Comparison

Air Quality Index vs AirGradient Map

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Air Quality Index

This app provides 48-hour smoke prediction maps for the Continental US, utilizing data from NOAA. It can also display EPA AQI readings, offering a comprehensive view of air quality.

Highlights
  • 48-hour smoke prediction maps
  • Near surface and vertically integrated smoke data
  • Continental US coverage
  • Optional EPA AQI readings
  • NOAA data integration
Features
Read full description

Air Quality shows you what is actually in the air — where the smoke is, where it is heading, and what the air is like at any point on Earth you tap. See the smoke before it arrives A 48-hour NOAA HRRR forecast for the continental US and Alaska, hour by hour, at ground level and through the whole air column. Scrub the timeline and watch a plume move. Outside the US, Copernicus CAMS gives you five days of global smoke, dust, and haze. Air quality across a whole country, not a scatter of dots The US air quality map draws the hourly AQI as a continuous field from EPA AirNow, with a second layer for tomorrow’s forecast. Monitor readings ride on top as pins you can tap. Community sensor readings from OpenAQ cover the rest of the world. A forecast anywhere, not just where a weather station is Tap or press and hold any point on the map for a five-day air quality forecast — a stretch of coastline, a trailhead, a valley with nobody in it. Layers you choose • Ground-level and column smoke, 48 hours (NOAA HRRR) • Global smoke, dust, haze, PM2.5 and aerosol, 5 days (Copernicus CAMS) • US air quality index, now and tomorrow (EPA AirNow) • EPA monitor readings and worldwide community sensors • Active wildfires and satellite heat detections (NASA EONET, NASA FIRMS) • Daily satellite photography (NASA GIBS) • Volcanoes (Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program) • Pollen forecasts for six species across Europe On every screen you own Widgets and complications for a glance. An Apple Watch app with the reading and a five-day chart. An interactive 3D globe on Apple Vision Pro. An ambient satellite flyover on Apple TV. Multiple windows, a sidebar and a menu bar item on Mac. Free and private No price, no subscriptions, no ads, no accounts. Your location is used to show you the air where you are and never leaves your device. Data from NOAA, Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, EPA AirNow, NASA, OpenAQ, Open-Meteo and the Smithsonian Institution. Air quality data is provided as published and is not a substitute for official public health guidance.

About

AirGradient Map

Get real-time, accurate air quality data with a live map, personalized alerts, and science-based guidance. Plan your day, reduce exposure, and protect your health with actionable insights.

Highlights
  • Live AQI and PM2.5 map
  • Personalized air quality alerts
  • Global coverage
  • Science-based guidance
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
  • Offline-aware status
Features
Read full description

Accurate, actionable air quality in real time. Know your local AQI and PM2.5 with clear steps to plan your day and reduce exposure. What you get: - Live map with AQI and PM2.5 for places you care about - Alerts when air quality changes at your saved locations - Global coverage in nearly all countries - Simple, science-based guidance on what to do next - Home and Lock Screen widgets for glanceable AQI - Offline-aware status for uninterrupted awareness - Tips and guidance in the in-app Blog - Localized experience in English, Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Khmer, Lao, Spanish, Thai, and Vietnamese Make better decisions every day: - Reduce exposure during smoke or smog events - Time workouts and outdoor plans with confidence - Protect kids, elders, and sensitive groups - Travel confidently with saved places and alerts Data you can trust: - Shows air quality from trusted reference stations and AirGradient monitors worldwide - Built on established air quality standards with transparent, science-informed methods Built by AirGradient: - Created by AirGradient, a social-impact business with a strong scientific background - The team behind open-source air quality monitors used by schools, researchers, and communities globally - Our mission: raise awareness of the dangers of air pollution and empower action - We work with small grassroots organizations and major international organizations like UNICEF and UNDP, and with leading universities such as the University of Cambridge Community and impact: - Featuring communities from around the world, fighting air pollution together - Read real stories, learn what works, and take action locally - Join a global movement to improve the air we all share Design and performance: - Optimized for iOS 26 with a liquid glass UI - Smooth interactions, refined haptics, and fast updates - Thoughtful accessibility support for larger text and VoiceOver Privacy and control: - Location is optional - search and save places manually if you prefer - Clear settings and easy controls to manage alerts and data Quick definitions: - AQI: Air Quality Index, a simple scale for overall air quality - PM2.5: Fine particles (≤2.5µm) that can affect heart and lung health Get the air quality that matters to you - accurate, timely, and easy to act on. Disclaimer: This app provides informational guidance only and is not a medical device or medical advice.

Screenshots

Air Quality Index4 screens
AirGradient Map4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AirGradient Map at 5.0 against Air Quality Index's 4.5. AirGradient Map also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 60%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). Air Quality Index's advantage is device support (6 vs 2). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AirGradient Map holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 20 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Air Quality Index's written reviews are positive against 86% of AirGradient Map's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Air Quality Index ships an update every 4 months, AirGradient Map every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Air Quality Index versus AirGradient Map: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAir Quality IndexAirGradient Map
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (20 ratings)5.0 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews85.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings20 — better13
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB35 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperApparent Logic LLCAirGradient Ltd.

Customer experience

Air Quality Index

All ratings20 ratings
Positive85.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

AirGradient Map

All ratings12 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Air Quality Index

No in-app purchases

None

AirGradient Map

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Air Quality Index free?
Air Quality Index is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AirGradient Map free?
AirGradient Map is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Air Quality Index or AirGradient Map?
AirGradient Map is rated higher. Air Quality Index averages 4.5 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while AirGradient Map averages 5.0 from 13 ratings.
Do Air Quality Index or AirGradient Map have ads?
Neither Air Quality Index nor AirGradient Map shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Air Quality Index or AirGradient Map?
Air Quality Index ships an update every 4 months, and AirGradient Map every 2 months. Most recently, Air Quality Index was updated on October 24, 2026 and AirGradient Map on October 24, 2026.

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