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Weather · head to head

PurpleAir vs Today Weather

PurpleAir logo

PurpleAir

Weather

Real-time air quality monitoring for communities

From
$229/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Today Weather logo

Today Weather

Weather

Clean minimalist weather with multiple data sources

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Today Weather 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).; Today Weather weather forecast accuracy is dependent on underlying data sources and cannot account for local microclimates
  • They diverge on capability: PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Today Weather covers Multiple data sources.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PurpleAir and Today Weather actually diverge.

Attributes where PurpleAir and Today Weather differ
AttributePurpleAirToday Weather
Starting price$229/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timeUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Api, HardwareiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, iPod touch, Apple Vision Pro, Android
Founded20152017

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 PurpleAir

  • PM2.5 monitoring
  • Real-time map
  • Historical data
  • Community network
  • API access
  • API access
  • Home Assistant
  • Data downloads

Only in Today Weather

  • Multiple data sources
  • Clean design
  • Hourly forecasts
  • Air quality
  • Precipitation alerts
  • Android widgets
  • iOS widgets
  • Wear OS

What people use each for

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

PurpleAir

  • Professional Work
  • Content Creation

Today Weather

  • 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).

Today Weather

  • Weather forecast accuracy is dependent on underlying data sources and cannot account for local microclimates
  • App does not provide offline forecast capability
  • Premium features require subscription or one-time purchase

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

Today Weather

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Weather forecasts
    • Basic radar
    • Air quality and UV index
  • Premium$2.99/year
    • Ad removal
    • Full radar capabilities
    • Advanced weather alerts
  • Premium (Lifetime)$17.99/one-time
    • All premium features
    • Perpetual license

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 Today Weather if

  • You need multiple data sources.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, iPod touch, Apple Vision Pro, Android.
  • You also want clean design.
Today Weather review

Questions people ask

Is PurpleAir or Today Weather better?
Neither clearly leads. PurpleAir starts at $229/one-time and Today Weather at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PurpleAir or Today Weather?
Today Weather has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $229/one-time for PurpleAir and Free for Today Weather.
Does PurpleAir or Today Weather run on more platforms?
PurpleAir runs on Web, Api, Hardware. Today Weather runs on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, iPod touch, Apple Vision Pro, Android.
Can I use Today Weather for free?
Yes. Today Weather 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 Today Weather cannot?
PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Real-time map, Historical data, Community network. Today Weather covers Multiple data sources, Clean design, Hourly forecasts, Air quality.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Today Weather: Is Today Weather free?

Today Weather is free to download and use, with premium features available. Premium subscriptions are $2.99/year (with additional one-time purchase options at $17.99 for perpetual access), which unlock ad removal and full radar capabilities.

Source
Today Weather: What weather data sources does Today Weather use?

Today Weather integrates data from multiple sources including NOAA, AccuWeather, Dark Sky, Weatherbit, OpenWeatherMap, Foreca, and national meteorological services for each country such as Weather.gov (US) and UK Met Office.

Source
Today Weather: What platforms does Today Weather support?

Today Weather is available on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac (M1+), iPod touch, and Apple Vision Pro. An Android version is also available on Google Play.

Source
Today Weather: Does Today Weather offer widgets?

Yes, Today Weather includes 23 customizable widgets with multiple styles, allowing users to see weather data they need directly on their home screen.

Source
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Related pages

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