PM2.5 Open Data Portal vs RainViewer
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
PM2.5 Open Data Portal vs RainViewer: common questions
Which is more reliable, PM2.5 Open Data Portal or RainViewer?
Both are neck-and-neck — PM2.5 Open Data Portal and RainViewer each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.
Which is faster, PM2.5 Open Data Portal or RainViewer?
RainViewer has the lower median latency in our checks — PM2.5 Open Data Portal responds in 796 ms versus RainViewer at 551 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.
Do PM2.5 Open Data Portal and RainViewer need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — PM2.5 Open Data Portal is callable with no signup, and RainViewer is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call PM2.5 Open Data Portal and RainViewer from the browser?
Only RainViewer is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. PM2.5 Open Data Portal needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.
Are PM2.5 Open Data Portal and RainViewer free for commercial use?
PM2.5 Open Data Portal 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.