Comparison

Surf Athlete vs Holistica Academy

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

Head to head
About

Surf Athlete

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
Read full description

Surf fitness that fits around your life. Build strength, paddle endurance, and mobility with training designed for surfers. Work out at home, while travelling, or wherever you have space, with minimal or no equipment. Surf Athlete brings together workouts, exercise demos, and coaching from Surf Strength Coach. Each exercise includes coaching cues and an explanation of how it relates to surfing, so you know what to do and why. START WITH THE FREE FEATURES • Bodyweight and mobility workouts • Stretch routines for surfers • Breath training to help you stay calm in heavy water • Technique tutorials and surf-specific drills • A community of surfers sharing their progress TRAIN FOR YOUR TIME IN THE WATER Work on paddling longer, moving more freely, and building strength for your pop-up. Training combines strength, mobility, breathwork, recovery, and mindset to help you stay active in the surf over the long term. Sync with Apple Health to track your progress. When you’re ready for more, upgrade to unlock full surf-specific programs, personalized training plans, and ongoing coaching from Surf Strength Coach. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://surfstrengthcoach.com/privacy-policy

About

Holistica Academy

Improve your mobility, performance, and recovery with a library of routines designed by experts. Access over 250 videos to enhance flexibility, strength, and balance, reducing injury risk and accelerating recovery.

Highlights
  • Improve mobility, performance, and recovery
  • Gain flexibility, strength, and balance
  • Reduce joint stiffness and improve range of motion
  • Boost athletic performance
  • Accelerate recovery
  • Reduce risk of injuries
  • 250+ video library updated weekly
Features
Read full description

Your ability to move defines your health, longevity and athletic performance. Trusted by the Pro's - from Black Belt Jiu-Jitsu World Champions to World Surf League Tour podium finishers, Holistica Academy is built to improve mobility, performance, and recovery. Holistica Academy is your mobility, recovery, and prehab library to unlock your next goal. Through a combined study of mobility, yoga, ballet, Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization, prehab, rehab, recovery, mindfulness, and strength training - the Holistica Academy approach has been crafted to elevate performance – in life and in sport. BENEFITS OF HOLISTICA ACADEMY + Gain flexibility, strength, and balance with each routine + Reduce joint stiffness and improve your range of motion + Boost performance and feel confident in your workouts + Accelerate recovery and come back stronger than ever + Improve posture and reduce the risk of injuries MADE FOR EVERYONE Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just looking for a way to stay mobile and injury-free, Holistica Academy is perfect for: + Surfing + Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu + Weight Lifting + Cycling + Yoga + Running + Golf + Swimming + More PACKED WITH TIPS + 250+ Videos (new videos updated weekly) + Start Instantly + Cancel Anytime + Enjoy over 20+ hours of high-quality, original content designed to improve mobility, reduce chance of injury, and increase athletic performance.  - Already a Member? Sign-In to access your subscription. - New? Subscribe in the app to get instant access. Auto-renewable subscription. Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable Terms and Conditions - https://holisticph.com/terms-conditions/ Privacy Policy - https://holisticph.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Surf Athlete4 screens
Holistica Academy3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Surf Athlete at free with in-app purchases against Holistica Academy's subscription. On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Surf Athlete sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $18.99 per month and Holistica Academy sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Surf Athlete ships an update every 3 weeks, Holistica Academy every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Surf Athlete versus Holistica Academy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurf AthleteHolistica Academy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (403 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews90.8% of reviews — better83.3% of reviews
Number of ratings403 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size236 MB67 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperNautilus Surf Performance LLCDojo Online Pty Ltd

Customer experience

Surf Athlete

All ratings402 ratings
Positive97.3%
Neutral0.7%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews153 reviews
Positive90.8%
Neutral2.0%
Negative7.2%

Holistica Academy

Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

Bugs and requests

Surf Athlete

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Registration not working
  • App crashing on launch
  • Music playback interruptions

Requested features

6 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Offline workout mode
  • Better music integration
  • More free content
  • Expanded exercise library
Show 1 more
  • Improved app stability

Holistica Academy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Surf Athlete

Subscriptions3
  • Ocean Sports Academy (1 month)$18.991 Month
  • SURF ATHLETE PRO (1 month)$29.991 Month
  • Surf Athlete Academy (3 month)$83.993 Months
One-time7
  • Stretches for Surfers$27.99
  • The Perfect Pop Up$79.99
  • Bodyweight$119.99
Show 4 more
  • Surf Athlete$129.99
  • Cardboard Surfer$129.99
  • Surf Skate$139.99
  • Surf Training Foundations$159.99
9 purchases

Holistica Academy

Subscriptions6
  • App Holistica Academy Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Holistica Academy Member14 Days trial$20.991 Month
  • App Holistica Academy 6 month7 Days trial$49.996 Months
Show 3 more
  • App Holistica Academy Yearly7 Days trial$145.991 Year
  • Holistica Academy Yearly14 Days trial$209.991 Year
  • Holistica Academy Yearly$209.991 Year
One-time3
  • One Time Subscription$37.99
  • One Time Subscription$74.99
  • One Time Subscription$99.99

Questions

Is Surf Athlete free?
Surf Athlete is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Holistica Academy free?
Holistica Academy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Surf Athlete or Holistica Academy have ads?
Neither Surf Athlete nor Holistica Academy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Surf Athlete or Holistica Academy?
Surf Athlete ships an update every 3 weeks, and Holistica Academy every 5 weeks. Most recently, Surf Athlete was updated on November 3, 2026 and Holistica Academy on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons