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C4B vs Meteonorm

C4B vs Meteonorm

Meteonorm is a long-established source of climate data and weather files for solar and building simulation. C4B is built for a different step: turning a site's climate into analyses an architect can design from.

Last checked18 September 2026

C4B and Meteonorm at a glance

AspectC4BMeteonorm
TypeWeb app, in the browserWeb app and API for climate data (successor to Meteonorm 8)
PriceFree plan; paid plans from €59/month (cancellation takes effect after 12 billing cycles) or €599/year, with a 7-day free trialAnnual subscriptions from CHF 320; education plan; free demo
Choosing the locationSearch an address or click the map; no weather file neededAny location worldwide
Weather dataNearest weather station file (Climate.OneBuilding.Org, usually TMYx) plus, in projects, site-specific reanalysis (ERA5 / ERA5-Land, CERRA, NORA3) at the exact coordinatesStations, satellites and climate reanalysis
Future climateSSP1-1.9 to SSP5-8.5, any year from 2025 to 2100, in projects on paid plansSSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5 and SSP3-7.0
Outdoor comfortUTCI outdoor comfort, including on the Free planNot stated on the pages we reviewed
Energy analysisPreliminary hourly energy balance; orientation and aspect-ratio optimization in projects on paid plansData for energy and PV simulation tools
OutputsInteractive charts; written readings on most charts in projects and a PDF report on paid plans; EPW downloads on Technical and EnterpriseFiles and data: CSV, JSON, EPW, PVsyst, PHPP, IDA ICE, WUFI and more

Where Meteonorm is strong

  • A long-established climate data reference, with data from thousands of stations, satellites and reanalysis.
  • Exports to many formats, including EPW, PVsyst, PHPP, IDA ICE and WUFI.
  • Typical and actual years plus SSP future scenarios for any location.
  • An API that shares data and algorithms with the web app.

Where C4B takes a different approach

  • C4B presents design analyses (climate zone, wind roses, sun path, psychrometric chart, UTCI, precipitation intensity, energy balance) rather than primarily data files.
  • In projects on paid plans, most charts come with a written reading, and projects can be exported as a PDF report.
  • Future climate covers five SSPs and any year from 2025 to 2100 in projects.
  • Aimed at architects and design teams at the earliest stages.

Meteonorm may suit you better if

  • You need weather files in many simulation formats, especially for PV or detailed energy tools.
  • You need actual-year data or API access for your own workflows.

C4B may suit you better if

  • You want design-ready analyses and a readable report, not only data files.
  • You need outdoor comfort, climate zones and a first energy balance for a site.
  • Your team works at the concept stage, before simulation.

See your site's climate before design begins

Pin any location and get climate, comfort and preliminary energy insight your whole team can read. Start with a 7-day free trial, or book a 30-minute demo.

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Frequently asked questions

Does C4B export weather files like Meteonorm?

EPW downloads, including a custom EPW builder and future-climate files, are available on C4B's Technical and Enterprise plans. Meteonorm exports a much wider range of file formats.

Where does C4B's data come from?

The nearest OneBuilding.org weather station file (usually TMYx) and, in projects, ERA5 / ERA5-Land, CERRA and NORA3 reanalysis at the site's coordinates, plus NOAA rain gauges, CHELSA and World Bank CMIP6 projections.

How much does Meteonorm cost?

Meteonorm's web application is sold as yearly subscriptions: Basic CHF 320, Pro CHF 980 and Expert CHF 4,200, with an education plan at CHF 260 and a free demo, as published on its app page in September 2026.

Which is better for PV design?

For detailed PV yield studies, a dedicated data source and PV simulation tool is the right choice. C4B gives an early estimate of PV potential and optimal panel orientation.

Sources

Information about Meteonorm comes from its official website and documentation, checked on 18 September 2026. Products change, so check the official site for the latest details. Meteonorm belongs to Meteotest AG; C4B is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

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