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Weather · head to head

PurpleAir vs RainViewer

PurpleAir logo

PurpleAir

Weather

Real-time air quality monitoring for communities

From
$229/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: PurpleAir purpleAir sensors are one-time hardware purchases rather than a subscription, priced $199 to $279 USD per unit for named models (PA-I-Indoor, PA-II, PA-II-SD), per the vendor's own store (archived, 2021).; RainViewer limited to precipitation forecasting without comprehensive weather data like temperature or wind
  • They diverge on capability: PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, RainViewer covers Global rain radar.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PurpleAir and RainViewer actually diverge.

Attributes where PurpleAir and RainViewer differ
AttributePurpleAirRainViewer
Starting price$229/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Api, HardwareWeb, iOS, Android

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Weather), founded (2015).

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 PurpleAir

  • PM2.5 monitoring
  • Real-time map
  • Historical data
  • Community network
  • Home Assistant
  • Data downloads
  • Api support
  • Hardware support

Only in RainViewer

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

Both cover

  • API access
  • API access
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

PurpleAir

  • 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.

PurpleAir

  • PurpleAir sensors are one-time hardware purchases rather than a subscription, priced $199 to $279 USD per unit for named models (PA-I-Indoor, PA-II, PA-II-SD), per the vendor's own store (archived, 2021).

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

PurpleAir

$229/one-time
  • Outdoor Sensor$229/one-time
    • PM2.5 monitoring
    • Cloud connectivity
    • Map access
  • Indoor Sensor$199/one-time
    • Indoor monitoring
    • WiFi enabled
    • Real-time data

RainViewer

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

Which should you pick?

Choose PurpleAir if

  • You need pm2.5 monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Api, Hardware.
  • You also want real-time map.
PurpleAir 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 PurpleAir or RainViewer better?
Neither clearly leads. PurpleAir starts at $229/one-time and RainViewer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PurpleAir or RainViewer?
RainViewer has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $229/one-time for PurpleAir and Free for RainViewer.
Does PurpleAir or RainViewer run on more platforms?
PurpleAir runs on Web, Api, 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. PurpleAir starts at $229/one-time.
What is PurpleAir best used for?
PurpleAir is most often used for professional work, content creation.
What can PurpleAir do that RainViewer cannot?
PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Real-time map, Historical data, Community network. RainViewer covers Global rain radar, Smooth animations, 2-hour forecasts, Lightning data. Both handle API access, API access, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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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