Software · head to head
Weatherstack vs Foreca
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; Foreca free version includes advertisements (only removable via paid subscription)
- They diverge on capability: Weatherstack covers Real-time weather, Foreca covers Global forecasts.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Weatherstack and Foreca actually diverge.
| Attribute | Weatherstack | Foreca |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Platforms | Api | iOS, macOS |
| Founded | 2016 | 1996 |
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 Foreca
- Global forecasts
- Automotive weather
- Mobile SDK
- White-label apps
- Marine weather
- Mobile platforms
- Automotive systems
- Digital services
Both cover
- Api support
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 Foreca
- Historical weather data for analysis on the paid tiersnot Foreca
- Short and medium range forecastsnot Foreca
- Bulk location queries on the higher plansnot Foreca
Foreca
- Checking hourly/daily forecasts and animated weather/radar mapsnot Weatherstack
- Receiving government weather alerts and rain notificationsnot Weatherstack
- Tracking air quality index and UV levelsnot Weatherstack
- Monitoring multiple saved locationsnot Weatherstack
- Apple Watch complications and home-screen widgets for at-a-glance weathernot 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
Foreca
- Free version includes advertisements (only removable via paid subscription)
- Requires relatively recent OS versions on Apple platforms (iOS 16.4+/macOS 13.0+) per App Store listing
- Only paid differentiator is ad removal, no deeper feature tier beyond that
Pricing, plan by plan
Weatherstack
Free- FreeFree
- 250 calls/month
- Current weather
- Basic data
- Standard$9.99/month
- 50,000 calls/month
- Forecasts
- Historical
Foreca
Free- Ad-free (3 months)$1.59/3 months
- Ad-free (1 year)$4.99/year
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 Foreca if
- You need global forecasts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, macOS.
- You also want automotive weather.
Questions people ask
- Is Weatherstack or Foreca better?
- Neither clearly leads. Weatherstack starts at Free and Foreca at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Weatherstack or Foreca?
- Weatherstack starts at Free and Foreca at Free.
- Does Weatherstack or Foreca run on more platforms?
- Weatherstack runs on Api. Foreca runs on iOS, macOS.
- 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 Foreca is typically brought in for.
- What can Weatherstack do that Foreca cannot?
- Weatherstack covers Real-time weather, Historical data, Forecasts, Location lookup. Foreca covers Global forecasts, Automotive weather, Mobile SDK, White-label apps. Both handle Api support.