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Weather · head to head

AirVisual vs WSI (The Weather Company)

AirVisual logo

AirVisual

Weather

World's largest air quality information platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WSI (The Weather Company) logo

WSI (The Weather Company)

Weather

Professional weather solutions for business operations

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only AirVisual has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: AirVisual outdoor readings depend on nearby government or crowdsourced monitors, so accuracy varies with local coverage; WSI (The Weather Company) the Weather Company (which acquired WSI) states on its own site that it no longer owns The Weather Channel TV network, a separate entity from its data/API business (Internet Archive capture, 6 May 2021)
  • They diverge on capability: AirVisual covers Global AQI coverage, WSI (The Weather Company) covers Aviation weather.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AirVisual and WSI (The Weather Company) actually diverge.

Attributes where AirVisual and WSI (The Weather Company) differ
AttributeAirVisualWSI (The Weather Company)
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIos, Android, WebWeb, Api, Enterprise
Founded20151978

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 AirVisual

  • Global AQI coverage
  • 3-day forecasts
  • Health recommendations
  • City rankings
  • Historical data
  • Widgets
  • Apple Watch
  • Smart displays

Only in WSI (The Weather Company)

  • Aviation weather
  • Energy forecasting
  • Media solutions
  • Insurance analytics
  • Precision forecasts
  • Enterprise systems
  • Aviation networks
  • Trading platforms

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

AirVisual

  • Checking local air quality and PM2.5 levelsnot WSI (The Weather Company)
  • Seven day air quality forecastsnot WSI (The Weather Company)
  • Health guidance based on current pollutionnot WSI (The Weather Company)
  • Comparing indoor and outdoor air with an IQAir monitornot WSI (The Weather Company)

WSI (The Weather Company)

  • Professional Worknot AirVisual
  • Content Creationnot AirVisual

Where each one falls short

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

AirVisual

  • Outdoor readings depend on nearby government or crowdsourced monitors, so accuracy varies with local coverage
  • Indoor measurement needs an IQAir AirVisual monitor bought separately
  • The app pages do not state what, if anything, costs money

WSI (The Weather Company)

  • The Weather Company (which acquired WSI) states on its own site that it no longer owns The Weather Channel TV network, a separate entity from its data/API business (Internet Archive capture, 6 May 2021)

Pricing, plan by plan

AirVisual

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Global AQI data
    • Forecasts
    • Health tips
  • Pro$4.99/month
    • Ad-free
    • Historical data
    • Widgets

WSI (The Weather Company)

On request
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Industry solutions
    • API access
    • Custom analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose AirVisual if

  • You need global aqi coverage.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want 3-day forecasts.
AirVisual review

Choose WSI (The Weather Company) if

  • You need aviation weather.
  • You work on Web, Api, Enterprise.
  • You also want energy forecasting.
WSI (The Weather Company) review

Questions people ask

Is AirVisual or WSI (The Weather Company) better?
Neither clearly leads. AirVisual starts at Free and WSI (The Weather Company) at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AirVisual or WSI (The Weather Company)?
AirVisual has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for AirVisual and On request for WSI (The Weather Company).
Does AirVisual or WSI (The Weather Company) run on more platforms?
AirVisual runs on Ios, Android, Web. WSI (The Weather Company) runs on Web, Api, Enterprise.
Can I use AirVisual for free?
Yes. AirVisual has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. WSI (The Weather Company) starts at On request.
What is AirVisual best used for?
AirVisual is most often used for checking local air quality and pm2.5 levels, seven day air quality forecasts, health guidance based on current pollution, comparing indoor and outdoor air with an iqair monitor. Of those, checking local air quality and pm2.5 levels and seven day air quality forecasts are not what WSI (The Weather Company) is typically brought in for.
What can AirVisual do that WSI (The Weather Company) cannot?
AirVisual covers Global AQI coverage, 3-day forecasts, Health recommendations, City rankings. WSI (The Weather Company) covers Aviation weather, Energy forecasting, Media solutions, Insurance analytics. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AirVisual: Why doesn't AirVisual publish pricing for its air quality products?

AirVisual does not publish specific prices on its product pages. The company offers various purchasing and financing programs instead, including 0% financing options, filter subscriptions, and trade-in programs.

Source
WSI (The Weather Company): What does the Weather Company API free trial include?

The free trial lasts 30 days and includes 50,000 API calls per day at a rate of 100 calls per minute. This is limited to enterprise customers only.

Source
AirVisual: Does AirVisual offer financing for equipment purchases?

Yes, AirVisual offers 0% financing options for equipment purchases.

Source
WSI (The Weather Company): What is the pricing for standard Weather Company API access?

The Standard Plan costs $500 USD per month, billed annually, and includes 1 million API calls per month with access to current conditions, forecasts, lifestyle indices, alerts, and weather imagery.

Source
AirVisual: Are AirVisual products eligible for HSA or FSA spending accounts?

Yes, AirVisual products are eligible for FSA and HSA payments, allowing customers to use tax-advantaged health savings accounts for purchases.

Source
WSI (The Weather Company): Do airlines get special pricing on Weather Company APIs?

Yes, major airlines are required to enroll in a custom Enterprise plan with pricing determined by agreement rather than the standard pricing tiers.

Source
AirVisual: What ongoing service does AirVisual offer beyond the initial product purchase?

AirVisual offers filter subscription services to ensure continued operation of air quality monitoring equipment.

Source
WSI (The Weather Company): Are extra weather features like historical records available, and how much do they cost?

Extra features including probabilistic forecasts, lightning data, and historical records are available, but require contacting sales for custom pricing. Dedicated account management is also offered as an optional add-on.

Source
AirVisual: Does AirVisual offer trade-in or upgrade programs?

Yes, AirVisual operates a trade-in program that allows customers to trade in older equipment, as well as a Restored Program for refurbished products.

Source
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