Comparison

Buoy Map vs Shore TideChart

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

Head to head
About

Buoy Map

Visualize real-time ocean and lake buoy data, including wave height, wind conditions, and water temperature. Access historical graphs and detailed sensor readings to stay informed about marine environments.

Highlights
  • 48hr wave height graphs
  • Wind speed and direction
  • Air pressure and trend
  • Air and water temperature
  • Wave period and direction
  • OpenStreetMap integration
Features
Read full description

Buoy Map puts live NOAA National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) observations on a worldwide map of ocean and lake stations. Tap a buoy to see what that station is actually reporting right now. Conditions typically update about every 30 minutes, depending on the station. WHAT YOU GET • Interactive map of NOAA / NDBC buoys around the world • Opens near your location on first launch • Remembers your last map view, including pan and zoom • Keeps the last loaded map if you lose signal, so you can still check what you already loaded when offline • 72-hour wave height graph when the station reports wave data • Light and dark map themes BUOY DATA Each station has a different set of instruments, so not every buoy reports every field. When the data is there, Buoy Map can show: • Wind direction, speed, and gusts • Wave height, dominant period, average period, and wave direction • Air pressure and pressure trend • Air temperature and water temperature • 72-hour wave height graph WHO IT’S FOR Surfers, sailors, fishers, paddlers, and anyone who wants a quick look at real water conditions before heading out or while already on the water. No account. No feed of extra forecasts mixed in. Just the buoy map and the observations. CREDITS Map tiles: OpenStreetMap. Map engine: Leaflet. Suggestions are welcome. I plan to keep improving Buoy Map, enjoy!

About

Shore TideChart

This app provides comprehensive tide and marine weather forecasts for surfers, boaters, and anglers. It offers 7-day tide predictions, hourly marine weather, surf and boating condition ratings, and moon phase data. An offline mode is available for essential information.

Highlights
  • 7-Day Tide Forecasts
  • Hourly Marine Weather
  • Surf Ratings
  • Boating Conditions
  • Moon Phases & Fish Activity
  • Offline Mode
Features
Read full description

Shore TideChart - Complete Surfing, Boating, and Ocean Companion One app replaces four! Shore TideChart combines everything anglers, surfers, and boaters need in a single powerful tool. KEY FEATURES: 7-Day Tide Forecasts with visual tide graphs Hourly Marine Weather with detailed conditions Surf Ratings - Real-time surf quality assessments (Poor to Epic) Boating Conditions - Safety ratings with wind/swell analysis Moon Phases & Fish Activity - Best fishing times UV Index, sunrise/sunset, water temps OFFLINE MODE for Tides, Sunset, Moon Phases when out at sea "Use My Location" - Instantly finds nearest station 50+ Locations across US coastal states UNIQUE ADVANTAGES: Unlike basic tide apps, Shore Tide Chart calculates actual surf and boating conditions using real-time swell, wind, and wave data. Know instantly if it's worth heading out. PERFECT FOR: Surfers checking dawn patrol conditions Anglers timing the bite with tides and moon Boaters assessing safety before departing Beach-goers planning perfect days SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS: 14-day FREE trial, then choose: Monthly: $1.99 Annual: $9.99 (Save 58%!) Stop juggling multiple apps. Get complete ocean intelligence in one place. Key Features: * Tide Charts & Predictions – View real-time and future high/low tides with precise times. * Wave Heights & Swell Data – Know if the ocean is calm or surf-ready. * Wind Speed & Direction – Essential for sailing, fishing, and water sports. * Ocean Temperature – Plan for swimming, diving, and paddling. * Sunrise & Sunset Times – Know the best times to be on the water. * Favorite Locations – Save multiple tide stations for quick access. * Simple, Fast, & Accurate – No clutter, just the marine data you need. Who Is Shore Tide Chart For? Boaters & Sailors – Plan your next trip with accurate wind & tide forecasts. Surfers & Paddleboarders – Catch the perfect wave with wave height & wind direction data. Fishermen – Maximize your catch by knowing the best tide times & ocean conditions. Beachgoers & Swimmers – Stay informed about safe swimming conditions. Coverage: Tide and marine condition data is sourced from multiple places giving you a complete picture of the current forecast. Disclaimer: All forecasts and conditions are estimates only. Ocean conditions can change rapidly and unexpectedly. Always verify conditions personally and check official sources before any water activity. Not for navigation. User assumes all risk. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.shoreresolutions.com/app-development/tidechart/privacy-policy-for-shore-tide-chart/

Screenshots

Buoy Map4 screens
Shore TideChart4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Shore TideChart at 92% against Buoy Map's 33%. Shore TideChart also leads on price (Free vs $1.99) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 months). Buoy Map's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On 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

Shore TideChart is free to download; Buoy Map costs $1.99 up front. Shore TideChart sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Buoy Map asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Buoy Map holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shore TideChart has 13 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of Buoy Map's written reviews are positive against 92% of Shore TideChart's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Buoy Map ships an update every 5 months, Shore TideChart every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 1 level
Buoy Map versus Shore TideChart: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBuoy MapShore TideChart
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.7 (13 ratings)
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews91.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings113 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.012.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size0 MB221 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoel LisenbyMatthew Petrosky

Customer experience

Buoy Map

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

Shore TideChart

All ratings13 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive91.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.3%

In-app purchases

None

Buoy Map

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Shore TideChart

Subscriptions2
  • Premium - Marine & Hourly Data$1.991 Month
  • Annual Premium - Detailed Data$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Buoy Map free?
Buoy Map costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shore TideChart free?
Shore TideChart is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Buoy Map or Shore TideChart?
Buoy Map is rated higher. Buoy Map averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Shore TideChart averages 4.7 from 13 ratings.
Do Buoy Map or Shore TideChart have ads?
Shore TideChart shows ads; Buoy Map does not.
Which is updated more often, Buoy Map or Shore TideChart?
Buoy Map ships an update every 5 months, and Shore TideChart every 9 days. Most recently, Buoy Map was updated on October 9, 2026 and Shore TideChart on September 24, 2026.

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