Software · head to head
Weatherstack vs Ambient Weather Network
Ambient Weather Network
Software
Connect your weather station to the cloud
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Weatherstack the free tier allows 100 API calls a month, which is a demo rather than a usable allowance; Ambient Weather Network the App Store listing states the Ambient Weather Network app requires iOS 14.1 or later, and the underlying station apps (awnet, AmbientTool) are tied to specific discontinued hardware models.
- They diverge on capability: Weatherstack covers Real-time weather, Ambient Weather Network covers Cloud connectivity.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Weatherstack and Ambient Weather Network actually diverge.
| Attribute | Weatherstack | Ambient Weather Network |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Platforms | Api | Web, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2016 | 2003 |
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 Weatherstack
- Real-time weather
- Historical data
- Forecasts
- Location lookup
- Bulk queries
- REST API
- JSON responses
- HTTPS
Only in Ambient Weather Network
- Cloud connectivity
- Real-time data
- Historical storage
- Alerts
- Public sharing
- Alexa
- Google Home
- IFTTT
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Weatherstack
- Current weather lookups by location in an applicationnot Ambient Weather Network
- Historical weather data for analysis on the paid tiersnot Ambient Weather Network
- Short and medium range forecastsnot Ambient Weather Network
- Bulk location queries on the higher plansnot Ambient Weather Network
Ambient Weather Network
- Professional Worknot Weatherstack
- Content Creationnot Weatherstack
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Ambient Weather Network
- The App Store listing states the Ambient Weather Network app requires iOS 14.1 or later, and the underlying station apps (awnet, AmbientTool) are tied to specific discontinued hardware models.
Pricing, plan by plan
Weatherstack
Free- FreeFree
- 250 calls/month
- Current weather
- Basic data
- Standard$9.99/month
- 50,000 calls/month
- Forecasts
- Historical
Ambient Weather Network
Free- FreeFree
- Data upload
- Dashboard
- API access
Which should you pick?
Choose Weatherstack if
- You need real-time weather.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Api.
- You also want historical data.
Choose Ambient Weather Network if
- You need cloud connectivity.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want real-time data.
Questions people ask
- Is Weatherstack or Ambient Weather Network better?
- Neither clearly leads. Weatherstack starts at Free and Ambient Weather Network at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Weatherstack or Ambient Weather Network?
- Weatherstack starts at Free and Ambient Weather Network at Free.
- Does Weatherstack or Ambient Weather Network run on more platforms?
- Weatherstack runs on Api. Ambient Weather Network runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Weatherstack for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Weatherstack best used for?
- Weatherstack is most often used for current weather lookups by location in an application, historical weather data for analysis on the paid tiers, short and medium range forecasts, bulk location queries on the higher plans. Of those, current weather lookups by location in an application and historical weather data for analysis on the paid tiers are not what Ambient Weather Network is typically brought in for.
- What can Weatherstack do that Ambient Weather Network cannot?
- Weatherstack covers Real-time weather, Historical data, Forecasts, Location lookup. Ambient Weather Network covers Cloud connectivity, Real-time data, Historical storage, Alerts.