Comparison

MTL SURF vs SurfLab

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MTL SURF

Get real-time river conditions for surfing, including water temperature, level, and flow. Make informed decisions about when and how to surf, and track historical data with charts.

Highlights
  • Live river metrics (temperature, level, debit)
  • Wave quality prediction
  • Wetsuit recommendation
  • Historical data charts
  • Session planning tool
Features
Read full description

The MTL SURF app provides live data on river metrics like the water temperature, the level and the debit. According to those metrics, you now have a hint at your fingertips to know wether or not the wave is good. The app also tells you if you should put on your spring suit or your full hooded 6/5 winter wetsuit. You can also watch if those metrics are going up or down one month back with line charts. Make sure to check the app before your next session at Habitat 67 or at "Vague à Guy"!

About

SurfLab

Features
Read full description

Surflab is the go-to app for breathing training and freediving. Whether you're a surfer, freediver, or simply looking to master your breath, Surflab guides you through every session. -- WHAT YOU CAN DO -- Pre-Surf Warmup 22 guided steps (~12 min) to prepare your body and mind before hitting the water. Mobility, activation, breathing — arrive at the lineup ready to perform. Freediving & Breath Hold Train your breath hold with guided cycles. Track your records, visualize your progress, and beat your personal best. CO2 Tolerance Test Measure your CO2 tolerance with a simple timed test. Track your progress over time and let the app automatically adapt your training to your actual level. 4-Part Breath Progression A 3-minute daily session that automatically adjusts to your CO2 score. The smartest progression to push your limits further. Power Breathing 3 rounds of intense breathing to boost your energy and strengthen your immune system. Perfect before a surf session or any physical activity. Box Breathing The Navy SEALs' technique to control stress and stay focused under pressure. 4 equal counts, a steel mind. Heart Coherence 5 minutes, 3 times a day. Reduce stress, improve sleep, and regulate your nervous system. Guided Hyperventilation Prepare your body for effort with fast, dynamic breathing cycles. -- TRACKING & PROGRESS -- - Personal CO2 score with history and trend - Daily streaks to stay motivated - Personal breath hold record in real time - Full history of all your sessions - Progress badges to unlock - Global and friends leaderboard - iOS Widget: your stats at a glance -- SURFLAB PRO -- - Cosmic Breath: 3 circular cycles + free breath holds (~16 min) - CO2/O2 Apnea Tables for serious freedivers - Guided training programs (14 to 30 days) - Advanced stats and detailed charts - Share your sessions on social media - AI Coach: personalized advice based on your history and CO2 score - 7-day free trial, no commitment -- APPLE WATCH -- Surflab connects to your Apple Watch to measure your heart rate in real time during your sessions. Start today. Your breath is your greatest strength. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

MTL SURF4 screens
SurfLab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MTL SURF at none against SurfLab's 4. MTL SURF also leads on ads (none vs shown). SurfLab's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SurfLab sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. MTL SURF asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MTL SURF ships an update every 2 months, SurfLab weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
MTL SURF versus SurfLab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMTL SURFSurfLab
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size94 MB58 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKayak Sans FrontieresVincent Ramseyer

In-app purchases

None

MTL SURF

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

SurfLab

Subscriptions2
  • SurfLab Premium Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • SurfLab Premium Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time2
  • Month free$1.99
  • SurfLAbApp$12.99

Questions

Is MTL SURF free?
MTL SURF is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SurfLab free?
SurfLab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do MTL SURF or SurfLab have ads?
SurfLab shows ads; MTL SURF does not.
Which is updated more often, MTL SURF or SurfLab?
MTL SURF ships an update every 2 months, and SurfLab weekly. Most recently, MTL SURF was updated on September 29, 2026 and SurfLab on September 24, 2026.

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