# EPIC vs Wavemaps

The clearest difference is ads: Wavemaps at none against EPIC's shown. Wavemaps also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 68%) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). EPIC's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (721 vs 232). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. EPIC sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Wavemaps sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Wavemaps holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 721 and 232 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of EPIC's written reviews are positive against 88% of Wavemaps's.

EPIC ships an update every 3 weeks, Wavemaps every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | EPIC | Wavemaps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (721 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/epic-surf-report-and-forecast/id1336528409/reviews) | **[4.9 (232 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavemaps-wave-forecasts/id6749452038/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **721** | 232 |
| Positive reviews | 67.8% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#161** |
| Size | 64 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nuno Fernandes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1336528408) | [Miguel Canals](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830493078) |

## What reviewers say

### EPIC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/epic-surf-report-and-forecast/id1336528409)

Get detailed surf forecasts with tide charts, wind direction, and 7-day predictions. Visualize conditions with stunning graphics and receive alerts for your ideal surfing times. Plan your next session with ease, even offline.

**Highlights:** At-a-glance critical surf conditions, Stunning visualizations for tides, swell, wind, Personalized ideal surfing condition alerts, Widgets for instant home screen updates, 7-day detailed forecasts, Full-screen interactive charts, Offline access to forecasts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium (1 month) | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium (3 months) | $9.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium (6 months) | $17.99 | per 6 months |
| Premium (1 year) | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium (Lifetime Access) | $89.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Elegant layout
- 🚀 Informative without being cluttered
- 🚀 Accurate forecasting
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Useful for surf fishing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate data (water temperature, wave size, wind speed)
- 🐛 Inability to dismiss ads
- 🔒 Requires location data
- 🐛 Widgets don't work
- 🐛 Forecast not updating

**Reported bugs**

- Stuck on 'Define your experience' page
- Unable to load widget

**Requested features**

- Add moon phase information
- Provide buoy data for local spots
- Implement landscape mode for iPad
- Add Apple Watch complications


### Wavemaps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavemaps-wave-forecasts/id6749452038)

**Currently charting:** #161 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

This app provides detailed wave, surf, and wind forecasts for water enthusiasts and marine professionals. It offers global and nearshore wave modeling, real-time ocean data, and interactive 3D maps to visualize conditions. Users can save favorite locations and access premium features for advanced analysis.

**Highlights:** Global and nearshore wave forecasts, Custom ultra high-resolution wave models, Thousands of worldwide locations, Real-time ocean conditions from buoys, Interactive 3D-capable maps, Wave-seabed interaction visualization, Professional tools and extended forecasts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wavemaps Pro | $7.99 | per month |
| Wavemaps Pro | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is EPIC free?

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

### Is Wavemaps free?

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

### Which has better reviews, EPIC or Wavemaps?

Wavemaps is rated higher. EPIC averages 4.6 out of 5 from 721 ratings, while Wavemaps averages 4.9 from 232 ratings.

### Do EPIC or Wavemaps have ads?

EPIC shows ads; Wavemaps does not.

### Which is updated more often, EPIC or Wavemaps?

EPIC ships an update every 3 weeks, and Wavemaps every 3 months. Most recently, EPIC was updated on October 24, 2026 and Wavemaps on October 24, 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.*