Dark Sky was one of the first low-cost weather APIs available on the internet, known for its accurate minute-by-minute forecasts for locations around the world. However, when it comes to offering a modern, stable, and accurate weather source, Dark Sky weather API had a number of drawbacks.
For instance, several important weather variables were missing in its forecasts and it was unable to provide a proper long-term weather outlook for more than seven days. So, if you are a team leader who currently uses Dark Sky or are considering your options, we've put together a list of several Dark Sky alternatives to help you access the features you need.
Here are some weather APIs you should consider as a replacement for Dark Sky.
1. Meteosource weather API
Meteosource is the first professional weather service offering low-cost API to non-corporate as well as corporate clients. As a result, it offers comprehensive hyper-local weather data for any place in the world. At an affordable price, you receive reliable and accurate data that you can easily implement into your website or application.
The tool's top features include
| feature | Meteosource API | Dark Sky API |
|---|---|---|
| Current weather conditions | ||
| Minute-by-minute forecasts | ||
| Hour-by-hour and day-by-day forecasts | ||
| Severe weather alerts | ||
| Advanced ML models | ||
| Advanced text summaries | ||
| Weather maps and layers |
Pricing structure
Meteosource's prices start at $9/month, and you can try before you buy with a 10-day free trial. There is also a forever free plan as long as visible credit is given to Meteosource as a weather data provider.
2. WeatherUSA
Another alternative to Dark Sky is WeatherUSA. This is a weather API providing local weather information for the USA. It allows developers and programmers to access current and future weather data for use in apps and on websites.
| feature | WeatherUSA API | Dark Sky API |
|---|---|---|
| Current weather conditions | ||
| Minute-by-minute forecasts | ||
| Hour-by-hour forecasts | 3 days | 7 days |
| Severe weather alerts | US and Canada only | |
| Advanced text summaries | ||
| Day-by-day forecasts |
Pricing structure
WeatherUSA's paid plans start at $30/month.
3. WillyWeather
A feature-rich weather API delivering local weather data for over 17,000 locations in Australia. Weather information based mainly on data supplied by the Bureau of Meteorology, which provides one of the best forecasts for Australia.
| feature | WillyWeather API | Dark Sky API |
|---|---|---|
| Current weather conditions | ||
| Minute-by-minute forecasts | ||
| Hour-by-hour forecasts | ||
| Severe weather alerts | Australia only | |
| Day-by-day forecasts |
4. Yahoo Weather API
Offers weather information for any location, including a 10-day forecast and current conditions. Yahoo weather API can be easily implemented and has a similar structure to Dark Sky's. However, there were discussions to retire this product and hence might not be stable going to the future.
The tool's top features include
| feature | Yahoo Weather API | Dark Sky API |
|---|---|---|
| Current weather conditions | ||
| Hour-by-hour and day-by-day forecasts | ||
| Severe weather alerts | ||
| Minute-by-minute forecasts | ||
| Text summaries |
Find the best weather API to fit your specific needs
Since the launch of Dark Sky, other weather providers have improved their API so multiple alternatives are now available. Do you need accurate hyperlocal and accurate global data? Or are you looking for the lowest price available? The choice is ultimately yours, so choose wisely.
