Software · head to head
Windy vs AccuWeather
Windy
Software
Advanced weather visualization and forecasting platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
AccuWeather
Software
Superior accuracy with proprietary RealFeel technology
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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; AccuWeather free API tier limited to 500 calls/day (14-day trial), forcing quick upgrade to paid plans
- They diverge on capability: Windy covers Weather visualization, AccuWeather covers RealFeel temperature.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Windy and AccuWeather actually diverge.
| Attribute | Windy | AccuWeather |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | Unknown |
| Platforms | Web, Ios, Android | Web, iOS, Android, macOS |
| Founded | 2014 | 1962 |
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 Windy
- Weather visualization
- Wind forecasts
- Precipitation maps
- Interactive charts
- Real-time data
- Global weather models
- Satellite data
- Weather APIs
Only in AccuWeather
- RealFeel temperature
- MinuteCast
- 45-day forecasts
- Severe weather alerts
- Air quality
- Smart TV apps
- Automotive
- Smart speakers
Both cover
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Windy
- Weather analysisnot AccuWeather
- Flight planningnot AccuWeather
- Wind pattern analysisnot AccuWeather
- Meteorological researchnot AccuWeather
AccuWeather
- Checking hyperlocal current conditions and minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts (MinuteCast)not Windy
- Getting severe weather alerts and notificationsnot Windy
- Viewing extended daily/hourly forecasts for trip planningnot Windy
- Building weather-driven features into third-party apps via the Core Weather APInot Windy
- Ad-free or premium in-app weather viewing via AccuWeather Premium/Premium+ subscriptionsnot Windy
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
AccuWeather
- Free API tier limited to 500 calls/day (14-day trial), forcing quick upgrade to paid plans
- Entry paid API tier (Starter, $2/month) capped at 15,000 monthly calls with only Current Conditions and 5-day Forecast
- Higher-tier forecast features (72-hour/10-day/120-hour/15-day forecasts, Alerts, Imagery) gated behind Prime ($250/mo) and Elite ($500/mo) API plans
- Consumer app requires iOS 17 / iPadOS 17 / macOS 14 or later, excluding older Apple devices
Pricing, plan by plan
Windy
Free- FreeFree
- Weather maps
- Wind forecasts
- Precipitation data
- Premium$5.99/month
- Advanced models
- Historical data
- API access
AccuWeather
Free- FreeFree
- 500 daily API calls (14-day trial)
- AccuWeather Premium$1.99/month
- AccuWeather Premium+$4.99/month
Which should you pick?
Choose Windy if
- You need weather visualization.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want wind forecasts.
Choose AccuWeather if
- You need realfeel temperature.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS.
- You also want minutecast.
Questions people ask
- Is Windy or AccuWeather better?
- Neither clearly leads. Windy starts at Free and AccuWeather at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Windy or AccuWeather?
- Windy starts at Free and AccuWeather at Free.
- Does Windy or AccuWeather run on more platforms?
- Windy runs on Web, Ios, Android. AccuWeather runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS.
- Can I use Windy for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Windy best used for?
- Windy is most often used for weather analysis, flight planning, wind pattern analysis, meteorological research. Of those, weather analysis and flight planning are not what AccuWeather is typically brought in for.
- What can Windy do that AccuWeather cannot?
- Windy covers Weather visualization, Wind forecasts, Precipitation maps, Interactive charts. AccuWeather covers RealFeel temperature, MinuteCast, 45-day forecasts, Severe weather alerts. Both handle Web support, Ios support, Android support.