# Riptyde — Rad surf forecasts & live cams

> West Coast surf forecasting app with detailed data and social features. (iPhone/iPad app by Michael Zick.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/riptyde/id6793336480 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Michael Zick](https://appshunter.io/developer/6793336482)
- Category: Sports, Weather
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 9+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 10 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-09-01
- Data updated: 2026-09-30
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/riptyde/id6793336480/reviews.md

## What is Riptyde?

Riptyde is a surf forecasting app for the West Coast, built with a loud 1980s surf-graphics attitude and a serious data engine underneath. It pulls live NOAA buoy readings, tide predictions, marine swell models, and hourly wind forecasts, then turns them into one honest answer: is it worth paddling out?

THE RAD SCORE
Every spot gets a RAD (Real-time Advanced Data) score from 0 to 10, tuned to that break's real character: its ideal swell window, period band, tide preference, and wind sensitivity. Riptyde ranks the full swell stack (primary, secondary, tertiary), prices wind chop and windsea, and shows you the "why" behind every number with a factor-by-factor breakdown. A day's score averages the two windows surfers actually use, dawn patrol and the evening glass-off, so a spot that fires for one hour at dusk can't fake a great day.

HOUR-BY-HOUR CHARTS
Swipe through surf quality, wave height, tide, and wind charts for every day in a 10-day outlook. Tap any hour to see its limiting factor. The best window of the day is highlighted so you can plan your session accordingly.

THROWBACK MODE
Rewind any spot up to 10 days into the past. See the full report for the day you scored (or the day you skipped), with the same scores, charts, and conditions the forecast engine would have shown.

SPOTS AND CAMS
Browse a curated West Coast catalog from San Diego through Northern California, plus cam-backed beaches in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Filter, sort, and explore on the map. Watch live cams where available, with honest previews and source links for the rest.

SURF WITH YOUR CREW
Check in at a spot and share live condition reports with your friends. See where your crew is in the lineup on the map and on spot pages. Drop secret spots as private map pins, get forecasts for them, and share them only with the people you choose.

AI SURF REPORTS
Link your own OpenAI or Anthropic API key and get a daily written surf report in Riptyde's voice: a dawn patrol read, an afternoon outlook, and a straight verdict (GO, WORTH A LOOK, or NOT WORTH IT). Your key stays on your device and is never stored on our servers.

LOG YOUR SESSIONS
Keep a private log of your surf sessions with conditions, boards, and notes. Track your stats over time.

RIPTYDE PRO
Riptyde Pro features are currently available to all signed-in users without a subscription purchase. Explore secret spots, share reports with your crew, and add swell alerts to your calendar. AI surf reads require your own OpenAI or Anthropic API key and consent to share forecast data; your AI provider's usage charges apply. Existing Riptyde subscriptions continue to renew until cancelled through your Apple Account settings.

Core forecasting is free: every spot, every chart, the RAD score, throwback, cams, favorites, and session logging. Riptyde Pro unlocks AI surf reports, crew check-ins and secret spot sharing, and swell alert calendar actions. Pro is an auto-renewable subscription, monthly or annual. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase, and the subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings.

Privacy Policy: https://riptyde-privacy.pages.dev/privacy-policy
Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Surf data comes from NOAA, the National Weather Service, and Open-Meteo. Forecasts are estimates. Always check conditions in person and surf within your ability.

## Key features

- Real-time Advanced Data (RAD) score
- Hour-by-hour surf condition charts
- 10-day forecast outlook
- Historical surf data (Throwback Mode)
- Live surf cams and spot previews
- Crew check-ins and secret spot sharing
- AI-powered written surf reports

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Riptyde Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Riptyde Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |



## Frequently asked questions about Riptyde

### What is the RAD score in Riptyde?

The RAD (Real-time Advanced Data) score is a rating from 0 to 10 that Riptyde assigns to each surf spot. It's calculated based on the spot's specific characteristics like ideal swell window, period band, tide preference, and wind sensitivity, providing an honest assessment of surf quality.

### Does Riptyde offer forecasts for areas outside the West Coast?

Currently, Riptyde focuses on a curated catalog of West Coast spots from San Diego through Northern California, with additional cam-backed beaches in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. It does not currently offer forecasts for other regions.

### How does Riptyde's AI surf report feature work?

You can link your own OpenAI or Anthropic API key to Riptyde to receive daily written surf reports in the app's voice. These reports include a dawn patrol read, afternoon outlook, and a verdict on whether it's a good day to surf. Your API key remains on your device and is not stored by Riptyde.

### Can I use Riptyde offline?

While core forecasting data and historical information may be accessible offline after initial download, features like live cams and crew check-ins require an active internet connection to function.

### What are the subscription options for Riptyde Pro?

Riptyde Pro is an auto-renewable subscription available on a monthly or annual basis. It unlocks features like AI surf reports, crew check-ins, secret spot sharing, and swell alert calendar actions. Existing subscriptions will continue to renew until cancelled via Apple Account settings.

### How accurate are Riptyde's forecasts?

Riptyde uses a serious data engine that pulls live NOAA buoy readings, tide predictions, marine swell models, and hourly wind forecasts. The RAD score is tuned to each break's real character, and hour-by-hour charts provide detailed breakdowns, aiming for high accuracy.

### What devices does Riptyde support?

Based on the provided data, Riptyde currently supports iPhones. Information on Android or other device compatibility is not specified.

### How frequently is Riptyde updated?

The app was last updated on September 7, 2026, with version 1.0.1. This indicates recent development activity, suggesting regular updates are likely to maintain and improve its features and data accuracy.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 1.0.3 — 2026-09-23

• New Anonymous Analytics setting in Profile. Riptyde now collects anonymous usage stats to learn which features surfers use most. It is never linked to your account, and you can switch it off anytime.
• Bug fixes and stability improvements.

### 1.0.2 — 2026-09-14

A new login banner on the Home screen makes it easier to sign in and access your favorites, session log, crew, and settings. Tap LOG IN to go straight to the sign-in form.

### 1.0.1 — 2026-09-07

Beach cams now show photo previews in the main viewer and camera thumbnails where available. Refresh a preview for a fresh look, or tap to open the camera provider's page.

Pro features are currently open to everyone. Sign in to explore secret spots, crew reports, and swell alerts without a Riptyde subscription purchase. AI reads require your own API key; your AI provider's usage charges apply.

### 1.0 — 2026-09-01

No release notes.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-30.*
