# Pilau Kai vs Surf

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pilau Kai at none against Surf's 2. Pilau Kai also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 6 weeks) and review sentiment (100% vs 86%). Surf's advantage is ratings volume (1K vs 2) and chart position (#125 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Surf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Pilau Kai asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Pilau Kai against 4.9 for Surf. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Surf has 1K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Pilau Kai's written reviews are positive against 86% of Surf's.

Pilau Kai ships an update every 6 days, Surf every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pilau Kai | Surf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pilau-kai/id1508435043/reviews)** | [4.9 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecastcom/id6450721636/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **1K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 86.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#125** |
| Size | 18 MB | 138 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cory Pratt](https://appshunter.io/developer/315433551) | [Meteo365 Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/661723505) |

## What reviewers say

### Pilau Kai

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pilau-kai/id1508435043)

Stay informed about ocean water quality across Hawaii's beaches with real-time updates and interactive maps. Plan your aquatic adventures with confidence using comprehensive insights into water conditions.

**Highlights:** Real-time ocean water quality updates, Comprehensive beach coverage in Hawaii, Interactive maps for water status, Informed decisions for aquatic activities, First year anniversary celebration

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Surf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecastcom/id6450721636)

**Currently charting:** #125 Top Free · Weather, #145 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

Get simple, accurate surf forecasts for over 7,000 breaks worldwide. Plan your sessions with detailed wave information, tide times, and mapping to find the best conditions and nearby spots. Access extended forecasts and custom alerts with premium features.

**Highlights:** Detailed surf forecasts, Wavefinder map, Live webcam links, Tide times, 12-day forecasts, Custom surf alerts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Service: Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Service (Yearly) | $34.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌊 Accurate surf forecasts
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🗺️ Comprehensive coverage of locations
- 🔍 Detailed information (swell, wind, tides, etc.)
- 💰 Good value for subscription

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔄 Inconsistent data updates
- 🌊 Wave height/conditions not always accurate
- 🏞️ Missing data for some locations (e.g. Great Lakes)
- 🤔 Confusing or misleading surf ratings/forecasts

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes or freezes on some devices
- Geolocation issues with break markers

**Requested features**

- Ability to manually refresh data
- More detailed tidal/current information
- Expanded location coverage
- Improved accuracy for wave height/conditions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pilau Kai free?

Pilau Kai is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Surf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pilau Kai or Surf?

Pilau Kai is rated higher. Pilau Kai averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Surf averages 4.9 from 1K ratings.

### Do Pilau Kai or Surf have ads?

Both Pilau Kai and Surf show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pilau Kai or Surf?

Pilau Kai ships an update every 6 days, and Surf every 6 weeks. Most recently, Pilau Kai was updated on October 29, 2026 and Surf on October 30, 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.*