Weather & Environment · head to head
The Weather Channel vs RainViewer
The Weather Channel
Weather & Environment
America's most trusted weather source with real-time forecasts
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
RainViewer
Weather & Environment
Global rain radar with accurate precipitation forecasts
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: The Weather Channel premium radar features are limited to iOS and macOS; not available on Android or other platforms; RainViewer limited to precipitation forecasting without comprehensive weather data like temperature or wind
- They diverge on capability: The Weather Channel covers 10-day forecasts, RainViewer covers Global rain radar.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which The Weather Channel and RainViewer actually diverge.
| Attribute | The Weather Channel | RainViewer |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 1982 | 2015 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Weather & Environment).
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 The Weather Channel
- 10-day forecasts
- Hourly predictions
- Interactive radar
- Severe weather alerts
- Air quality index
- Smart home devices
- Connected cars
- Wearables
Only in RainViewer
- Global rain radar
- Smooth animations
- 2-hour forecasts
- Lightning data
- Satellite imagery
- API access
- Widgets
- Notifications
Both cover
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
The Weather Channel
- Checking daily and 10-day local weather forecastsnot RainViewer
- Tracking storms and hurricanes via Storm Radarnot RainViewer
- Viewing weather radar mapsnot RainViewer
- Getting severe weather alertsnot RainViewer
- Accessing weather news and video content on weather.comnot RainViewer
RainViewer
- Professional Worknot The Weather Channel
- Content Creationnot The Weather Channel
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
The Weather Channel
- Premium radar features are limited to iOS and macOS; not available on Android or other platforms
- Premium subscription required for advanced radar customization
- Premium perks tied to partner deals which may change
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
Pricing, plan by plan
The Weather Channel
Free- FreeFree
- Rain radar and storm tracker
- Allergy tracker
- 24-hour future radar
- Premium$29.99/year
- All free features
- Premium perks program (up to USD 187 value)
- 18Birdies golf app access (30% off plus free week)
RainViewer
Free- FreeFree
- Global radar
- Animations
- Forecasts
- Premium$2.99/month
- No ads
- API access
- Extended history
Which should you pick?
Choose The Weather Channel if
- You need 10-day forecasts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku.
- You also want hourly predictions.
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.
Questions people ask
- Is The Weather Channel or RainViewer better?
- Neither clearly leads. The Weather Channel starts at Free and RainViewer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, The Weather Channel or RainViewer?
- The Weather Channel starts at Free and RainViewer at Free.
- Does The Weather Channel or RainViewer run on more platforms?
- The Weather Channel runs on iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku. RainViewer runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use The Weather Channel for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is The Weather Channel best used for?
- The Weather Channel is most often used for checking daily and 10-day local weather forecasts, tracking storms and hurricanes via storm radar, viewing weather radar maps, getting severe weather alerts. Of those, checking daily and 10-day local weather forecasts and tracking storms and hurricanes via storm radar are not what RainViewer is typically brought in for.
- What can The Weather Channel do that RainViewer cannot?
- The Weather Channel covers 10-day forecasts, Hourly predictions, Interactive radar, Severe weather alerts. RainViewer covers Global rain radar, Smooth animations, 2-hour forecasts, Lightning data. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
The Weather Channel: What is the cost of The Weather Channel Premium?
The Weather Channel Premium subscription costs USD 29.99 annually with a 7-day free trial before the annual charge is applied.
SourceRainViewer: 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.
SourceThe Weather Channel: What premium features are included?
The Weather Channel Premium includes premium perks program offering up to USD 187 in partner deals, access to 18Birdies golf app (30% off plus free week), and professional-grade customizable radar with high-resolution single-site radar on iOS and macOS devices.
SourceRainViewer: How far ahead can RainViewer forecast rain?
RainViewer provides 2-hour precipitation forecasts updated frequently throughout the day with hyperlocal predictions.
SourceThe Weather Channel: What are the free features available?
Free features include rain radar, storm tracker, allergy tracker, 24-hour future radar, storm alerts, Feels Like temperature, hourly and daily forecasts, weather widgets with dark mode support, and air quality monitoring.
RainViewer: Is RainViewer available on all platforms?
RainViewer offers both a mobile app and web platform for accessing precipitation forecasts and radar data.
SourceThe Weather Channel: What devices are supported?
The Weather Channel app is available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku, and other streaming platforms.