OpenUV API for Real-time UV Index and Forecasts

Overview

OpenUV offers an API service specifically engineered to provide access to ultraviolet (UV) index data, forecasts, and related sun protection information. This service is designed for integration into a wide array of applications that benefit from localized environmental UV radiation statistics. Developers can retrieve current UV index values, obtain hourly and daily forecasts, and calculate recommended sun protection times based on user location. This data is critical for applications focused on public health, outdoor recreation, and personal care.

The API is particularly useful for developers creating health monitoring applications that alert users to high UV levels, or for outdoor activity planners that help users schedule activities during periods of lower UV exposure. Skincare applications can also integrate OpenUV data to provide personalized recommendations for sun protection products and routines. The focus on specific UV data distinguishes OpenUV from broader weather APIs, providing specialized metrics rather than general meteorological information, which can lead to more precise and relevant user advice for sun safety.

OpenUV's infrastructure processes geographical coordinates to return accurate UV data, factoring in elements such as ozone levels and cloud cover to enhance accuracy. The API supports various formats for data retrieval, often using JSON responses, making it compatible with most modern web and mobile development environments. Its straightforward API design aims to reduce integration complexity, allowing developers to quickly implement UV data functionality without extensive setup. The provision of a free tier allows for initial development and testing before committing to a paid plan for higher usage volumes, supporting projects from startups to established enterprises needing reliable UV information.

Key features

• Real-time UV Index Data: Provides the current UV index for any specified geographic coordinate, reflecting immediate environmental conditions. This includes the UV index value itself, along with additional details like UV risk level and ozone column density.
• UV Index Forecasts: Delivers hourly and daily UV index forecasts, enabling applications to predict future UV exposure levels. This is useful for planning outdoor activities or anticipating sun protection needs over a specific period, such as a full day's outlook.
• Sun Protection Times: Calculates recommended sun protection times, indicating periods when UV radiation is highest and protection is most crucial. This feature assists users in understanding when to seek shade or apply sunscreen based on the prevailing UV conditions.
• Location-Based Data: Data retrieval is based on latitude and longitude coordinates, ensuring relevance to the user's precise location. This granular approach supports highly localized applications, distinguishing it from regional or generalized UV reports.
• Developer-Friendly API: The API is designed for ease of integration, offering clear documentation and example code. Its RESTful architecture and JSON responses facilitate consumption across various programming languages and platforms, as detailed in the OpenUV API documentation.
• Global Coverage: Offers UV data for locations worldwide, making it suitable for international applications that serve a diverse geographical user base.

Pricing

OpenUV offers a tiered pricing structure that includes a free tier and several paid plans, designed to accommodate varying usage requirements. As of May 28, 2026, the details are as follows:

For the most current and detailed pricing information, including terms and conditions, please refer to the OpenUV pricing page.

Common integrations

The OpenUV API is designed for flexible integration into various platforms and applications. Common integration scenarios include:

• Mobile Health & Fitness Apps: Integrating UV data into apps that track outdoor activities, providing users with real-time sun exposure warnings and recommendations.
• Smart Home Systems: Using UV index data to automate window blinds or alert users to high UV levels before they go outside.
• Wearable Devices: Displaying current UV index on smartwatches or fitness trackers to inform users during outdoor workouts.
• Web-Based Weather Portals: Augmenting existing weather information with specialized UV data and forecasts.
• Skincare & Beauty Platforms: Providing personalized sun protection advice or suggesting appropriate SPF products based on local UV conditions.
• Agricultural Applications: Monitoring UV levels to assess potential impacts on crops or livestock exposed to sunlight.

Alternatives

Developers seeking UV index or broader weather data have several alternative API providers:

• OpenWeatherMap: Offers a wide range of weather data, including current weather, forecasts, and some environmental data, though its UV specific data might be less specialized than OpenUV.
• Tomorrow.io: Provides hyper-local weather forecasting and environmental intelligence, which can include UV data as part of a broader suite of meteorological services.
• Weatherbit: Delivers current, historical, and forecasted weather data, with specific endpoints for UV index information, alongside other environmental metrics.

Getting started

To begin using the OpenUV API, you typically need to sign up for an API key on their website. Once you have an API key, you can make requests to their endpoints. Here's a basic example using cURL to retrieve the current UV index for a specific location (e.g., New York City's approximate coordinates: 40.7128 latitude, -74.0060 longitude). This call fetches the current UV index and related sun protection data for the specified location.

curl -X GET \
  'https://api.openuv.io/api/v1/uv?lat=40.7128&lng=-74.0060' \
  -H 'x-access-token: YOUR_API_KEY_HERE' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json'

Replace YOUR_API_KEY_HERE with your actual API key obtained from the OpenUV developer portal. This request will return a JSON object containing the current UV index, maximum UV index for the day, and recommended sun protection times. For detailed information on request parameters, response structures, and other available endpoints, consult the official OpenUV API reference documentation.