Comparison

HappySession vs SurfMap

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

Head to head
About

HappySession

This app analyzes surf conditions to pinpoint the optimal time for a session. It simplifies complex data like swell, wind, and tide into a clear recommendation, helping surfers know exactly when to paddle out. Currently focused on Brittany, France, with more regions planned.

Highlights
  • Identifies best surf session of the day
  • Summarizes key conditions (swell, wind, tide)
  • Provides ideal time to surf
  • Enables quick spot comparison
  • Simplifies complex forecast data
Features
Read full description

We analyse swell, wind and tide to show you the best session of the day, then keep watch over it until you’re in the water. No more comparing weather models or decoding the data: you know straight away where to go, and at what time. FIND YOUR SESSION • The best session of the day, spot by spot • The ideal time to paddle out • Swell, wind and tide summed up on a clear session card • Quick spot comparison on the map FOLLOW IT, YOUR COACH KEEPS WATCH • Follow the best slot of a day, or the hour of your choice (± 2 h) • Get a notification if conditions improve or get worse • Find all your followed sessions in “My line-up” TELL IT, IT LEARNS • After your session, the coach asks: “Did you go?” • Rate it in one tap, from 1 to 5 stars • Every answer helps it understand the conditions you love TALK TO YOUR COACH • Ask your questions: “Where should I surf this weekend?”, “Is tomorrow morning worth it?” • Ready-made suggestions for today, tomorrow, the weekend or the week • Every week, get “Your surf week”, a summary of the best sessions ahead WINTER PASS • Forecasts up to 15 days ahead to see the swells coming • Access to reserved spots Made by surfers, for surfers. Weather forecasts are packed with information. HappySession turns it into one simple decision: when to surf. Currently available in Brittany. More regions coming soon.

About

SurfMap

This app uses AI to provide personalized surf forecasts based on your skill level and preferred spots. It offers an interactive map for viewing conditions and custom alerts to never miss a great session.

Highlights
  • AI-powered personalized forecasts
  • Interactive map with live conditions
  • 7-day surf planning
  • Customizable alerts
  • Tide and crowd level tracking
  • Skill-level adaptation
Features
Read full description

SurfMap rates the surf for your level at more than 5,000 spots around the world. For each spot, it shows you the best hours to go and tells you why. RATED FOR YOUR LEVEL • Tell SurfMap if you're a beginner, an intermediate or an advanced surfer, and every hour of the week gets a rating for you. • Each rating gives its reason in plain words, like "Ideal size for your level" or "Too much wind". • When the tide makes a spot dangerous, a warning sign shows next to its rating. • Rate your sessions and the AI adds a personal score that predicts how much you'll enjoy each hour. It runs on your iPhone and learns only from your own sessions. MAKE EACH SPOT YOURS • Tell SurfMap which tides work at your spot, which ones are dangerous and how big the waves really get there, and the ratings take it into account. • Save your favorite spots. Around 6:30 pm, SurfMap tells you if one of them looks good tomorrow, and it stays quiet when nothing is worth the trip. • Home Screen widgets show the spot you pick, or the closest spot wherever you are. FIND WHERE TO SURF • See which spots around you, or which of your favorites, look good today, tomorrow, this weekend or later in the week. • Hourly graphs show the waves, wind, tide and weather. Drag across the day to check any hour. • The nearby forecast shows seven days for every spot around you. Open the week in landscape, or compare two spots side by side. • Search spots, towns and guides by the name locals use or the one travelers know. WHERE THE FORECAST COMES FROM • Waves, wind and weather come from global wave and weather models, refreshed twice a day for the next seven days. The ratings are SurfMap's own reading of them. • Tides are predicted for each spot from its own tidal constants, the same method behind printed tide tables. 16 SURF GUIDES • The guides cover Ericeira, Peniche, the Algarve, Hossegor, both sides of the Basque Country, Galicia, Asturias, Cornwall, the west coast of Ireland, Fuerteventura, Taghazout, Bali, the Mentawai Islands, Siargao and Sri Lanka. • Each guide says which spot suits your level, the tide that makes it work and the hazards to watch out for. ASK SIRI • "Hey Siri, does it surf today in Huntington Beach with SurfMap?" Siri answers with your rating and the best window, and a tap opens the spot. • With Apple Intelligence, ask SurfMap anything, like "Is tomorrow better than today at Huntington Beach?" Siri questions need iOS 26. APPLE WATCH • Track your session from your wrist, with no phone in the water. The watch counts your waves, and notices missed waves and wipeouts too. • Follow your heart rate, calories and paddle distance live, and keep the GPS track. If your watch runs out of battery, the session isn't lost. • The watch shows conditions and tide for your spots, and its complications can follow the closest spot. YOUR SURF LOG • Every session goes into your log with its conditions and the board you rode, and each month gets its own recap page. • Share a spot's forecast, a session or a whole month as an image. • Your profile keeps your records and a stamp for each new spot and each new country. • Surf workouts go to Apple Health and count toward your rings. SurfMap has no ads. Please note: All features in SurfMap require a subscription. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

HappySession4 screens
SurfMap4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SurfMap at 75% against HappySession's 25%. SurfMap also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs fortnightly) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). HappySession's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SurfMap sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. HappySession asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HappySession ships an update fortnightly, SurfMap every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
HappySession versus SurfMap: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHappySessionSurfMap
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.5 (40 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—40 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB57 MB
Age rating4+12+
Developerhappy sessionGuillaume Bernos

Customer experience

HappySession

Written reviews8 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative25.0%

SurfMap

All ratings40 ratings
Positive92.5%
Neutral2.5%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

None

HappySession

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

SurfMap

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Plan$1.997 Days
  • Monthly Plan$6.991 Month
  • Annual Plan14 Days trial$34.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$99.00

Questions

Is HappySession free?
HappySession is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SurfMap free?
SurfMap is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do HappySession or SurfMap have ads?
Neither HappySession nor SurfMap shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HappySession or SurfMap?
HappySession ships an update fortnightly, and SurfMap every 6 days. Most recently, HappySession was updated on October 24, 2026 and SurfMap on October 25, 2026.

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