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Weather · head to head

PurpleAir vs Yr.no

PurpleAir logo

PurpleAir

Weather

Real-time air quality monitoring for communities

From
$229/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Yr.no logo

Yr.no

Weather

Norway's trusted free weather service for the world

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Yr.no 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).; Yr.no full API/data usage requires attribution to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK per their terms, not a no-strings-attached free service
  • They diverge on capability: PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Yr.no covers Hourly forecasts.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PurpleAir and Yr.no actually diverge.

Attributes where PurpleAir and Yr.no differ
AttributePurpleAirYr.no
Starting price$229/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Api, HardwareWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20152007

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 Yr.no

  • Hourly forecasts
  • Long-term predictions
  • Precipitation graphs
  • Wind data
  • Aurora forecasts
  • Open API
  • Widgets
  • Smart displays

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

PurpleAir

  • Professional Worknot Yr.no
  • Content Creationnot Yr.no

Yr.no

  • Checking day-by-day and hour-by-hour weather forecasts with graph detailsnot PurpleAir
  • Now-cast alerts for rainfall expected within the next 90 minutesnot PurpleAir
  • Viewing UV forecasts, pollen spread, and air pollution overviewsnot PurpleAir
  • Embedding free weather widgets/modules on third-party websitesnot PurpleAir
  • Building weather features into apps via Yr's free REST APIs (forecasts, alerts, radar, ocean data)not 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).

Yr.no

  • Full API/data usage requires attribution to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK per their terms, not a no-strings-attached free service
  • Product and documentation are heavily Norway/Nordic-centric in framing even though forecasts cover any location on earth
  • No paid/pro consumer tier is published, monetization/support model beyond the free service is unclear from primary sources

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

Yr.no

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Full weather data
    • Hourly forecasts
    • Long-term outlook

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 Yr.no if

  • You need hourly forecasts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want long-term predictions.
Yr.no review

Questions people ask

Is PurpleAir or Yr.no better?
Neither clearly leads. PurpleAir starts at $229/one-time and Yr.no at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PurpleAir or Yr.no?
Yr.no has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $229/one-time for PurpleAir and Free for Yr.no.
Does PurpleAir or Yr.no run on more platforms?
PurpleAir runs on Web, Api, Hardware. Yr.no runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Yr.no for free?
Yes. Yr.no 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 Yr.no is typically brought in for.
What can PurpleAir do that Yr.no cannot?
PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Real-time map, Historical data, Community network. Yr.no covers Hourly forecasts, Long-term predictions, Precipitation graphs, Wind data. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Yr.no: Is Yr.no free to use?

Yes, Yr.no is a free weather forecasting service. It is a collaboration between NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) and The Norwegian Meteorological Institute.

Source
Yr.no: Does Yr.no require registration or payment to access weather forecasts?

The website does not mention any registration requirements, subscription tiers, or payment obligations. Access to weather information appears to be free without account creation.

Source
Yr.no: Who funds and maintains Yr.no if it is free?

Yr.no is maintained as a public service collaboration between NRK (Norwegian public broadcasting) and The Norwegian Meteorological Institute, both government-supported organizations.

Source
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