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Weather · head to head

PurpleAir vs Windy

PurpleAir logo

PurpleAir

Weather

Real-time air quality monitoring for communities

From
$229/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Windy logo

Windy

Weather

Advanced weather visualization and forecasting platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Windy 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).; Windy windy Premium is required for the 1-hour and 15-day forecast outlook, 4-6x daily model updates, 24-hour radar/satellite loops with 1-year archives, and tide forecast maps, per the App Store listing; the free tier lacks these
  • They diverge on capability: PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Windy covers Weather visualization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PurpleAir and Windy actually diverge.

Attributes where PurpleAir and Windy differ
AttributePurpleAirWindy
Starting price$229/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Api, HardwareWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20152014

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 Windy

  • Weather visualization
  • Wind forecasts
  • Precipitation maps
  • Interactive charts
  • Real-time data
  • Global weather models
  • Satellite data
  • Weather APIs

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

PurpleAir

  • Professional Worknot Windy
  • Content Creationnot Windy

Windy

  • Weather analysisnot PurpleAir
  • Flight planningnot PurpleAir
  • Wind pattern analysisnot PurpleAir
  • Meteorological researchnot PurpleAir

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).

Windy

  • Windy Premium is required for the 1-hour and 15-day forecast outlook, 4-6x daily model updates, 24-hour radar/satellite loops with 1-year archives, and tide forecast maps, per the App Store listing; the free tier lacks these

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

Windy

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Weather maps
    • Wind forecasts
    • Precipitation data
  • Premium$5.99/month
    • Advanced models
    • Historical data
    • API access

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 Windy if

  • You need weather visualization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want wind forecasts.
Windy review

Questions people ask

Is PurpleAir or Windy better?
Neither clearly leads. PurpleAir starts at $229/one-time and Windy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PurpleAir or Windy?
Windy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $229/one-time for PurpleAir and Free for Windy.
Does PurpleAir or Windy run on more platforms?
PurpleAir runs on Web, Api, Hardware. Windy runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Windy for free?
Yes. Windy 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. Of those, professional work and content creation are not what Windy is typically brought in for.
What can PurpleAir do that Windy cannot?
PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Real-time map, Historical data, Community network. Windy covers Weather visualization, Wind forecasts, Precipitation maps, Interactive charts. Both handle Web support.
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