Weather · head to head
Yr.no vs Zoom Earth
Zoom Earth
Weather
Free browser-based satellite weather and storm tracking, no account or install
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Yr.no full API/data usage requires attribution to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK per their terms, not a no-strings-attached free service; Zoom Earth there are no push notifications or alerts, so it cannot warn you proactively the way a mobile weather app can.
- They diverge on capability: Yr.no covers Hourly forecasts, Zoom Earth covers Global satellite view.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Yr.no and Zoom Earth actually diverge.
| Attribute | Yr.no | Zoom Earth |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | free | Free, no account required |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web |
| Founded | 2007 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Yr.no
- Hourly forecasts
- Long-term predictions
- Precipitation graphs
- Wind data
- Aurora forecasts
- Open API
- Widgets
- Smart displays
Only in Zoom Earth
- Global satellite view
- Storm tracking
- MODIS high resolution
- Historical imagery
- Precipitation radar overlay
- No install required
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Yr.no
- Checking day-by-day and hour-by-hour weather forecasts with graph detailsnot Zoom Earth
- Now-cast alerts for rainfall expected within the next 90 minutesnot Zoom Earth
- Viewing UV forecasts, pollen spread, and air pollution overviewsnot Zoom Earth
- Embedding free weather widgets/modules on third-party websitesnot Zoom Earth
- Building weather features into apps via Yr's free REST APIs (forecasts, alerts, radar, ocean data)not Zoom Earth
Zoom Earth
- Watching a hurricane or typhoon track develop without installing an appnot Yr.no
- A quick global satellite check before deciding whether a local forecast app is worth openingnot Yr.no
- Journalists or researchers needing a citable, no-login satellite view of a weather eventnot Yr.no
- Comparing current satellite imagery against archived imagery from years earlier for the same regionnot Yr.no
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Yr.no
- Full API/data usage requires attribution to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK per their terms, not a no-strings-attached free service
- Product and documentation are heavily Norway/Nordic-centric in framing even though forecasts cover any location on earth
- No paid/pro consumer tier is published, monetization/support model beyond the free service is unclear from primary sources
Zoom Earth
- There are no push notifications or alerts, so it cannot warn you proactively the way a mobile weather app can.
- It has no offline mode, so it is unusable without an internet connection, unlike apps that cache forecasts.
- Forecasting is minimal; it shows what the satellites and radar currently see rather than a detailed hyperlocal forecast.
- Being free and unaccountable to a paying customer base, there is no committed support channel if the site or a data feed goes down.
- The browser-only interface is less convenient for quick daily checks than a home-screen app icon with widgets.
Pricing, plan by plan
Yr.no
Free- FreeFree
- Full weather data
- Hourly forecasts
- Long-term outlook
Zoom Earth
Free- Zoom EarthFree
- Full satellite and storm tracking access
- No account, no ads-gated tier
- No offline mode or push alerts
Which should you pick?
Choose Yr.no if
- You need hourly forecasts.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want long-term predictions.
Choose Zoom Earth if
- You need global satellite view.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want storm tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is Yr.no or Zoom Earth better?
- Neither clearly leads. Yr.no starts at Free and Zoom Earth at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Yr.no or Zoom Earth?
- Yr.no starts at Free and Zoom Earth at Free.
- Does Yr.no or Zoom Earth run on more platforms?
- Yr.no runs on Web, iOS, Android. Zoom Earth runs on Web.
- Can I use Yr.no for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Yr.no best used for?
- Yr.no is most often used for checking day-by-day and hour-by-hour weather forecasts with graph details, now-cast alerts for rainfall expected within the next 90 minutes, viewing uv forecasts, pollen spread, and air pollution overviews, embedding free weather widgets/modules on third-party websites. Of those, checking day-by-day and hour-by-hour weather forecasts with graph details and now-cast alerts for rainfall expected within the next 90 minutes are not what Zoom Earth is typically brought in for.
- What can Yr.no do that Zoom Earth cannot?
- Yr.no covers Hourly forecasts, Long-term predictions, Precipitation graphs, Wind data. Zoom Earth covers Global satellite view, Storm tracking, MODIS high resolution, Historical imagery.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Yr.no: Is Yr.no free to use?
Yes, Yr.no is a free weather forecasting service. It is a collaboration between NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting) and The Norwegian Meteorological Institute.
SourceZoom Earth: Do I need to create an account?
No. Zoom Earth works without registration or login.
Yr.no: Does Yr.no require registration or payment to access weather forecasts?
The website does not mention any registration requirements, subscription tiers, or payment obligations. Access to weather information appears to be free without account creation.
SourceZoom Earth: Is there a mobile app?
No, it is a responsive website that works in mobile browsers rather than a native app.
Yr.no: Who funds and maintains Yr.no if it is free?
Yr.no is maintained as a public service collaboration between NRK (Norwegian public broadcasting) and The Norwegian Meteorological Institute, both government-supported organizations.
SourceZoom Earth: How current is the imagery?
Geostationary imagery updates roughly every 10 to 15 minutes; higher-resolution MODIS imagery updates about twice a day.
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