Software · head to head
The Weather Channel vs Weatherstack
The Weather Channel
Software
America's most trusted weather source with real-time 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; Weatherstack the free tier allows 100 API calls a month, which is a demo rather than a usable allowance
- They diverge on capability: The Weather Channel covers 10-day forecasts, Weatherstack covers Real-time weather.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which The Weather Channel and Weatherstack actually diverge.
| Attribute | The Weather Channel | Weatherstack |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku | Api |
| Founded | 1982 | 2016 |
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 Weatherstack
- Real-time weather
- Historical data
- Forecasts
- Location lookup
- Bulk queries
- REST API
- JSON responses
- HTTPS
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 Weatherstack
- Tracking storms and hurricanes via Storm Radarnot Weatherstack
- Viewing weather radar mapsnot Weatherstack
- Getting severe weather alertsnot Weatherstack
- Accessing weather news and video content on weather.comnot Weatherstack
Weatherstack
- Current weather lookups by location in an applicationnot The Weather Channel
- Historical weather data for analysis on the paid tiersnot The Weather Channel
- Short and medium range forecastsnot The Weather Channel
- Bulk location queries on the higher plansnot 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
Weatherstack
- The free tier allows 100 API calls a month, which is a demo rather than a usable allowance
- Historical weather data starts at the Standard plan, $9.99 a month for 50,000 calls
- Forecasting is tiered: 7 days from Professional at $49.99 a month and 14 days from Business at $99.99
- Multi-language responses and bulk queries need Professional or above
- Going past the monthly quota incurs overage charges rather than throttling
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)
Weatherstack
Free- FreeFree
- 250 calls/month
- Current weather
- Basic data
- Standard$9.99/month
- 50,000 calls/month
- Forecasts
- Historical
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 Weatherstack if
- You need real-time weather.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Api.
- You also want historical data.
Questions people ask
- Is The Weather Channel or Weatherstack better?
- Neither clearly leads. The Weather Channel starts at Free and Weatherstack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, The Weather Channel or Weatherstack?
- The Weather Channel starts at Free and Weatherstack at Free.
- Does The Weather Channel or Weatherstack run on more platforms?
- The Weather Channel runs on iOS, Android, Web, Apple TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku. Weatherstack runs on Api.
- 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 Weatherstack is typically brought in for.
- What can The Weather Channel do that Weatherstack cannot?
- The Weather Channel covers 10-day forecasts, Hourly predictions, Interactive radar, Severe weather alerts. Weatherstack covers Real-time weather, Historical data, Forecasts, Location lookup.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Related pages
More on The Weather Channel
More on Weatherstack
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