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The Weather Channel vs Weather Underground

The Weather Channel logo

The Weather Channel

Weather

America's most trusted weather source with real-time forecasts

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Weather Underground logo

Weather Underground

Weather

Crowdsourced hyperlocal weather from personal stations

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Weather Underground free public API discontinued as of December 31, 2018 with no new developer accounts accepted
  • They diverge on capability: The Weather Channel covers 10-day forecasts, Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which The Weather Channel and Weather Underground actually diverge.

Attributes where The Weather Channel and Weather Underground differ
AttributeThe Weather ChannelWeather Underground
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, RokuWeb, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network
Founded19822003

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 The Weather Channel

  • 10-day forecasts
  • Hourly predictions
  • Interactive radar
  • Severe weather alerts
  • Air quality index
  • Smart home devices
  • Connected cars
  • Wearables

Only in Weather Underground

  • Personal weather stations
  • Hyperlocal data
  • Historical records
  • Webcams
  • Community forums
  • PWS networks
  • Smart home
  • APIs

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 Weather Underground
  • Tracking storms and hurricanes via Storm Radarnot Weather Underground
  • Viewing weather radar mapsnot Weather Underground
  • Getting severe weather alertsnot Weather Underground
  • Accessing weather news and video content on weather.comnot Weather Underground

Weather Underground

  • 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

Weather Underground

  • Free public API discontinued as of December 31, 2018 with no new developer accounts accepted
  • Previous enterprise pricing was expensive at $150/month for Cumulus Drizzle plan
  • No longer competitive for developers needing reliable weather API access
  • Service is in wind-down phase with limited future development

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)

Weather Underground

Free
  • FreeFree
    • PWS data access
    • Forecasts
    • Historical data
  • Ad-Free$1.99/month
    • No advertisements
    • Premium features

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.
The Weather Channel review

Choose Weather Underground if

  • You need personal weather stations.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network.
  • You also want hyperlocal data.
Weather Underground review

Questions people ask

Is The Weather Channel or Weather Underground better?
Neither clearly leads. The Weather Channel starts at Free and Weather Underground at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, The Weather Channel or Weather Underground?
The Weather Channel starts at Free and Weather Underground at Free.
Does The Weather Channel or Weather Underground run on more platforms?
The Weather Channel runs on iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku. Weather Underground runs on Web, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network.
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 Weather Underground is typically brought in for.
What can The Weather Channel do that Weather Underground cannot?
The Weather Channel covers 10-day forecasts, Hourly predictions, Interactive radar, Severe weather alerts. Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations, Hyperlocal data, Historical records, Webcams. 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.

Source
Weather Underground: What happened to the Weather Underground API?

The free public API was discontinued on December 31, 2018, after IBM acquired The Weather Company. The service is now in a wind-down phase with no new developer accounts accepted.

Source
The 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.

Source
Weather Underground: Can I still use Weather Underground's data?

Free API keys are still available for Personal Weather Station (PWS) owners who upload data to the network. General developers need to migrate to alternative weather API providers.

Source
The 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.

Weather Underground: What was the pricing for Weather Underground's Cumulus plans?

The Cumulus Drizzle plan cost $150/month, which many developers found prohibitively expensive for weather data compared to modern alternatives.

Source
The 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.

Weather Underground: Does Weather Underground still offer a consumer-facing service?

Yes. The consumer website continues to provide weather forecasts, news, alerts, and access to personal weather station data through the PWS network.

Source
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