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Weather Underground vs EPA AirNow

Weather Underground logo

Weather Underground

Software

Crowdsourced hyperlocal weather from personal stations

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
EPA AirNow logo

EPA AirNow

Software

Official U.S. government air quality information

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Weather Underground free public API discontinued as of December 31, 2018 with no new developer accounts accepted; EPA AirNow air quality data availability depends on nearby monitoring stations, can show no data found near a location when no monitor is close enough
  • They diverge on capability: Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations, EPA AirNow covers Official AQI data.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Weather Underground and EPA AirNow actually diverge.

Attributes where Weather Underground and EPA AirNow differ
AttributeWeather UndergroundEPA AirNow
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station networkiOS, Android, Web
Founded20031970

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 Weather Underground

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

Only in EPA AirNow

  • Official AQI data
  • Air quality forecasts
  • Fire & smoke data
  • Health recommendations
  • API access
  • Data feeds
  • Widgets
  • API

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Weather Underground

  • Professional Worknot EPA AirNow
  • Content Creationnot EPA AirNow

EPA AirNow

  • Checking current Air Quality Index (AQI) for a location or any searched areanot Weather Underground
  • Viewing next-day AQI forecasts to plan outdoor activitiesnot Weather Underground
  • Monitoring wildfire smoke via the Fire and Smoke Map (built with the U.S. Forest Service)not Weather Underground
  • Saving multiple locations for quick referencenot Weather Underground
  • Receiving optional push notifications for local AQI forecastsnot Weather Underground

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

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

EPA AirNow

  • Air quality data availability depends on nearby monitoring stations, can show no data found near a location when no monitor is close enough
  • Interactive monitor map (PM2.5, PM10, ozone) coverage documented on the primary source is U.S.-focused
  • As a government-run service it offers no paid tiers, proprietary data sources, or customization options found in commercial weather/air-quality apps

Pricing, plan by plan

Weather Underground

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

EPA AirNow

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the EPA AirNow review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose EPA AirNow if

  • You need official aqi data.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want air quality forecasts.
EPA AirNow review

Questions people ask

Is Weather Underground or EPA AirNow better?
Neither clearly leads. Weather Underground starts at Free and EPA AirNow at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Weather Underground or EPA AirNow?
Weather Underground starts at Free and EPA AirNow at Free.
Does Weather Underground or EPA AirNow run on more platforms?
Weather Underground runs on Web, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network. EPA AirNow runs on iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Weather Underground for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Weather Underground best used for?
Weather Underground is most often used for professional work, content creation. Of those, professional work and content creation are not what EPA AirNow is typically brought in for.
What can Weather Underground do that EPA AirNow cannot?
Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations, Hyperlocal data, Historical records, Webcams. EPA AirNow covers Official AQI data, Air quality forecasts, Fire & smoke data, Health recommendations. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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
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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