- Weather APIs at a glance
- Eleven weather APIs to look at
- Where to start for your project
- Free government weather data in the United States
- Forecast data versus historical data
- Questions to ask before you choose a weather API
- Signs your app needs weather data
- My plain advice on choosing a weather API
- Frequently asked questions
The best weather APIs let your app, website or dashboard pull in live conditions, forecasts and past weather automatically. Some are free open data services for hobby projects, while others are specialist providers for energy, marine and industry teams. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Weather quietly drives a surprising number of business decisions, and it's easy to forget how many. Cafes plan staffing around it, garden centres plan stock around it, event organisers plan everything around it, and an app that shows the right forecast at the right moment feels instantly more useful.
The eleven weather APIs below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the provider's own website, read this week. If APIs are new to you, my explainer on what an API is and why it matters covers the basics in plain English.
Weather APIs at a glance
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| AccuWeather Developer | Personal and business weather API | A famous forecast brand in your app | Trial only |
| Meteomatics | Weather API with a very wide range of parameters | Specialist data for energy and industry | Not stated |
| Open-Meteo | Free open source weather API | Open data with many forecast models | Yes |
| OpenWeather | Weather API with current, forecast and history data | A widely used general weather API | Yes |
| Pirate Weather | Open source, Dark Sky compatible weather API | Replacing an old Dark Sky setup | Yes |
| Stormglass | Weather API with a focus on marine data | Marine and wind forecasts | Not stated |
| Tomorrow.io | Weather intelligence API with many data layers | Many data layers for business | Yes |
| Visual Crossing | Weather API for history, current data and forecasts | Historical weather for analysis | Yes |
| WeatherAPI.com | Free weather and geolocation API | A generous free plan for apps | Yes |
| Weatherbit | Global weather data API | Business weather data to test first | Trial only |
| Weatherstack | Real-time and historical weather data API | Quick real-time weather lookups | Yes |
Eleven weather APIs to look at
AccuWeather Developer
Best for: App makers who want a household-name forecast provider, minute-by-minute rain data and a free trial before they commit.
Meteomatics
Best for: Energy and industry teams who need specialist weather parameters and sector forecasts, not just a daily temperature.
Open-Meteo
Best for: Hobby projects and research teams who want an open source weather API that draws on many national forecast models, free for non-commercial use.
OpenWeather
Best for: Developers who want a well-known general-purpose weather API with current conditions, forecasts and history, starting on a free subscription.
Pirate Weather
Best for: Developers who built on the old Dark Sky format and want a compatible, open source forecast API with a free monthly allowance.
Stormglass
Best for: Marine, wind power and solar projects that need detailed sea and wind forecasts rather than a general city forecast.
Tomorrow.io
Best for: Product teams who want a weather API with many data layers and insights, with free access to forecasts for any location.
Visual Crossing
Best for: Analysts and researchers who need past weather records as well as forecasts, with a free daily allowance to begin with.
WeatherAPI.com
Best for: Small app makers who want a free weather API that allows commercial use, with forecasts, history and location search in one place.
Weatherbit
Best for: Businesses that want global current, forecast and historical weather data through one API, with a free trial to test it.
Weatherstack
Best for: Coders who want quick real-time and historical weather lookups in a simple format, with a free plan for testing.
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Where to start for your project
- Hobby and research projects on open data: Open-Meteo.
- Replacing an old Dark Sky set-up: Pirate Weather.
- Historical weather for analysis: Visual Crossing.
- Marine and wind forecasts: Stormglass.
- Energy and industry forecasts: Meteomatics.
Free government weather data in the United States
The US National Weather Service says all of the information in its API is intended to be open data, free to use for any purpose. Its documentation also says a User-Agent is required to identify your application.
If your users are in the United States, that's a useful benchmark. A commercial provider then has to earn its place with wider coverage, longer history, specialist data or support you can call on when something breaks.
Forecast data versus historical data
Forecast APIs answer what's coming next, which is what most consumer apps, booking sites and alerts need. Check how often forecasts update and how far ahead they'll go, because that's what your users will notice.
Historical APIs answer what happened, which matters for insurance, analysis, research and comparing sales with the weather. Ask how far back the records go and whether they cover the exact places you care about. It isn't glamorous, but it's often where the business value is.
Questions to ask before you choose a weather API
- Does it cover every country my users are in?
- How often does the forecast update?
- How far back does the historical data go?
- Does the free allowance cover commercial use?
- Which data formats and units does it return?
- Is there an uptime commitment for business use?
Signs your app needs weather data
- Customers ask about the weather before booking. Show it for them.
- Staffing guesses go wrong on sunny days. Plan with forecasts.
- Deliveries suffer in bad weather. Add alerts to your routes.
- Sales swing with the seasons. Compare them with past weather.
Do you make a weather API or weather data service? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a weather API
Test two or three providers against the actual weather in the places you care about for a week before you build anything serious. Accuracy varies by region, and the one that's accurate in one country can be patchy in another, so local testing beats any comparison chart.
Cache the results too. Most apps don't need a fresh forecast for every single visitor, and storing results for a few minutes keeps you well inside free allowances. My guide to what ZIP code APIs are for explains how location lookups fit alongside weather data.
Frequently asked questions
What is a weather API?
A weather API is a service that sends weather data, such as current conditions, forecasts and past weather, to your app or website automatically.
Are there free weather APIs?
Yes. Several providers offer free plans or open data, and government services such as the US National Weather Service publish free data too.
Can I use a free weather API for a business?
Some free plans allow commercial use and some don't. Check each provider's terms before you launch.
How accurate are weather APIs?
Accuracy varies by provider, model and region. Testing a few providers against real conditions where your users live is the best guide.
What is historical weather data used for?
It's used for analysis, insurance, research, planning and comparing things like sales or footfall with past weather.
Do I need to credit the weather provider?
Some providers ask for attribution, especially on free or open data plans. Check the licence before you publish.
