclosed for joining the Weather Underground PWS network. The site encourages users to join and contribute weather data.

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
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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