Looking for the best WordPress weather plugin for your site? We compared nine WordPress weather plugins and widgets, free and premium, and checked each one’s official page for pricing, forecast range, update status and page builder support. You will find a comparison table, charts, a decision flowchart, a setup guide and a copy-paste DIY weather shortcode below.
Short answer: start with Location Weather if you want a free, actively maintained option. Choose Elfsight for a quick premium widget, Astero for caching and geolocation, and Synopter if you only use Elementor.
Quick comparison table
| Plugin | Price | Best for | Forecast range | Works with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location Weather | Free + Pro | Best free plugin | Hourly/daily in Pro (daily to 30 days) | Gutenberg, Elementor, Divi, shortcode |
| Elfsight Weather Forecast | $24 | Polished premium widget | 12 hours + week ahead | Shortcode, Gutenberg, Elementor, WPBakery |
| Astero | $19 | Geolocation + caching | 5 days (7 with One Call 3.0) | Shortcode |
| Synopter | Check price | Elementor current weather | Current only | Elementor |
| WP Weather | Premium | WPBakery and widgets | 5 days | Widget, Elementor, WPBakery |
| Simple Weather | $18 | Minimal shortcode | Up to 7 days | Shortcode, widget |
| Weather Effect | Free + Pro | Seasonal animations | None (decorative) | Elementor, Divi, Beaver Builder |
| Jeg Weather Forecast | Premium | Elementor + WPBakery | Up to 6 days | Elementor, WPBakery |
| Always Sunny | $13 | Budget (last updated 2019) | Not specified | Shortcode, widget |
Heads up: prices come from the marketplace pages at the time of writing and change often. A WordPress weather plugin also needs a weather data source, so budget for a free or paid API key on top of the plugin itself.
Do you need a weather plugin on your WordPress site?
Not every site does. A weather widget earns its place when the forecast changes a visitor’s decision:
- Travel and tourism: hotels, resorts and tour operators can show destination weather next to the booking form. Pair it with a design from our list of weather-ready WordPress themes.
- Outdoor activities and events: hikes, festivals, sports clubs and venues.
- Local news and community sites: a daily-utility widget gives readers a reason to come back.
- Real estate, agriculture and logistics: local conditions and historical data add context.
- Online stores: tie seasonal products to the local forecast.
The 9 best WordPress weather plugins
Each review below uses the plugin’s own listing as the source, so you can verify the numbers yourself.
1. Location Weather
Location Weather by ShapedPlugin is the most complete free option on this list, and it is actively maintained: version 3.0.7 shipped on July 23, 2026 with security hardening. Version 3.0 introduced a Gutenberg-first design with a weather card, horizontal bar, grid, tabs, table, an air quality card and a Windy radar map block.
Key features
- 10,000+ active installations and a 4.5 out of 5 rating on WordPress.org
- Works as a Gutenberg block, shortcode (via saved templates), Elementor addon and Divi addon
- Pulls data from OpenWeather or WeatherAPI, so you can switch providers if one hits its free limit
- Free tier shows current temperature, conditions, pressure, humidity, wind, clouds, visibility, sunrise and sunset
- Pro adds daily forecasts up to 30 days, 120-hour hourly forecasts, weather maps, historical data, sun and moon times, and an AI weather assistant
- Biggest feature set of any free plugin here
- Modern blocks, 200+ ready patterns, translation-ready and multisite compatible
- Some recent reviewers on WordPress.org feel the free version is limited and Pro is pricey
- You must add your own free API key before anything displays
Best for: anyone who wants a polished weather widget in the block editor without paying on day one.
Price: Free, with a Pro upgrade.
2. Elfsight Weather Forecast
Elfsight’s plugin is the CodeCanyon weather bestseller, with 588 sales and a 4.5 rating from 14 reviews. It focuses on speed: build the widget in a live editor, paste the shortcode, done.
Key features
- Enter a location by name, ZIP code or coordinates
- Five widget layouts, hourly view for the next 12 hours and a daily forecast for the week ahead
- Shows pressure, humidity, wind speed and weather elements, with 30+ languages and animated icons
- Themed background images or your own custom colors
- Works with shortcode, Gutenberg and page builders including Elementor and WPBakery
- Easiest premium setup on the list
- Clean, mobile-app style design
- The listing’s last update is November 2021, so test it on your WordPress version first
- The page states Elfsight does not provide support for this CodeCanyon item
Best for: small business, travel and local sites that want a ready-made, attractive widget.
Price: $24 regular license (at the time of writing).
3. Astero WordPress Weather Plugin
Astero has sold more than 1,300 copies, more than any other weather plugin on this list, and its most recent update was in September 2024. It loads forecasts with Ajax and local caching, which helps keep pages fast.
Key features
- Fixed location or visitor geolocation
- Uses the OpenWeatherMap API (a key is required) with local caching to cut API calls
- Multiple weather displays on one page, plus WordPress Multisite support
- Shortcodes such as [astero id=’1234′ city=’New York, US’] let you override the city per page
- Five-day forecast by default; a seven-day forecast needs the OpenWeather One Call 3.0 API enabled in the plugin settings
- Proven track record and strong caching story
- Per-page city override is handy for travel or real estate listings
- Forgetting the API key is the number one support issue in the comments
- The seven-day forecast depends on a separate OpenWeather subscription
Best for: multi-location sites, listings and anyone who cares about performance.
Price: $19 regular license (at the time of writing).
4. Synopter – Weather for Elementor
Synopter by Merkulove adds a weather box as a native Elementor widget. It is the right pick when your whole site is built in Elementor and you only need today’s conditions.
Key features
- Style color, typography, text shadow, background, border, margins and padding right inside Elementor
- Choose language, timezone and city, with toggles for which weather characteristics appear
- Six months of support included for CodeCanyon buyers
- Around 240 sales on the marketplace
- No code, fully visual styling
- Fits any Elementor-built theme
- Shows current weather only; the author confirms there is no multi-day forecast
- Elementor is required (see our guide to the best Elementor addons if you are still building out your toolkit)
Best for: Elementor sites that need a simple current-conditions badge.
Price: Check the current price on CodeCanyon.
5. WP Weather (Widget, Elementor & WPBakery)
WP Weather is a flexible plugin that ships three ways to display the forecast: a classic WordPress widget, an Elementor add-on and a WPBakery element. It has around 175 sales.
Key features
- Any location by city name through the OpenWeatherMap API (free key)
- Five-day forecast with Celsius or Fahrenheit
- Five layouts, two icon styles (font or image) and unlimited color options
- Font color, background color and background image controls
- Covers old and new builders in one purchase
- Easy to place in sidebars via a widget
- Five-day cap on forecasts
- Smaller user base than the leaders
Best for: WPBakery sites and sidebar-driven layouts.
Price: Premium (check CodeCanyon).
6. Simple Weather (Shortcode & Widget)
Made by Curly Themes, Simple Weather does one job: show the weather through a short shortcode or a widget. A basic call looks like [simple-weather location=”London, UK”].
Key features
- Current weather and up to seven-day forecast options
- Metric or imperial units, custom date format, unlimited colors and day or night temperature
- Condition names in 17 languages, based on OpenWeatherMap
- Optional personal API key and update interval for better performance
- Very lightweight mental model: one shortcode, one place
- Great for developers who like template-level control
- The boxed layout shown in the demo is widget-only, according to the author
- Shortcode output does not print condition text such as “sunny”
Best for: developers and bloggers who prefer shortcodes over page builders (our shortcode fundamentals guide explains how they work).
Price: $18 (at the time of writing).
7. Weather Effect
A common mistake is installing Weather Effect and expecting a forecast. It is a decoration plugin: it overlays falling snow, rain, autumn leaves and holiday graphics. It displays no real weather data at all.
Key features
- Free version: Christmas, winter, autumn and rain themes, snowflake effects and a live preview
- Pro adds Halloween, Valentine’s Day, New Year, Thanksgiving, spring and summer sets, speed and size controls, page exclusion and up to 10 custom images
- 4,000+ active installations and a 4.5 rating on WordPress.org
- Works with Elementor, Divi and Beaver Builder
- Instant seasonal atmosphere with zero API setup
- Perfect for shops during Christmas campaigns
- Not a forecast tool, so pair it with a real weather plugin if you need data
- Animations add JavaScript, so test your page speed afterward
Best for: stores and brands that want a snowy or rainy mood, not meteorology.
Price: Free, with a Pro upgrade.
8. Jeg Weather Forecast
Jeg Weather is the sibling of the popular Jeg Elementor Kit and works as an add-on for both Elementor and WPBakery. Support runs through the author’s own forum.
Key features
- Drag-and-drop weather element for Elementor and WPBakery
- Uses an OpenWeather API key you add yourself
- Forecast for up to six days, adjustable by count
- Add as many weather widgets as you need across the site
- Good fit when you already use other Jeg products
- Works with either of the two big page builders
- Needs a page builder (it is an add-on, not standalone)
- Official support requires a CodeCanyon purchase and the Jeg support forum
Best for: agencies that run both Elementor and WPBakery client sites.
Price: Premium (check CodeCanyon).
9. Always Sunny
Always Sunny offers a weather widget and shortcode and about 208 sales at the lowest price on the list. The catch: the marketplace page shows its last update as April 2019.
Key features
- Weather widget and shortcode
- Priced at $13 (at the time of writing)
- Compatible with WordPress 4.9 to 5.9 according to the listing
- Cheapest option
- Simple to place anywhere
- Stale: a plugin untouched since 2019 is a maintenance and security risk
- Not tested on current WordPress versions per the listing
Best for: hobby sites only; for business sites pick a maintained plugin instead and run through our WordPress security checklist.
Price: $13 (at the time of writing).
Note: the marketplace lists Synopter twice in many roundups; it appears once here, so this guide covers nine distinct plugins.
How to choose the right WordPress weather plugin
- Forecast depth. Current-only plugins like Synopter are fine for a badge. For trip planning you need five to seven days or more.
- Page builder fit. Match the plugin to Gutenberg, Elementor, WPBakery or shortcodes. Our guide to displaying WordPress widgets covers sidebar placement.
- Data source and API limits. OpenWeather and WeatherAPI both offer free keys. Check call limits against your traffic.
- Caching. Plugins that cache responses protect both your speed and your API quota.
- Update history. Look at the “last updated” date. A plugin untouched for years is a risk.
- Support. Premium CodeCanyon items include support windows, but read the item page because policies differ by author.
How to add weather to WordPress (step by step)
The flow is similar for most plugins. Here it is using Location Weather as the example:
- Get an API key. Register for a free key at OpenWeather or WeatherAPI.
- Install the plugin. Go to Plugins → Add New, search for “Location Weather”, then click Install and Activate.
- Paste the key. Open the plugin settings and add the API key.
- Pick a pattern. Choose a ready weather pattern or template, then set the location, units and colors.
- Publish. Insert it with the block, a shortcode or the Elementor widget, and preview on mobile.
New to plugin installs? Our roundup of must-have WordPress plugins is a good companion.
DIY: build your own weather shortcode (with caching)
If you only need the temperature and a short description, a tiny custom shortcode avoids plugin bloat. Add this to a code-snippets plugin or your child theme’s functions.php. It stores the API key in wp-config.php, caches the response for 30 minutes with a WordPress transient and escapes output.
// 1) Put your key in wp-config.php (never in your theme):
// define( 'AW_OWM_KEY', 'your-openweather-api-key' );
function aw_weather_shortcode( $atts ) {
$atts = shortcode_atts( array( 'city' => 'London', 'units' => 'metric' ), $atts, 'aw_weather' );
$key = 'aw_weather_' . md5( $atts['city'] . $atts['units'] );
$data = get_transient( $key );
if ( false === $data ) {
$url = add_query_arg( array(
'q' => $atts['city'],
'units' => $atts['units'],
'appid' => AW_OWM_KEY,
), 'https://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/weather' );
$res = wp_remote_get( $url, array( 'timeout' => 8 ) );
if ( is_wp_error( $res ) || 200 !== wp_remote_retrieve_response_code( $res ) ) {
return '';
}
$data = json_decode( wp_remote_retrieve_body( $res ), true );
set_transient( $key, $data, 30 * MINUTE_IN_SECONDS ); // cache 30 minutes
}
$temp = isset( $data['main']['temp'] ) ? round( $data['main']['temp'] ) : '';
$desc = isset( $data['weather'][0]['description'] ) ? $data['weather'][0]['description'] : '';
return sprintf(
'<div class="aw-weather"><strong>%s</strong>: %s° – %s</div>',
esc_html( $atts['city'] ),
esc_html( $temp ),
esc_html( $desc )
);
}
add_shortcode( 'aw_weather', 'aw_weather_shortcode' );
// Usage: [aw_weather city="Dhaka"]Speed, SEO and security tips for weather widgets
- Cache API calls. Every uncached page view that hits a weather API adds latency. Transients or plugin caching fix that.
- Reserve space. Give the widget a fixed height so it does not cause layout shift; this protects your Cumulative Layout Shift score.
- Optimize backgrounds. Weather-themed backgrounds are image-heavy. Convert them using our WordPress WebP guide.
- Start from a fast theme. A lightweight base helps; see the fastest WordPress themes.
- Keep plugins updated and keys private. Follow our WordPress security checklist and never hard-code API keys in public theme files.
- Don’t rely on widget text for SEO. Weather changes constantly, so write unique, static copy around it.
FAQ about WordPress weather plugins
What is the best WordPress weather plugin?
For most sites, Location Weather is the best WordPress weather plugin to start with because the free version already includes blocks, shortcodes and Elementor support. If you want a ready-made premium widget, Elfsight Weather Forecast and Astero are strong CodeCanyon options.
Are there free WordPress weather plugins?
Yes. Location Weather has a capable free tier and Weather Effect is free for seasonal animations. Remember that free plugins still need a free weather API key from a provider such as OpenWeather or WeatherAPI.
Do I need an API key?
Almost always. Plugins such as Location Weather, Astero, WP Weather and Jeg Weather ask you to paste an OpenWeather or WeatherAPI key. Getting one is free for basic usage, but heavy traffic can push you into a paid plan.
Which weather plugin works with Elementor?
Synopter and Jeg Weather are built for Elementor, Location Weather ships an Elementor addon, and Elfsight and WP Weather also list Elementor support.
Will a weather widget slow down my site?
It can if it calls an API on every page view. Choose a plugin with caching (Astero and Location Weather both cache), load the widget below the fold and set fixed dimensions so it does not shift your layout.
Can I show a multi-day forecast?
Yes. Most paid plugins offer five to seven days. Location Weather Pro goes up to 30 days of daily forecasts. Synopter shows current weather only.
Can I build my own weather shortcode?
Yes. The DIY snippet in this guide calls the OpenWeather API, caches the result with a transient and prints it through a shortcode.
Final verdict
If you want one WordPress weather plugin and no stress, install Location Weather first. If you prefer a one-time premium license, Astero and Elfsight lead on marketplace sales, while Synopter and Jeg Weather suit Elementor-focused builds. Whatever you pick, cache your API calls and keep the plugin updated.
