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Weather · head to head

OpenWeatherMap vs Zoom Earth

OpenWeatherMap logo

OpenWeatherMap

Weather

Developer-friendly weather API with global coverage

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoom Earth logo

Zoom Earth

Weather

Free browser-based satellite weather and storm tracking, no account or install

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; Zoom Earth there are no push notifications or alerts, so it cannot warn you proactively the way a mobile weather app can.
  • They diverge on capability: OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Zoom Earth covers Global satellite view.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenWeatherMap and Zoom Earth actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenWeatherMap and Zoom Earth differ
AttributeOpenWeatherMapZoom Earth
Pricing modelfreemiumFree, no account required
Founded2017Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), 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
  • Historical data
  • Weather maps
  • REST API
  • JSON format
  • Widgets

Only in Zoom Earth

  • Global satellite view
  • Storm tracking
  • MODIS high resolution
  • Historical imagery
  • Precipitation radar overlay
  • No install required

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

Zoom Earth

  • Watching a hurricane or typhoon track develop without installing an appnot OpenWeatherMap
  • A quick global satellite check before deciding whether a local forecast app is worth openingnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Journalists or researchers needing a citable, no-login satellite view of a weather eventnot OpenWeatherMap
  • Comparing current satellite imagery against archived imagery from years earlier for the same regionnot 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

Zoom Earth

  • There are no push notifications or alerts, so it cannot warn you proactively the way a mobile weather app can.
  • It has no offline mode, so it is unusable without an internet connection, unlike apps that cache forecasts.
  • Forecasting is minimal; it shows what the satellites and radar currently see rather than a detailed hyperlocal forecast.
  • Being free and unaccountable to a paying customer base, there is no committed support channel if the site or a data feed goes down.
  • The browser-only interface is less convenient for quick daily checks than a home-screen app icon with widgets.

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenWeatherMap

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

Zoom Earth

Free
  • Zoom EarthFree
    • Full satellite and storm tracking access
    • No account, no ads-gated tier
    • No offline mode or push alerts

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 Zoom Earth if

  • You need global satellite view.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want storm tracking.
Zoom Earth review

Questions people ask

Is OpenWeatherMap or Zoom Earth better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenWeatherMap starts at Free and Zoom Earth at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenWeatherMap or Zoom Earth?
OpenWeatherMap starts at Free and Zoom Earth at Free.
Does OpenWeatherMap or Zoom Earth run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Zoom Earth is typically brought in for.
What can OpenWeatherMap do that Zoom Earth cannot?
OpenWeatherMap covers Weather API, Current conditions, Forecasts, Historical data. Zoom Earth covers Global satellite view, Storm tracking, MODIS high resolution, Historical imagery.

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
Zoom Earth: Do I need to create an account?

No. Zoom Earth works without registration or login.

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
Zoom Earth: Is there a mobile app?

No, it is a responsive website that works in mobile browsers rather than a native app.

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
Zoom Earth: How current is the imagery?

Geostationary imagery updates roughly every 10 to 15 minutes; higher-resolution MODIS imagery updates about twice a day.

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