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The Weather Channel vs Weather Underground PWS

The Weather Channel logo

The Weather Channel

Software

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Weather Underground PWS logo

Weather Underground PWS

Software

World's largest personal weather station network

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 PWS personal weather station network relies on community contributions
  • They diverge on capability: The Weather Channel covers 10-day forecasts, Weather Underground PWS covers Station network.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where The Weather Channel and Weather Underground PWS differ
AttributeThe Weather ChannelWeather Underground PWS
Pricing modelUnknownfree
PlatformsiOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, RokuWeb, Mobile
Founded19821995

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 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.

The Weather Channel

  • Checking daily and 10-day local weather forecastsnot Weather Underground PWS
  • Tracking storms and hurricanes via Storm Radarnot Weather Underground PWS
  • Viewing weather radar mapsnot Weather Underground PWS
  • Getting severe weather alertsnot Weather Underground PWS
  • Accessing weather news and video content on weather.comnot Weather Underground PWS

Weather Underground PWS

  • Community-sourced weather station networknot The Weather Channel
  • Personal weather monitoring and forecastingnot The Weather Channel
  • Historical weather data accessnot The Weather Channel
  • Severe weather alerts and notificationsnot 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 PWS

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

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 PWS

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Station registration
    • Data upload
    • Dashboard

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 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 The Weather Channel or Weather Underground PWS better?
Neither clearly leads. The Weather Channel 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, The Weather Channel or Weather Underground PWS?
The Weather Channel starts at Free and Weather Underground PWS at Free.
Does The Weather Channel or Weather Underground PWS run on more platforms?
The Weather Channel runs on iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku. Weather Underground PWS runs on Web, Mobile.
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 PWS is typically brought in for.
What can The Weather Channel do that Weather Underground PWS cannot?
The Weather Channel covers 10-day forecasts, Hourly predictions, Interactive radar, Severe weather alerts. Weather Underground PWS covers Station network, Real-time upload, Historical data, Quality control. Both handle Web 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
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
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.

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.

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