Air Matters vs Air Quality Reader
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Air Matters
Access real-time global air quality data for over 180 countries, including pollen forecasts for the US and Europe. Receive pollution and pollen alerts, and customize air quality standards. Integrates with smart air monitors and purifiers for indoor air quality insights and control.
- Real-time global air quality data
- Pollen data & forecast (US/Europe)
- Customizable air quality standards
- Pollution & pollen alerts
- Desktop icon air quality index
- Apple Watch complications
- Smart air monitor/purifier integration
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Realtime broadcasting air quality information for more than 180 countries. - Show air quality information for your current location. - Show pollen data & forecast for United States and Europe. - Air quality standard switching among US, China, UK and India standards. - Provide pollution & pollen alerts. - Show realtime air quality index on desktop icon. - Available on Apple Watch with Complications. Check out realtime air quality right on your wrist. - Provide iMessage Extension: share air quality information right in a conversation. - Connect with your Laser Egg air monitor, know about indoor air quality in your house. - Connect with your Philips Smart Air Purifier to check realtime indoor air quality and control your purifier from anywhere. - Connect with your Philips GoPure car air purifier. Privacy Policy: https://air-matters.com/app/en/privacy_policy.html Terms of Use: https://air-matters.com/app/en/terms_of_use.html
Air Quality Reader
View real-time air quality index (AQI) readings from a global network of sensors. Get instant health insights and monitor pollution levels directly on your home screen with customizable widgets.
- Real-time AQI readings
- Global sensor network
- Home screen widgets
- Health effect information
- Pollution monitoring
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See real-time air quality index (AQI) readings from PurpleAir sensors around the world. Widgets enable you to get a map of real-time AQI readings directly on your home screen. The Air Quality Index (AQI) tells you how clean or polluted your air is and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. This app displays AQI readings from PurpleAir, a collection of air quality sensors run by enthusiasts and air quality professionals around the world.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Air Matters at 4.6 against Air Quality Reader's 3.8. Air Matters also leads on ratings volume (2.5K vs 147) and review sentiment (50% vs 37%). Air Quality Reader's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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
Both are free to download. Air Matters sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Air Quality Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.
Air Matters holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Air Matters has 2.5K ratings behind it against 147, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Air Matters's written reviews are positive against 37% of Air Quality Reader's.
Air Matters ships an update monthly, Air Quality Reader every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Air Matters | Air Quality Reader |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (2.5K ratings) — better | 3.8 (147 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 36.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2.5K — better | 147 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 153 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Air Matters Network Pty Ltd | Bret Taylor |
Customer experience
Air Matters
Air Quality Reader
User reviews
Air Matters
From 2.5K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Convenient for checking air quality
- 📊 Detailed air quality data
- 🌍 Worldwide coverage
- 🔌 Integration with air purifiers
- ⌚️ Apple Watch support
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Inaccurate or misleading data
- 🔌 Connectivity problems with air purifiers
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🗺️ Limited location coverage
Air Quality Reader
From 147 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Simple and effective app
- 🗺️ Map widget available
- 💨 Real-time air quality data
- 💙 Great public service app
- ✨ Ad-free experience
Room to improve
- ❌ Data not updating
- stale Data displayed
- ⚠️ Dangerously misleading data
- 📉 Sensors disappeared
- ❓ Data accuracy issues
Bugs and requests
Air Matters
Reported bugs
5 issues- Crashes on startup
- Saved locations not persisting
- Incorrect air quality index readings
- Sync issues with air purifiers
- Unreliable widget updates
Requested features
5 requests- Dark mode option
- Historical air quality data
- Customizable data sources
- Improved Apple Watch complications
- Pollen count tracking
Air Quality Reader
Reported bugs
13 issues- App stopped updating air quality data
- Data feed stopped working
- Sensors not updating for months
- Indoor sensors not showing
- My unit is missing from map
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Sensor data is incorrect
- Data not current
- No widget available
- App not connecting to network
- Inaccurate readings compared to other sources
- App unable to read zero AQI
- Widget not showing data
- App shows stale data with no indication of age
Requested features
10 requests- Increase font size for visually impaired
- Add ability to toggle indoor sensors
- Add ability to filter indoor vs outdoor sensors
- Add pollen data
- Notification options for air quality drops
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Add temperature display
- Option to sign in to personal Purple Air monitor
- Add PM 0.3 option
- Ability to filter by EPA conversion
- Add dark mode
In-app purchases
Air Matters
- Air Matters Premium$4.991 Year
- Remove ADs$0.99
Air Quality Reader
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Air Matters free?
Is Air Quality Reader free?
Which has better reviews, Air Matters or Air Quality Reader?
Do Air Matters or Air Quality Reader have ads?
Which is updated more often, Air Matters or Air Quality Reader?
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