Foreca
Espoo forecaster, independent since 1996, selling weather APIs with a free trial to developers and media
Quick Overview
| Company | Foreca Ltd |
|---|---|
| Category | Weather API Providers |
| Headquarters | Espoo, Finland |
| Founded | 1996 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Finland (EU) |
| Data Location | Not stated on the pages read |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes - Finnish company (EU) |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Point forecasts, weather maps, air quality, pollen, climate data, weather history, warnings, marine weather, ski resorts, tropical storms |
| Pricing | Free trial and a pricing page exist; amounts not read |
| Best For | Consumer-facing apps and media sites that want a European forecast supplier with direct support |
| Replaces | Tomorrow.io |
Detailed Review
Foreca's own About page says it began in 1996 as Weather Service Finland and took the Foreca name in 2001. The headquarters is in Espoo, and ownership is stated as private and independent.
The menu of the API section reads like a checklist: point forecasts, weather maps, air quality, pollen, climate data, history, warnings, marine, ski resorts and tropical storms. A parallel business unit supplies weather videos, web modules, print and digital signage.
Developer route
The company says developers can start with free trials in under a minute and scale through a self-service channel, with documentation, a My API portal, an API status page and attribution guidelines linked from the menu.
For larger or unusual needs the contact page offers proof-of-concept trial access while commercial terms are discussed.
Support as a selling point
Foreca's pages put personal support ahead of raw data features and quote customers, including the CARROT Weather developer, on responsiveness.
The vendor also states a top-three ranking in a third-party accuracy study; that is its claim and was not checked here.
Entity
The contact page gives Foreca Ltd, Keilaranta 1, 02150 Espoo, Finland, with a Finnish VAT number.
Legal terms for the API are in a separate Terms of Service, which was not read.
Limitations to Consider
Prices could not be read because the pricing and feature pages returned error shells to the fetch, so cost, quotas and history depth are unverified. Several features (ski, tropical storms) sit in the menu without detail. Smaller projects will find Open-Meteo or MET Norway easier to start with, as both are open.
Who Should Use Foreca
Media companies and app makers who want a Finnish supplier with named support and a trial before purchase.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Finnish company with an Espoo address
- Operating since 1996
- Wide feature menu including pollen and marine
- Free trial for developers
- Direct customer support emphasised
Cons
- Prices not verified
- Accuracy ranking is the vendor's own claim
- Terms of Service not read
- Some features listed without detail
Alternatives to Foreca
Other European weather api providers worth comparing before you decide:
Open-Meteo
Switzerland · Open-source weather API merging national model data, free for non-commercial use
Stormglass
Sweden · Weather and marine API with euro plans from €19 per month
Meteomatics
Switzerland · St. Gallen API with 1,800+ parameters and 1 km Europe model
Windy API
Czech Republic · Point, map and webcam APIs from the makers of Windy.com
See all European weather api providers or compare them directly against Tomorrow.io on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Its contact page lists Foreca Ltd in Espoo, Finland, and its About page says it was founded in 1996 as Weather Service Finland.
Its site links a Free Trial next to the API portal and says developers can start in under a minute.
Its menu lists point forecasts, maps, air quality, pollen, climate data, history, warnings, marine weather, ski resorts and tropical storms.