ColorfulClouds vs RainViewer

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms
P95 · ms
AuthapiKeynone
CORSnoyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified (attribution requested)
Free tierFree tier — API key requiredFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

ColorfulClouds vs RainViewer: common questions

Which is more reliable, ColorfulClouds or RainViewer?

On our scheduled checks, RainViewer leads on measured uptime — ColorfulClouds at —% versus RainViewer at —% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Do ColorfulClouds and RainViewer need an API key?

RainViewer needs no key, while ColorfulClouds requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for RainViewer first.

Can I call ColorfulClouds and RainViewer from the browser?

Only RainViewer is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. ColorfulClouds needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are ColorfulClouds and RainViewer free for commercial use?

ColorfulClouds has unclear commercial terms, and RainViewer has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.