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Weather · head to head

PurpleAir vs Zoom Earth

PurpleAir logo

PurpleAir

Weather

Real-time air quality monitoring for communities

From
$229/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zoom Earth logo

Zoom Earth

Weather

Free browser-based satellite weather and storm tracking, no account or install

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Zoom Earth 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).; Zoom Earth there are no push notifications or alerts, so it cannot warn you proactively the way a mobile weather app can.
  • They diverge on capability: PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Zoom Earth covers Global satellite view.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PurpleAir and Zoom Earth actually diverge.

Attributes where PurpleAir and Zoom Earth differ
AttributePurpleAirZoom Earth
Starting price$229/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timeFree, no account required
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Api, HardwareWeb
Founded2015Unknown

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 Zoom Earth

  • Global satellite view
  • Storm tracking
  • MODIS high resolution
  • Historical imagery
  • Precipitation radar overlay
  • No install required

What people use each for

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

PurpleAir

  • Professional Worknot Zoom Earth
  • Content Creationnot Zoom Earth

Zoom Earth

  • Watching a hurricane or typhoon track develop without installing an appnot PurpleAir
  • A quick global satellite check before deciding whether a local forecast app is worth openingnot PurpleAir
  • Journalists or researchers needing a citable, no-login satellite view of a weather eventnot PurpleAir
  • Comparing current satellite imagery against archived imagery from years earlier for the same regionnot 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).

Zoom Earth

  • There are no push notifications or alerts, so it cannot warn you proactively the way a mobile weather app can.
  • It has no offline mode, so it is unusable without an internet connection, unlike apps that cache forecasts.
  • Forecasting is minimal; it shows what the satellites and radar currently see rather than a detailed hyperlocal forecast.
  • Being free and unaccountable to a paying customer base, there is no committed support channel if the site or a data feed goes down.
  • The browser-only interface is less convenient for quick daily checks than a home-screen app icon with widgets.

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

Zoom Earth

Free
  • Zoom EarthFree
    • Full satellite and storm tracking access
    • No account, no ads-gated tier
    • No offline mode or push alerts

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 Zoom Earth if

  • You need global satellite view.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want storm tracking.
Zoom Earth review

Questions people ask

Is PurpleAir or Zoom Earth better?
Neither clearly leads. PurpleAir starts at $229/one-time and Zoom Earth at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PurpleAir or Zoom Earth?
Zoom Earth has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $229/one-time for PurpleAir and Free for Zoom Earth.
Does PurpleAir or Zoom Earth run on more platforms?
PurpleAir runs on Web, Api, Hardware. Zoom Earth runs on Web.
Can I use Zoom Earth for free?
Yes. Zoom Earth 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 Zoom Earth is typically brought in for.
What can PurpleAir do that Zoom Earth cannot?
PurpleAir covers PM2.5 monitoring, Real-time map, Historical data, Community network. Zoom Earth covers Global satellite view, Storm tracking, MODIS high resolution, Historical imagery.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Zoom Earth: Do I need to create an account?

No. Zoom Earth works without registration or login.

Zoom Earth: Is there a mobile app?

No, it is a responsive website that works in mobile browsers rather than a native app.

Zoom Earth: How current is the imagery?

Geostationary imagery updates roughly every 10 to 15 minutes; higher-resolution MODIS imagery updates about twice a day.

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