# Foundation Training vs Surf Athlete

The clearest difference is monetization model: Surf Athlete at free with in-app purchases against Foundation Training's subscription. Surf Athlete also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (93% vs 68%). Foundation Training's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Foundation Training sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $27.99 per month and Surf Athlete sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $18.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Surf Athlete holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 87 and 388 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Foundation Training's written reviews are positive against 93% of Surf Athlete's.

Foundation Training ships an update monthly, Surf Athlete every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Foundation Training | Surf Athlete |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/foundation-training/id1391241562/reviews) | **[4.9 (388 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-athlete-surf-training/id1473672898/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 87 | **388** |
| Positive reviews | 68.4% of reviews | **92.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 64 MB | 180 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Foundation Training, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1456657348) | [Nautilus Surf Performance LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1473672897) |

## What reviewers say

### Foundation Training

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/foundation-training/id1391241562)

This app offers body-weight exercises designed to improve movement, reduce pain, and enhance performance. It focuses on activating posterior muscles, stabilizing the hips, and decompressing the spine for better joint health and injury prevention.

**Highlights:** Access entire content library, Download videos for offline viewing, No equipment required, Beginner to expert instruction, Workout durations from 5-45 minutes

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| APP Monthly Subscription | $27.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $27.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Life-changing pain relief
- 💪 Improved strength and posture
- 🧘‍♀️ Enhanced body awareness
- 👍 Excellent instruction and trainers
- ✅ Effective for injuries and chronic pain

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📉 Removal of free content
- 💸 Expensive subscription
- 😠 Difficulty cancelling subscription
- 👎 Vague explanations
- 😬 "Bro energy" from some instructors

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes iPhone 13 Pro / iOS 16.5.1
- Videos hang/buffer mid-workout
- App freezes at title screen
- Downloads are inoperable
- Cannot create an account

**Requested features**

- Add a 'favorites' button on the home browse page
- Link to Apple Health and Fitness app
- More guidance for instructors' presentation style
- Improve app functionality and stability
- Make subscription process clearer


### Surf Athlete

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-athlete-surf-training/id1473672898)

This app provides surf-specific training programs designed to enhance strength, endurance, and mobility. It offers workouts, stretching routines, and breath training to improve performance in the ocean and prevent injuries. Users can join a community and track progress.

**Highlights:** Surf-specific workouts, Strength, endurance, and mobility training, Stretch routines, Breath training, Technique tutorials, Global surfer community

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ocean Sports Academy (1 month) | $18.99 | per month |
| SURF ATHLETE PRO (1 month) | $29.99 | per month |
| Surf Athlete Academy (3 month) | $83.99 | per 3 months |
| Surf Athlete Academy (6 month) | $144.99 | per 6 months |
| SURF ATHLETE PRO (1 year) | $155.99 | per year |
| Stretches for Surfers | $27.99 | one-time |
| The Perfect Pop Up | $79.99 | one-time |
| Bodyweight | $119.99 | one-time |
| Surf Athlete | $129.99 | one-time |
| Cardboard Surfer | $129.99 | one-time |
| Surf Skate | $139.99 | one-time |
| Stretches for Surfers 2.0 | $139.99 | one-time |
| Surf Training Foundations | $159.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Solid app
- 👍 Detailed instructions and programs
- 👍 Comprehensive surf-specific fitness
- 👍 Improves flexibility, strength, and mobility
- 👍 Helps with pop-up and technique

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Registration/login issues
- 🐛 Occasional app crashes
- 🔇 Lack of audio cues during workouts
- 🔇 Music playback issues
- 💰 Expensive for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Registration not working
- App crashing on launch
- Music playback interruptions

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Offline workout mode
- Better music integration
- More free content
- Expanded exercise library


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Foundation Training free?

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

### Is Surf Athlete free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Foundation Training or Surf Athlete?

Surf Athlete is rated higher. Foundation Training averages 4.4 out of 5 from 87 ratings, while Surf Athlete averages 4.9 from 388 ratings.

### Do Foundation Training or Surf Athlete have ads?

Neither Foundation Training nor Surf Athlete shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Foundation Training or Surf Athlete?

Foundation Training ships an update monthly, and Surf Athlete every 3 weeks. Most recently, Foundation Training was updated on September 21, 2026 and Surf Athlete on September 21, 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.*