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Weathernews Inc vs Windy

Weathernews Inc logo

Weathernews Inc

Weather

Global weather solutions for shipping

From
$600/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Windy logo

Windy

Weather

Advanced weather visualization and forecasting platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Windy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Weathernews Inc primarily Japan-based with headquarters in Chiba, may have lower coverage in certain regional markets outside Asia; Windy windy Premium is required for the 1-hour and 15-day forecast outlook, 4-6x daily model updates, 24-hour radar/satellite loops with 1-year archives, and tide forecast maps, per the App Store listing; the free tier lacks these
  • They diverge on capability: Weathernews Inc covers Optimum ship routing, Windy covers Weather visualization.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Weathernews Inc and Windy actually diverge.

Attributes where Weathernews Inc and Windy differ
AttributeWeathernews IncWindy
Starting price$600/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Api, MobileWeb, Ios, Android
Founded19862014

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Weather).

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 Weathernews Inc

  • Optimum ship routing
  • Weather forecasting
  • Voyage planning
  • Risk assessment
  • Fleet management
  • Bridge systems
  • Navigation software
  • Api support

Only in Windy

  • Weather visualization
  • Wind forecasts
  • Precipitation maps
  • Interactive charts
  • Real-time data
  • Global weather models
  • Satellite data
  • Weather APIs

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Weathernews Inc

  • Optimizing cargo ship navigation with real-time maritime weather forecastsnot Windy
  • Supporting offshore wind farm operations with 24-hour weather monitoringnot Windy
  • Providing exclusive wind data for commercial drone flight planningnot Windy
  • Routing emergency medical helicopters in Japan with weather intelligencenot Windy

Windy

  • Weather analysisnot Weathernews Inc
  • Flight planningnot Weathernews Inc
  • Wind pattern analysisnot Weathernews Inc
  • Meteorological researchnot Weathernews Inc

Where each one falls short

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

Weathernews Inc

  • Primarily Japan-based with headquarters in Chiba, may have lower coverage in certain regional markets outside Asia
  • Marine weather data and aviation services are newer offerings compared to core weather forecasting capabilities
  • Competition from established European weather services in maritime sector

Windy

  • Windy Premium is required for the 1-hour and 15-day forecast outlook, 4-6x daily model updates, 24-hour radar/satellite loops with 1-year archives, and tide forecast maps, per the App Store listing; the free tier lacks these

Pricing, plan by plan

Weathernews Inc

$600/month
  • Optimum Routing$1500/month
    • Weather routing
    • Voyage optimization
    • 24/7 support

Windy

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Weather maps
    • Wind forecasts
    • Precipitation data
  • Premium$5.99/month
    • Advanced models
    • Historical data
    • API access

Which should you pick?

Choose Weathernews Inc if

  • You need optimum ship routing.
  • You work on Web, Api, Mobile.
  • You also want weather forecasting.
Weathernews Inc review

Choose Windy if

  • You need weather visualization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want wind forecasts.
Windy review

Questions people ask

Is Weathernews Inc or Windy better?
Neither clearly leads. Weathernews Inc starts at $600/month and Windy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Weathernews Inc or Windy?
Windy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $600/month for Weathernews Inc and Free for Windy.
Does Weathernews Inc or Windy run on more platforms?
Weathernews Inc runs on Web, Api, Mobile. Windy runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Windy for free?
Yes. Windy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Weathernews Inc starts at $600/month.
What is Weathernews Inc best used for?
Weathernews Inc is most often used for optimizing cargo ship navigation with real-time maritime weather forecasts, supporting offshore wind farm operations with 24-hour weather monitoring, providing exclusive wind data for commercial drone flight planning, routing emergency medical helicopters in japan with weather intelligence. Of those, optimizing cargo ship navigation with real-time maritime weather forecasts and supporting offshore wind farm operations with 24-hour weather monitoring are not what Windy is typically brought in for.
What can Weathernews Inc do that Windy cannot?
Weathernews Inc covers Optimum ship routing, Weather forecasting, Voyage planning, Risk assessment. Windy covers Weather visualization, Wind forecasts, Precipitation maps, Interactive charts. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Weathernews Inc: Does Weathernews provide marine weather data?

Yes. Weathernews provides wind, wave, current, sea ice, and typhoon information for global marine operations through its SeaNavigator platform, which launched SeaNavigator for Master in December 2025 with AI-assisted operations support.

Source
Weathernews Inc: What marine weather products does Weathernews offer?

Weathernews offers SeaNavigator Marine Weather Service, SeaNavigator for Master with conversational AI for captains, and marine data for Middle East waters made available free of charge in April 2026.

Source
Weathernews Inc: Does Weathernews serve the aviation industry?

Yes. Weathernews expanded aviation services with the December 2025 launch of SkyAviators, offering Global Aviation Weather Intelligence with turbulence risk assessments and takeoff/landing feasibility judgments for airports worldwide.

Source
Weathernews Inc: What was Weathernews founded in response to?

Weathernews was founded on June 11, 1986 by Hiro Ishibashi in response to a tragic maritime disaster where a cargo vessel sank at the port of Onahama, Japan with 15 crew members lost, demonstrating the need for better weather information.

Source
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