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RainViewer vs Ventusky

RainViewer logo

RainViewer

Weather

Global rain radar with accurate precipitation forecasts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ventusky logo

Ventusky

Weather

Beautiful weather maps from Czech developers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: RainViewer limited to precipitation forecasting without comprehensive weather data like temperature or wind; Ventusky the Premium subscription page names two tiers, Premium and Premium plus, capped at 4 and 25 devices respectively, but publishes no price for either, showing a dash where the figure would appear
  • They diverge on capability: RainViewer covers Global rain radar, Ventusky covers Animated weather maps.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which RainViewer and Ventusky actually diverge.

Attributes where RainViewer and Ventusky differ
AttributeRainViewerVentusky
Pricing modelfreemiumfree

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, iOS, Android), 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 RainViewer

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

Only in Ventusky

  • Animated weather maps
  • Multiple forecast models
  • Wind visualization
  • Temperature maps
  • Precipitation forecasts
  • Web embedding

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

RainViewer

  • Professional Worknot Ventusky
  • Content Creationnot Ventusky

Ventusky

  • Interactive weather forecast, radar and wind mapping, with a paid Premium tier for unlimited layers and forecasts beyond 7 daysnot RainViewer

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

Ventusky

  • The Premium subscription page names two tiers, Premium and Premium plus, capped at 4 and 25 devices respectively, but publishes no price for either, showing a dash where the figure would appear

Pricing, plan by plan

RainViewer

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

Ventusky

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Weather maps
    • Multiple models
    • Forecasts

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Ventusky if

  • You need animated weather maps.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want multiple forecast models.
Ventusky review

Questions people ask

Is RainViewer or Ventusky better?
Neither clearly leads. RainViewer starts at Free and Ventusky at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, RainViewer or Ventusky?
RainViewer starts at Free and Ventusky at Free.
Does RainViewer or Ventusky run on more platforms?
RainViewer runs on Web, iOS, Android. Ventusky runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use RainViewer for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is RainViewer best used for?
RainViewer is most often used for professional work, content creation. Of those, professional work and content creation are not what Ventusky is typically brought in for.
What can RainViewer do that Ventusky cannot?
RainViewer covers Global rain radar, Smooth animations, 2-hour forecasts, Lightning data. Ventusky covers Animated weather maps, Multiple forecast models, Wind visualization, Temperature maps. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android 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
Ventusky: What subscription tiers does Ventusky Premium offer?

Ventusky offers Premium and Premium+ subscriptions. Both are billed yearly and include unlimited layers, forecast maps beyond 7 days, advanced widgets, notifications, and priority support.

Source
RainViewer: How far ahead can RainViewer forecast rain?

RainViewer provides 2-hour precipitation forecasts updated frequently throughout the day with hyperlocal predictions.

Source
Ventusky: What is the difference between Ventusky Premium and Premium+ tiers?

Both tiers include the same features but support different numbers of devices. Premium supports up to 4 devices, while Premium+ supports up to 25 devices.

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
Ventusky: Can I cancel my Ventusky subscription after signing up?

Yes, you may cancel at any time. Subscriptions renew automatically, but you can stop renewal at any point.

Source
Ventusky: Will I get a refund if I cancel mid-subscription?

No, payments for the current subscription period are non-refundable. Your access will continue until the end of the prepaid period after which it stops.

Source
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