Comparison

Lazy Surfer vs Smart Surf App

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

Head to head
About

Lazy Surfer

Get personalized surf reports and forecasts with custom alerts for your favorite wave conditions. Log your sessions to receive notifications when ideal conditions return to your preferred spots. Plan your surf trips with a 16-day outlook based on real buoy data.

Highlights
  • Personalized surf condition alerts
  • 16-day personalized forecast
  • Log surf sessions
  • Share session information
  • Buoy data for accurate forecasts
  • Customizable wave preference reports
Features
Read full description

Did a swell come through where the waves, wind and tide lined up just right? Want to get a personalized report and forecast with alerts for those conditions? Make sure you remember those conditions by logging a session in Lazy Surfer. Once you do, Lazy Surfer will alert you the next time those same conditions occur. It'll also allow you to see a 16-day personalized report and forecast so that you can plan ahead. Features include - Alerts for your favorite conditions - Personalized predictions for how good the surf is going to be at all your favorite spots - Ability to share session information with all your friends. Lazy Surfer doesn't try to forecast nearshore conditions - if you've ever used the popular nearshore forecasting websites like Surfline and Magicseaweed you know that they are often very far off from the true conditions. Instead, Lazy Surfer uses real data from buoys to pinpoint the exact conditions that result in good waves at your favorite surf spots. Surfline or MagicSeaweed also don't take your personal taste in waves into account - they give a one-size-fits-all rating to waves. But you might like bigger, pitchier waves whereas your friends might like mid-sized roll-ier waves. Lazy Surfer can give each of you a personalized report so that you can tell when and where it's best for you to paddle out. Like anything worthwhile, Lazy Surfer requires some effort on your part before it pays off. The more sessions you add the better information Lazy Surfer will give you. Try adding at least 5 sessions in different conditions at a single spot. We guarantee that you'll find Lazy Surfer to be an invaluable addition to your surf forecasting arsenal. Lazy Surfer began as a tool to help its creator, Nick Peterson, learn the intricacies of his local San Diego surf breaks. Not content with fighting the crowd at the same old beach break for every swell, he built Lazy Surfer so that he could tease out good sets of conditions at the more fickle, less popular spots along the coast. With alerts, forecasts and machine-learning powered predictions Lazy Surfer is the tool surfers need in order to score on the days when everyone else thinks it’s flat. Privacy Policy - https://lazysurfer.app/privacy_policy.html Terms of Use - https://lazysurfer.app/terms_and_conditions.html

About

Smart Surf App

Read full description

Track your surf sessions. Understand your progression. Surfing progress can be hard to notice. One session feels amazing, the next one humbling. Smart Surf is a surf session tracker and surf log that helps you capture your time in the water so you can recognize patterns, reflect on sessions, and build confidence over time. Log your surf sessions, track boards and wave conditions, and build your personal Surf Passport as you surf. The more sessions you log, the easier it becomes to notice patterns in your surfing. Smart Surf is designed for surfers who want to better understand their comfort in the water and their progression over time. Your Surf Passport belongs to you. Share it with a coach or surf school if you want, or simply use it to reflect on your own surfing journey. FEATURES LOG SURF SESSIONS Use Smart Surf as your surf log and session tracker. Capture each surf session including: • wave height and conditions • time in the water • boards used • focus skills • personal reflections BUILD YOUR SURF PASSPORT Your Surf Passport becomes a snapshot of your surfing. Track: • sessions surfed • comfort zone in the water • boards you ride • focus skills you are working on Over time, your Surf Passport reflects your surf experience and progression. UNDERSTAND YOUR SURF PROGRESS Surfing improvement can be subtle. Smart Surf helps surfers notice patterns and build confidence by reflecting on their sessions over time. Generate surf insights from your session reflections to help identify what’s improving, what feels challenging, and what to focus on next. SAVE YOUR FAVORITE SURF SPOTS Keep track of the beaches and surf breaks where you surf. SHARE WITH SURF COACHES (Optional) If you choose, you can share your Surf Passport with coaches or surf schools to help them quickly understand your surfing experience. DESIGNED FOR SURFERS Whether you are: • learning to catch your first green waves • traveling and surfing new surf spots • working with a surf coach • or simply tracking your surf sessions Smart Surf helps you better understand your surfing. YOUR SURF JOURNEY, YOUR PASSPORT Surfing is a lifelong journey. Smart Surf helps you capture it. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vS-V7qRKKRNjIXCoL5SkMfj2qZpb461689o6o7B-8u8O-2zN76QTDyKY60h90pJpZcIR96bEenVgdcw/pub

Screenshots

Lazy Surfer4 screens
Smart Surf App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Smart Surf App at none against Lazy Surfer's shown. Lazy Surfer's advantage is update cadence (every 11 days vs every 4 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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. Lazy Surfer sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Smart Surf App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lazy Surfer ships an update every 11 days, Smart Surf App every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Lazy Surfer versus Smart Surf App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLazy SurferSmart Surf App
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (511 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings511 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 11 days — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNJP Consulting LLCChristine St Clair

Bugs and requests

Lazy Surfer

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App freezing when saving new sessions
  • Inconsistent wave height reporting

Requested features

4 requests
  • Apple Watch integration
  • Ability to add friends and share sessions
  • More detailed wave height/period forecasts
  • Offline mode for session logging

Smart Surf App

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Lazy Surfer

Subscriptions10
  • Lazy Surfer Pro (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Lazy Surfer Pro (Monthly)14 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Lazy Surfer Pro (Monthly)14 Days trial$7.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Lazy Surfer Pro (Monthly)$7.991 Month
  • Lazy Surfer Pro (Monthyl)7 Days trial$11.951 Month
  • Lazy Surfer Pro (Semi-Yearly)7 Days trial$29.996 Months
  • Lazy Surfer Pro (Yearly)$39.991 Year
  • Lazy Surfer Pro (Yearly)14 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Lazy Surfer Pro (Yearly)14 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Lazy Surfer Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$79.991 Year
2 purchases

Smart Surf App

Subscriptions2
  • Surfer Pro Monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Surfer Pro Yearly$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Lazy Surfer free?
Lazy Surfer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Smart Surf App free?
Smart Surf App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Lazy Surfer or Smart Surf App have ads?
Lazy Surfer shows ads; Smart Surf App does not.
Which is updated more often, Lazy Surfer or Smart Surf App?
Lazy Surfer ships an update every 11 days, and Smart Surf App every 4 weeks. Most recently, Lazy Surfer was updated on October 25, 2026 and Smart Surf App on October 24, 2026.

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