Compare · Free hail-map site
Swath API vs SwathIQ
SwathIQ gives away a browsable hail map and monetizes appointment-setting behind it. Swath meters the underlying data as an API. Same radar source, opposite products.
| Swath API | SwathIQ | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | AI-native storm data API — REST + MCP, built for software, agents, and workflows | Free web hail map for roofers — a lead-gen front end for Call Center Doctors’ appointment-setting services |
| Works inside Claude / ChatGPT (MCP) | Yes — one MCP URL works in Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, VS Code, and any MCP client | Not mentioned on their public site |
| Self-serve API + docs | Yes — self-serve key at /signup (no card), public docs + OpenAPI 3.1 spec | Not mentioned on their public site |
| Free tier | Yes — 100 credits/month, no card required | Yes — the whole map is free, no login required |
| Per-property reports | Yes — Swath Reports (per-property, 1 credit/property) and single-property lookups | Address lookup on the map; formal per-property reports are not described on their site |
| Radar-verified hail | Yes — NOAA MRMS radar, 2-minute update cycle, verified storm swaths | Yes — NOAA MRMS radar data mapped within hours, with an archive back to 2010 |
| Transparent pricing | Public: Free $0 · Developer $199/mo · Scale $999/mo, metered credits | Map is free; pricing for the paired call-center services is not published on the map site |
Facts about SwathIQ come from their public site as of 2026-07-24. Products change — if something here is out of date, tell us at build@vibecodebeast.com and we'll fix it.
When SwathIQ is the better fit
If you just want to eyeball recent hail on a free map with zero signup — or you want a vendor to book roofing appointments for you — SwathIQ and its parent call-center service cover that.
When Swath wins
The moment you need the data outside a browser tab: per-property answers, webhook monitors, agent access via MCP, and a documented API you can build a product on — metered, with a free tier to start.
See the data before you compare anything. Grab a free key (100 credits/mo, no card) or check any address against verified storms right now — no signup.