Software · head to head
Weather Underground vs Hello Weather
Weather Underground
Software
Crowdsourced hyperlocal weather from personal stations
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
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; Hello Weather limited features in free version compared to competitors with native rain alerts
- They diverge on capability: Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations, Hello Weather covers Multiple data sources.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Weather Underground and Hello Weather actually diverge.
| Attribute | Weather Underground | Hello Weather |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network | iOS, iPadOS, Android, watchOS |
| Founded | 2003 | 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 Weather Underground
- Personal weather stations
- Hyperlocal data
- Historical records
- Webcams
- Community forums
- PWS networks
- Smart home
- APIs
Only in Hello Weather
- Multiple data sources
- Simple design
- Comparison mode
- Custom icons
- Widgets
- Apple Watch
- iOS widgets
- Siri shortcuts
Both cover
- Ios support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Weather Underground
- Professional Work
- Content Creation
Hello Weather
- Professional Work
- Content Creation
Both are used for professional work, content creation, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
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
Hello Weather
- Limited features in free version compared to competitors with native rain alerts
- Smaller development team means slower feature updates compared to enterprise weather apps
- No native invoicing or team management for business use
Pricing, plan by plan
Weather Underground
Free- FreeFree
- PWS data access
- Forecasts
- Historical data
- Ad-Free$1.99/month
- No advertisements
- Premium features
Hello Weather
Free- FreeFree
- Current, hourly, daily forecasts
- Multiple data source options
- Dark mode
- VIP$3/year
- Home screen and lock screen widgets
- Push notifications for precipitation
- Apple Watch app
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.
Choose Hello Weather if
- You need multiple data sources.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, iPadOS, Android, watchOS.
- You also want simple design.
Questions people ask
- Is Weather Underground or Hello Weather better?
- Neither clearly leads. Weather Underground starts at Free and Hello Weather at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Weather Underground or Hello Weather?
- Weather Underground starts at Free and Hello Weather at Free.
- Does Weather Underground or Hello Weather run on more platforms?
- Weather Underground runs on Web, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network. Hello Weather runs on iOS, iPadOS, Android, watchOS.
- 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.
- What can Weather Underground do that Hello Weather cannot?
- Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations, Hyperlocal data, Historical records, Webcams. Hello Weather covers Multiple data sources, Simple design, Comparison mode, Custom icons. Both handle Ios 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.
SourceHello Weather: What is Hello Weather's business model?
Hello Weather is free to download from the App Store with optional VIP membership. VIP costs $3 for one year, $5 for two years, or $7 for lifetime access.
SourceWeather 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.
SourceHello Weather: What weather data sources does Hello Weather support?
Hello Weather supports multiple weather data sources including Apple Weather, AccuWeather, Foreca, OpenWeather, Pirate Weather, The Weather Company, Tomorrow.io, Visual Crossing, Weatherbit, and Xweather.
SourceWeather 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.
SourceHello Weather: What platforms does Hello Weather support?
Hello Weather is available on iPhone, iPad, and Android. It includes Apple Watch app and complications, plus home screen and lock screen widgets.
SourceWeather 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.
SourceHello Weather: Is Hello Weather an independent project?
Yes, Hello Weather is developed by indie developers Jonas Downey and Trevor as a side project. The team describes themselves as friends with day jobs who make the app for fun.
SourceHello Weather: When was Hello Weather first launched?
Hello Weather was launched in 2016 and has achieved half a million downloads with thousands of paying VIP customers.
Source