Tailwind GPS vs RideByWeather pricing: what you get free and on Pro

Both apps use the weather to help you choose when to ride, and both let you start for nothing. They are different products, though, so the plans aren't like for like. This comparison covers Tailwind GPS and RideByWeather: price, forecast length, saved routes and what each plan actually does. Prices are in US dollars as listed in October 2026. Check each pricing page for the current figure before you pay.

Quick answer: who should pick which?

Pick Tailwind GPS if you want a route planner that looks up to two weeks ahead. Every route you save is scored hour by hour for wind, rain and temperature, and the tools around it (route optimisation, AI route creation, a route explorer, browser navigation and Ride Huddle group voting) help you find the best ride each day.

Pick RideByWeather if you want a lighter weather companion with a Ride Score, a 24-hour route forecast on Pro, and extras such as training and coaching.

They answer different questions: Tailwind plans your riding, RideByWeather reads the conditions.

Tailwind GPS vs RideByWeather pricing at a glance

RideByWeather also sells a Club plan at $39 a month for up to 25 riders. Each rider gets Pro through a join code.

The plain version: RideByWeather Pro is $2.99 and Tailwind Pro is $3.99 with 30 days free first. The extra dollar buys hour-by-hour scoring for each of up to 60 saved routes across 14 days, plus route optimisation. RideByWeather's route forecast on Pro covers 24 hours.

Tailwind GPS pricing: what Free and Pro give you

The Tailwind GPS free plan covers up to 3 weather-scored routes, forever. Each one gets a Tailwind Score from 0 to 100 for every departure hour, across a 3-day hourly forecast. The score looks at wind, rain and temperature along the whole route, not just outside your front door.

Pro is free for 30 days, then $3.99 a month (or $24.99 a year). You can cancel anytime. It gives you:

• 60 tracked routes
• A 14-day hourly forecast
• A weekly email of your best ride windows
• Route highlights, such as watts and minutes and rain timing along your route
• Route optimisation (beta)

Tailwind also offers free AI route creation. Be clear on what it does: the routes favour quiet, popular road-bike roads. They aren't built to dodge headwinds, so the Tailwind Score is still what tells you whether a day suits that route.

You can see the full detail on the Tailwind GPS pricing page.

RideByWeather pricing: what Free and Pro give you

RideByWeather's free plan is $0 forever and includes:

• A 0 to 10 Ride Score
• A 7-day forecast with an hourly timeline
• Route planning with elevation and the wind on every leg
• A Garmin readout
• 3 saved routes and 1 saved ride spot

Pro is $2.99 a month after a 14-day trial. The Ride Score forecast stretches to 14 days (against 7 on Free). You also get a 24-hour route forecast, unlimited saved routes and a "Where should I ride?" ranking of up to 10 saved spots.

Pro also includes Train For It, coaching, wind-aware route optimisation and AI bike fit, so it leans towards training as well as weather.

The differences that change the decision

Free forecast length. RideByWeather's free plan shows a 7-day Ride Score and hourly timeline. Tailwind's free plan scores your routes hour by hour for 3 days, and Pro extends that to 14.

Saved routes. Both free plans hold 3 routes. Tailwind Pro holds 60, each scored for every hour. RideByWeather Pro has no limit on saved routes.

How the forecast is scored. Tailwind scores each of your routes for every departure hour, up to 14 days ahead, at your pace. You scroll through days and start times and pick the best one. RideByWeather gives a 0 to 10 Ride Score and, on Pro, a 24-hour route forecast.

Extras. RideByWeather bundles coaching, Train For It and AI bike fit. Tailwind's extra is Ride Huddles: send a link, everyone votes, and the most popular route wins.

Which is better value for how you ride?

You want to plan your riding up to two weeks ahead. Tailwind GPS fits. Every route gets an hourly Tailwind Score, with 14 days of lead time on Pro, and the 30-day trial is more than twice as long.

You want a quick weather read rather than a planner. RideByWeather fits, with a Ride Score on the free plan and a low-priced Pro.

You're training for an event. RideByWeather Pro, because Train For It and coaching come with it.

You ride in a group and can never agree on a route. Tailwind's Ride Huddles solves that. RideByWeather's Club plan covers up to 25 riders, but it's a $39 monthly team subscription rather than a voting tool.

Questions to ask before you pay

Do you only use 1 to 3 routes? Either free plan will cover you. Choose Tailwind if you want hourly route scores.

Do you save dozens of routes? Tailwind Pro scores up to 60, which is plenty for most riders.

Is your main question "which day and hour is best for this route?" Tailwind's hour-by-hour route scoring is the more direct answer.

Try it on your own routes

The quickest test is your usual Sunday loop. Start free on Tailwind GPS and score your first route.