Comparison

My PurpleAir 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

My PurpleAir

Monitor your personal air quality sensor's AQI directly from your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. Add widgets or complications for at-a-glance data. The app displays PM2.5 AQI, refreshing approximately every 15-20 minutes.

Highlights
  • Monitor personal PurpleAir sensor AQI
  • iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch support
  • Home Screen widgets and watch face complications
  • Displays PM2.5 AQI
  • Data sharing between devices
  • Manual refresh option
Features
Read full description

Monitor the AQI from your own PurpleAir sensor from your iPhone, iPad, or watch. Use the app's simple screen, or, add a widget / complication to your Home Screen / watch face.. This app can only monitor a sensor on the same LAN as the watch or companion phone. To setup: 1. Connect the app to the device. Use the device search, or enter your sensor’s IP address 2. Add a app’s complication or widget to your home page to watch faces. Data sharing between an iPhone/iPad and a companion watch: 1. The sensor address is shared both ways, 2. If one device has an address, but the other doesn't, then opening the app that doesn't have an address copies the address from the paired device. a. If the address doesn't copy within a minute, close the app on both devices and restart them. 3. Changing address on the phone changes the address on the watch. a. Changing the address on the watch does not change the phone, UNLESS the phone doesn't have an address. 4. The latest sample is sent from the phone to the watch, if the watch is in range, regardless of addresses. Air quality details: The app shows the PM2.5, "120 second average refreshed every 10 seconds" on the sensor's built in web page. It averages the A and B channels. Specifically, the pm2.5_aqi and pm2.5_aqi_b fields from the json API. You can see same numbers by pointing a browser at http://device_address/json The app updates the AQI approximately every 15-20 minutes, or when you open the app or restart your watch. It can take a long time to update widgets/complications when reconnecting to a network. On iPhone/iPads with iOS version 16.4 or higher installed, the app is refreshable, that is, pulling down on the screen forces everything to refresh. NOTICE: This app is not a product of PurpleAir, Inc.

About

AirGradient Map

Get real-time, actionable air quality data with a live map and personalized alerts. Make informed decisions about your daily activities and reduce exposure to pollution with science-based guidance and global coverage.

Highlights
  • Live AQI and PM2.5 map
  • Customizable 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

My PurpleAir4 screens
AirGradient Map4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AirGradient Map at 5.0 against My PurpleAir's 3.9. AirGradient Map also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 60%). My PurpleAir's advantage is device support (5 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of My PurpleAir's written reviews are positive against 86% of AirGradient Map's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
My PurpleAir versus AirGradient Map: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMy PurpleAirAirGradient Map
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (11 ratings)5.0 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews85.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1113 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB41 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperPaul DemersAirGradient Ltd.

Customer experience

My PurpleAir

All ratings11 ratings
Positive72.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative27.3%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative30.0%

AirGradient Map

All ratings13 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

My PurpleAir

No in-app purchases

None

AirGradient Map

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is My PurpleAir free?
My PurpleAir 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, My PurpleAir or AirGradient Map?
AirGradient Map is rated higher. My PurpleAir averages 3.9 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while AirGradient Map averages 5.0 from 13 ratings.
Do My PurpleAir or AirGradient Map have ads?
Neither My PurpleAir nor AirGradient Map shows ads.
Which is updated more often, My PurpleAir or AirGradient Map?
My PurpleAir ships an update every 2 months, and AirGradient Map every 2 months. Most recently, My PurpleAir was updated on November 3, 2026 and AirGradient Map on October 30, 2026.

Other comparisons