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Weather · head to head

Plume Labs vs RainViewer

Plume Labs logo

Plume Labs

Weather

Personal air quality tracking and forecasting

From
$179/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
RainViewer logo

RainViewer

Weather

Global rain radar with accurate precipitation forecasts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only RainViewer has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Plume Labs plume Labs states on its own site that the Flow and Flow 2 hardware are no longer available for purchase, while the Plume Labs App and the Plume API continue to operate; RainViewer limited to precipitation forecasting without comprehensive weather data like temperature or wind
  • They diverge on capability: Plume Labs covers Personal air sensor, RainViewer covers Global rain radar.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Plume Labs and RainViewer actually diverge.

Attributes where Plume Labs and RainViewer differ
AttributePlume LabsRainViewer
Starting price$179/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Android, HardwareWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20142015

Identical on both: 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 Plume Labs

  • Personal air sensor
  • Real-time tracking
  • Exposure insights
  • Route suggestions
  • Health tips
  • Mobile app
  • Fitness trackers
  • Smart home

Only in RainViewer

  • Global rain radar
  • Smooth animations
  • 2-hour forecasts
  • Lightning data
  • Satellite imagery
  • API access
  • Widgets
  • Notifications

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Plume Labs

  • Professional Work
  • Content Creation

RainViewer

  • Professional Work
  • Content Creation

Both are used for professional work, content creation, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Plume Labs

  • Plume Labs states on its own site that the Flow and Flow 2 hardware are no longer available for purchase, while the Plume Labs App and the Plume API continue to operate

RainViewer

  • Limited to precipitation forecasting without comprehensive weather data like temperature or wind
  • Forecast window limited to 2 hours, not suitable for extended weather planning
  • Smaller global weather station network compared to national meteorological services
  • Limited historical weather data compared to competing weather platforms

Pricing, plan by plan

Plume Labs

$179/one-time
  • Flow 2$179/one-time
    • Personal sensor
    • Real-time tracking
    • App access

RainViewer

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Global radar
    • Animations
    • Forecasts
  • Premium$2.99/month
    • No ads
    • API access
    • Extended history

Which should you pick?

Choose Plume Labs if

  • You need personal air sensor.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Hardware.
  • You also want real-time tracking.
Plume Labs review

Choose RainViewer if

  • You need global rain radar.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want smooth animations.
RainViewer review

Questions people ask

Is Plume Labs or RainViewer better?
Neither clearly leads. Plume Labs starts at $179/one-time and RainViewer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Plume Labs or RainViewer?
RainViewer has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $179/one-time for Plume Labs and Free for RainViewer.
Does Plume Labs or RainViewer run on more platforms?
Plume Labs runs on Ios, Android, Hardware. RainViewer runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use RainViewer for free?
Yes. RainViewer has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Plume Labs starts at $179/one-time.
What is Plume Labs best used for?
Plume Labs is most often used for professional work, content creation.
What can Plume Labs do that RainViewer cannot?
Plume Labs covers Personal air sensor, Real-time tracking, Exposure insights, Route suggestions. RainViewer covers Global rain radar, Smooth animations, 2-hour forecasts, Lightning data. Both handle Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Plume Labs: Is the Flow 2 air quality sensor still available for purchase?

No. Plume Labs discontinued the Flow 2 hardware in Spring 2023. It is no longer for sale.

Source
RainViewer: What weather data does RainViewer use?

RainViewer processes radar data from over 1,000 radar stations worldwide to provide precipitation forecasts with sub-kilometer accuracy updated every 5 minutes.

Source
Plume Labs: What air quality products does Plume Labs currently offer?

Plume Labs now offers the Plume Labs App for air quality forecasts and the Plume API for business data solutions. Specific pricing for these services is not disclosed on the website.

Source
RainViewer: How far ahead can RainViewer forecast rain?

RainViewer provides 2-hour precipitation forecasts updated frequently throughout the day with hyperlocal predictions.

Source
RainViewer: Is RainViewer available on all platforms?

RainViewer offers both a mobile app and web platform for accessing precipitation forecasts and radar data.

Source
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