Softwr

Weather · head to head

RainViewer vs Weather Underground PWS

RainViewer logo

RainViewer

Weather

Global rain radar with accurate precipitation forecasts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Weather Underground PWS logo

Weather Underground PWS

Weather

World's largest personal weather station network

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; Weather Underground PWS personal weather station network relies on community contributions
  • They diverge on capability: RainViewer covers Global rain radar, Weather Underground PWS covers Station network.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which RainViewer and Weather Underground PWS actually diverge.

Attributes where RainViewer and Weather Underground PWS differ
AttributeRainViewerWeather Underground PWS
Pricing modelfreemiumfree
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, Mobile
Founded20151995

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 RainViewer

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

Only in Weather Underground PWS

  • Station network
  • Real-time upload
  • Historical data
  • Quality control
  • Community rankings
  • PWS devices
  • Data APIs
  • Weather apps

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

RainViewer

  • Professional Worknot Weather Underground PWS
  • Content Creationnot Weather Underground PWS

Weather Underground PWS

  • Community-sourced weather station networknot RainViewer
  • Personal weather monitoring and forecastingnot RainViewer
  • Historical weather data accessnot RainViewer
  • Severe weather alerts and notificationsnot 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

Weather Underground PWS

  • Personal weather station network relies on community contributions
  • Data accuracy varies by station quality

Pricing, plan by plan

RainViewer

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

Weather Underground PWS

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Station registration
    • Data upload
    • Dashboard

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 Weather Underground PWS if

  • You need station network.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want real-time upload.
Weather Underground PWS review

Questions people ask

Is RainViewer or Weather Underground PWS better?
Neither clearly leads. RainViewer starts at Free and Weather Underground PWS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, RainViewer or Weather Underground PWS?
RainViewer starts at Free and Weather Underground PWS at Free.
Does RainViewer or Weather Underground PWS run on more platforms?
RainViewer runs on Web, iOS, Android. Weather Underground PWS runs on Web, Mobile.
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 Weather Underground PWS is typically brought in for.
What can RainViewer do that Weather Underground PWS cannot?
RainViewer covers Global rain radar, Smooth animations, 2-hour forecasts, Lightning data. Weather Underground PWS covers Station network, Real-time upload, Historical data, Quality control. Both handle Web 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
Weather Underground PWS: Is there a cost to join the Weather Underground Personal Weather Station network?

No cost is disclosed for joining the Weather Underground PWS network. The site encourages users to join and contribute weather data.

Source
RainViewer: How far ahead can RainViewer forecast rain?

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

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
Share

Related pages

More on RainViewer

More on Weather Underground PWS

Keep looking

Other head to heads