Ranking updated
Air quality apps: check the air outside right now
An air quality app shows how polluted the air is where you are, much like a weather app shows the temperature. IQAir AirVisual gives real-time data and a forecast with health tips, LUN Misto AIR is a Ukrainian widget for Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and a few other cities, Air Matters adds pollen and indoor air, and AirGradient Map shows AQI and PM2.5 on a live map.
How we chose: free apps with live air quality data that are available in Ukraine, with features taken from each app’s store description.
What the numbers mean
Most apps show an air quality index, AQI, and the level of fine particles PM2.5 and PM10. The lower the number, the cleaner the air. Colours help too: green is clean, red means it is better to close the windows and skip a run outside. People with allergies or asthma, families with small children and anyone training outdoors benefit most from checking.
IQAir AirVisual: forecast and health tips
IQAir AirVisual combines data from government monitoring stations and IQAir’s own sensors. It shows current, historical and forecast levels of key pollutants, a 7-day pollution and weather forecast with wind direction and speed, 2D and 3D pollution maps, and health recommendations for sensitive groups. It also flags wildfires in your area. On the App Store it does not list Ukrainian.
LUN Misto AIR: a widget for Ukrainian cities
LUN Misto AIR is made by the Ukrainian team of LUN. It is a widget that shows in real time how many harmful fine particles are in the air near you, for Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and a few other cities. Its stations are calibrated in a lab, the widget turns green when the air is clean and red when it is dirty, and the app promises no intrusive notifications. We found it in the App Store but not on Google Play.
Air Matters and AirGradient Map
Air Matters shows air quality for your location, pollen data and forecasts for the United States and Europe, and lets you switch between US, China, UK and India AQI standards. It sends pollution and pollen alerts, works on Apple Watch and connects to Laser Egg monitors and Philips air purifiers for indoor air. AirGradient Map puts AQI and PM2.5 on a live map, alerts you when air at saved places changes and adds Home and Lock Screen widgets with simple guidance on what to do next.
Which one to choose
A forecast to plan the week, IQAir AirVisual. A quick look at the air in a Ukrainian city on iPhone, LUN Misto AIR. Pollen season or an air purifier at home, Air Matters. A map with saved places and widgets, AirGradient Map. For the rest of the forecast, see weather apps, and to plan a run on a clean day, running apps.
| App | Best for | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| IQAir AirVisualApp StoreGoogle Play | Forecast and health tips | real-time, historical and forecast data, 7-day pollution and weather forecast, 2D and 3D maps |
| LUN Misto AIRApp Store | Ukrainian cities | real-time widget for your location, lab-calibrated stations, green or red at a glance |
| Air MattersApp StoreGoogle Play | Pollen and indoor air | pollen for the US and Europe, AQI standards to switch, alerts, Apple Watch, Philips purifiers |
| AirGradient MapApp StoreGoogle Play | A live map | AQI and PM2.5 for saved places, alerts on change, widgets |
Frequently asked questions
How do I check the air quality in Kyiv right now?
Open an air quality app with live data for your location: LUN Misto AIR covers Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and a few other cities, while IQAir AirVisual, Air Matters and AirGradient Map work worldwide.
Which air quality app is in Ukrainian?
On the App Store, LUN Misto AIR and Air Matters list Ukrainian.
What is PM2.5?
Fine particles up to 2.5 micrometres across. They are the main figure these apps show next to the overall air quality index.