XTide vs NOAA Tide Chart & Tables
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
XTide
Get tide and current predictions with this app. It offers information for your favorite tide stations and is based on the open-source XTide for Unix. Note: not for navigation and accuracy depends on harmonic data.
- Tide and current predictions
- Apple Watch app and widget
- Favorite tide station information
- Based on open-source XTide
- Supports custom harmonics files
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XTide provides tide and current predictions. The Apple Watch app and Widget show information for the closest of your favorite tide stations. It is based on the popular open source XTide for Unix from http://www.flaterco.com/xtide/introduction.html XTide includes a harmonics file (tide data) for the United States only due to legal issues with the data from other countries, but supports custom harmonics files. See https://flaterco.com/xtide/faq.html#60 for more information. NOT FOR NAVIGATION This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. The author assumes no liability for damages arising from use of this program OR of any 'harmonics data' that might be distributed with it. For details, see the appended GNU General Public License. (Accurate tide predictions can only be made if the 'harmonics data' for the relevant location are good. Unfortunately, the only way the maintainer of those data has of knowing when they are bad is when someone with access to authoritative tide predictions or observations reports a problem. You should not use this program or any data files that might be distributed with it if anyone or anything could come to harm as a result of an incorrect tide prediction. NOAA and similar agencies in other countries can provide you with certified tide predictions if that is what you need.) XTide's predictions do not incorporate the effects of tropical storms, El Niño, seismic events, subsidence, uplift, or changes in global sea level.
NOAA Tide Chart & Tables
Access comprehensive tide station information with accurate and reliable data. Plan your activities with detailed predictions for high and low tides, daily forecasts, and real-time solar data. Track tides, search by station, and customize widgets for tailored information.
- Detailed tidal predictions
- Daily tide forecasts
- Real-time solunar data
- Monthly tide reports
- Tide history data
- Search by name or station ID
- Customizable widgets
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NOAA Tide Chart & Forecast puts NOAA's official tide data right in your pocket: accurate predictions, real-time conditions, and easy station search, all in one…NOAA Tide Chart & Forecast puts NOAA's official tide data right in your pocket: accurate predictions, real-time conditions, and easy station search, all in one app. Whether you're sailing, fishing, boating, or surfing, our app helps you plan around the tides with confidence. Our app offers professional tide predictions for high and low tides across the globe, as well as day-to-day forecasts for in-depth tidal data on a specific date. You can also access real-time solunar data for sunrise and sunset times, as well as monthly reports for long-term planning. Here is a summary of the features we offer: Key Features: - Global tide charts: high and low water predictions for stations worldwide, shown as a full curve so you can read the whole day at a glance rather than just the peak times - Daily tide forecast: in-depth tidal insights for the day ahead, including the timing and height of each high and low. - Find tides near you: location-based search picks up your nearest station instantly, so you get data for where you actually are rather than the nearest big port. - Fishing tide chart tools: solunar data showing the major and minor periods that drive feeding activity, so you can time your trip around the best bite windows. - Fish Activity Score: rates each day from 0 to 100 using solunar periods, moon phase and local conditions. It shows your best window for the day along with major and minor feeding times. - Lunar calendar and real-time sunrise and sunset tracking: moon phase and daylight times for your station, useful for planning early starts and late returns. - Monthly tide reports: see the full month ahead in one view to plan trips, spring tides and the lowest water of the month well in advance. - Tide Alerts: set an alert for the conditions you care about and get notified before they happen, a low tide for clamming, slack water for diving, or the incoming push you've been waiting for. - Wave and swell forecasts: height, period and direction for any station, so you know what the water will actually be doing before you head out. - Tide history: quickly access past tide information to check conditions on a day that fished or sailed well, and plan around the same pattern next time. - Flexible search: find any station by name, station ID or location, whether you know exactly where you're going or you're exploring somewhere new. - Favorites: save the spots you use most and view their high and low data instantly, without searching again each time. - Filtered views: switch between All, Nearest and Favorites to get to the station you need in a couple of taps. - Customize units: set feet or metrs, 12 or 24 hour time, and the measurement preferences that match how you read conditions. Terms of Use https://tide.nextstack.org/public/terms-of-usage.pdf
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: XTide at 100% against NOAA Tide Chart & Tables's 36%. XTide also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 5). NOAA Tide Chart & Tables's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (92 vs 3). On price and device support 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
Both are free to download. NOAA Tide Chart & Tables sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. XTide asks for nothing beyond the download.
XTide holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NOAA Tide Chart & Tables has 92 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of XTide's written reviews are positive against 36% of NOAA Tide Chart & Tables's.
XTide ships an update every 3 months, NOAA Tide Chart & Tables weekly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | XTide | NOAA Tide Chart & Tables |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (3 ratings) — better | 4.0 (92 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 36.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 92 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 184 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lee Ann Rucker | NextStack LLC |
Customer experience
XTide
NOAA Tide Chart & Tables
In-app purchases
XTide
No in-app purchases
NOAA Tide Chart & Tables
- Weekly$2.997 Days
- Monthly$4.991 Month
- Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
- Remove Ads$0.99
- Lifetime Access$149.00
Questions
Is XTide free?
Is NOAA Tide Chart & Tables free?
Which has better reviews, XTide or NOAA Tide Chart & Tables?
Do XTide or NOAA Tide Chart & Tables have ads?
Which is updated more often, XTide or NOAA Tide Chart & Tables?
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