# BeachCam vs Surf

The clearest difference is rating: Surf at 4.9 against BeachCam's 2.4. Surf also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 50%) and ratings volume (1K vs 5). BeachCam's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Surf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. BeachCam asks for nothing beyond the download.

Surf holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Surf has 1K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of BeachCam's written reviews are positive against 86% of Surf's.

BeachCam ships an update fortnightly, Surf every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BeachCam | Surf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beachcam-live-surf-webcams/id1001164660/reviews) | **[4.9 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecastcom/id6450721636/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **1K** |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **86.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#101** |
| Size | 26 MB | 138 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Checkout BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/1001164659) | [Meteo365 Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/661723505) |

## What reviewers say

### BeachCam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beachcam-live-surf-webcams/id1001164660)

View live beach webcams from global destinations to check surf and wind conditions. This app focuses exclusively on ocean views, providing direct streams without requiring an account or subscription for browsing.

**Highlights:** Live beach webcam streams worldwide, Check surf and wind conditions, Browse by region, Save favorite spots, Cast to TV via AirPlay, No account or subscription needed for browsing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Surf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecastcom/id6450721636)

**Currently charting:** #101 Top Grossing · Weather, #139 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

Get simple, accurate surf forecasts for over 7,000 breaks worldwide. Plan your sessions with detailed wave information, tide times, and mapping to find the best conditions and nearby spots. Access extended forecasts and custom alerts with premium features.

**Highlights:** Detailed surf forecasts, Wavefinder map, Live webcam links, Tide times, 12-day forecasts, Custom surf alerts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Service: Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Service (Yearly) | $34.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌊 Accurate surf forecasts
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🗺️ Comprehensive coverage of locations
- 🔍 Detailed information (swell, wind, tides, etc.)
- 💰 Good value for subscription

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔄 Inconsistent data updates
- 🌊 Wave height/conditions not always accurate
- 🏞️ Missing data for some locations (e.g. Great Lakes)
- 🤔 Confusing or misleading surf ratings/forecasts

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes or freezes on some devices
- Geolocation issues with break markers

**Requested features**

- Ability to manually refresh data
- More detailed tidal/current information
- Expanded location coverage
- Improved accuracy for wave height/conditions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BeachCam free?

BeachCam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Surf free?

Surf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, BeachCam or Surf?

Surf is rated higher. BeachCam averages 2.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Surf averages 4.9 from 1K ratings.

### Do BeachCam or Surf have ads?

Surf shows ads; BeachCam does not.

### Which is updated more often, BeachCam or Surf?

BeachCam ships an update fortnightly, and Surf every 6 weeks. Most recently, BeachCam was updated on November 11, 2026 and Surf on November 12, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*