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Weather & Environment · head to head

Weather Underground vs WeatherBug

Weather Underground logo

Weather Underground

Weather & Environment

Crowdsourced hyperlocal weather from personal stations

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WeatherBug logo

WeatherBug

Weather & Environment

Fastest weather alerts with live conditions

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; WeatherBug requires persistent internet connection for real-time radar and live data
  • They diverge on capability: Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations, WeatherBug covers Lightning detection.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Weather Underground and WeatherBug actually diverge.

Attributes where Weather Underground and WeatherBug differ
AttributeWeather UndergroundWeatherBug
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station networkiOS, Android, Windows, Web
Founded20031995

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

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 WeatherBug

  • Lightning detection
  • Spark lightning alerts
  • Live conditions
  • 18 weather maps
  • Pollen data
  • School networks
  • Home weather stations
  • Smart devices

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Weather Underground

  • Professional Worknot WeatherBug
  • Content Creationnot WeatherBug

WeatherBug

  • Checking current conditions and forecasts from a network of local weather stationsnot Weather Underground
  • Viewing live weather radar mapsnot Weather Underground
  • Receiving severe weather alertsnot Weather Underground
  • Tracking lightning strikes near a locationnot 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

WeatherBug

  • Requires persistent internet connection for real-time radar and live data
  • Radar images are smoothed for appearance, reducing detail compared to raw radar data
  • No historical weather data available in the free version
  • Free version contains advertisements
  • Performance issues and lag reported, particularly during severe weather or high usage periods
  • Lacks direct integrations with third-party apps and home automation systems

Pricing, plan by plan

Weather Underground

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

WeatherBug

Free
  • Free$undefined/mo
    • 20+ weather maps
    • 10-day forecast
    • 140+ hours hourly forecast
  • Premium$4.99/month
    • Ad-free experience
    • Extended forecasts
    • Historical data

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 WeatherBug if

  • You need lightning detection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Windows, Web.
  • You also want spark lightning alerts.
WeatherBug review

Questions people ask

Is Weather Underground or WeatherBug better?
Neither clearly leads. Weather Underground starts at Free and WeatherBug at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Weather Underground or WeatherBug?
Weather Underground starts at Free and WeatherBug at Free.
Does Weather Underground or WeatherBug run on more platforms?
Weather Underground runs on Web, Mobile web, Personal Weather Station network. WeatherBug runs on iOS, Android, Windows, 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 WeatherBug is typically brought in for.
What can Weather Underground do that WeatherBug cannot?
Weather Underground covers Personal weather stations, Hyperlocal data, Historical records, Webcams. WeatherBug covers Lightning detection, Spark lightning alerts, Live conditions, 18 weather maps. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android 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
WeatherBug: Does WeatherBug work offline?

Partially. WeatherBug can cache weather data when you have an internet connection, allowing you to view cached information offline. However, real-time radar and live data require an active internet connection.

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
WeatherBug: What weather maps and radar layers does WeatherBug include?

WeatherBug includes over 20 weather maps including Radar, Future Radar (1-hour), Lightning, Pollen, Severe Storm Risk, and Precipitation. The free version includes a 10-day forecast and over 140 hours of hourly forecast data.

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
WeatherBug: Is there a cost to use WeatherBug?

WeatherBug is free with ads. Premium subscription costs $4.99 per month for ad-free experience and includes extended forecasts and historical data.

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
WeatherBug: Can I customize weather alerts?

Yes. WeatherBug allows customizable alerts for severe weather conditions including lightning, storms, and precipitation.

Source
WeatherBug: What platforms is WeatherBug available on?

WeatherBug is available on iOS, Android, Windows, and the web. The desktop app provides real-time weather updates, interactive maps, live radar, and detailed forecasts.

Source
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