Comparison

Surf Coach vs Watch Chartplotter

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

Head to head
About

Surf Coach

Features
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Are you ready to take your surfing to the next level? Whether you're a seasoned competitor or just catching your first competition waves, Surf Coach is an ideal companion tool for surfers of all levels. Unleash the power of technology to enhance your heat preparation and bring out the champion in you! Features That Set It Apart: - Beach Map: Navigate the waves like a pro! Our Beach Map feature marks out key beach features, providing you with the strategic advantage you need for optimal positioning. - Wave Counter: Find the ocean's pulse! Track the number and types of waves breaking over time. Share your stats with your team and store valuable insights in your notes. - Wave Map: Dive deeper into your performance! Draw, categorize, and score each wave, while tracking crucial metrics like wave types and lulls. Get personalized suggestions based on your results and share your progress with your coach and peers. - Judge It: Fine-tune your skills with the judging module! Track your practice heats and receive valuable feedback from your coaches. - Surf Notes: Prepare for success! Jot down key insights about surf locations for upcoming heats or future visits. Easily share your notes via email or Airdrop. - Video Inspos: Get inspired by the pros! Access curated video clips from professional surfers to visualize and perfect your maneuvers. - Coaching Tips: Stay ahead of the game! Delve into broader surfing issues with insightful blog format coaching tips. Ideal for Surf Contestants: Surf Coach is tailor-made for surfers gearing up for competitions. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a budding talent, the app provides the tools and insights you need to ride the waves with confidence and style. Download Surf Coach Today and Ride the Wave to Victory! Don't just surf; surf with purpose. Surf Coach - Your Surfing Companion! Localised for: English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and Portuguese

About

Watch Chartplotter

This performance marine GPS transforms your Apple Watch into a tactical racing computer. It provides real-time speed, VMG, distance to mark, and offline marine charts for competitive sailors and windsurfers. Plan courses on your iPhone and sync them directly to your watch for seamless navigation.

Highlights
  • Real-time VMG and speed metrics
  • Waypoint navigation with haptic feedback
  • Offline marine charts (NOAA, AHO, OpenSeaMap)
  • Water Lock mode
  • HealthKit integration for workout logging
  • Custom WMS and XYZ map server support
Features
Currently charting
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The Performance Marine GPS for Racing & Sailing Transform your Apple Watch into a powerful, tactical racing computer. Watch Chartplotter is designed for competitive sailors, windsurfers, and kite racers who demand real-time performance data right on their wrist. Leave the bulky electronics behind and get the critical metrics you need to sail faster and smarter. Optimize Your Performance with VMG Make better tactical decisions with live Velocity Made Good (VMG). See exactly how fast you are closing in on your next waypoint and adjust your heading to maximize your efficiency toward the mark. Essential Racing Metrics on Your Wrist Stay informed without losing focus. Get instant, glanceable access to your most vital data: Real-Time Speed: Track your current boatspeed in knots, mph, or km/h. Average & Max Speed: Monitor your session's performance and push for a new personal best. Precise Heading: See your current course and the bearing to your next waypoint. Distance to the mark: Know exactly how far you have to go. Compass bearing to the mark: Know which direction on a compass the next waypoint is. Seamless Waypoint Navigation Plan your course on your iPhone and sync it directly to your watch. The app automatically transitions to the next waypoint as you round a mark, with haptic feedback to keep you alerted without needing to look at the screen. Disable and optionally hide waypoints. Disabled waypoints will be skipped when automatically going to the next waypoint. Offline Marine Charts Navigate with confidence using NOAA MACHC (U.S, Parts of South and Central America, Caribbean, Netherlands and some Pacific Islands), Australian Hydrographic Office (Australia) and OpenSeaMap (Worldwide) charts. Download offline. Power users can also add custom WMS and XYZ map servers for specialized layers. Built for the Elements Water Lock: Prevents accidental screen touches from spray and waves. HealthKit Integration: Logs your racing sessions as workouts, tracking your route, heart rate, and calories burned. Pay Once, Race Forever. Enjoy all professional features with a single purchase. No subscriptions, no hidden fees. Perfect for dinghy racing, catamaran sailing, kite foiling, and any on-water activity where performance matters. Get the winning edge with Watch Chartplotter. Note: This app is not certified for navigation. It is not an official navigational chart and must not be used for navigation or any related operational decision-making. It is designed to support shore-based maritime awareness and analysis. Map and chart data copyright: NOAA, MACHC, Australian Hydrographic Office, OpenStreetMap, Thunderforest and Mapbox.

Screenshots

Surf Coach4 screens
Watch Chartplotter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Watch Chartplotter at none against Surf Coach's 1. Watch Chartplotter also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks) and chart position (#103 vs unranked). Surf Coach's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $9.99) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). On ads and 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

Surf Coach costs $3.99 and Watch Chartplotter $9.99 up front. Surf Coach sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Watch Chartplotter asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Surf Coach ships an update every 5 weeks, Watch Chartplotter every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Surf Coach versus Watch Chartplotter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurf CoachWatch Chartplotter
Price$3.99 — better$9.99
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Paid
Best chart rank—#103 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS14.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size173 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMartin FitzgibbonsEvan Hallein

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Surf Coach

One-time1
  • Purchase Surf Coach ToolsFree
None

Watch Chartplotter

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Surf Coach free?
Surf Coach costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Watch Chartplotter free?
Watch Chartplotter costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Surf Coach or Watch Chartplotter have ads?
Neither Surf Coach nor Watch Chartplotter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Surf Coach or Watch Chartplotter?
Surf Coach ships an update every 5 weeks, and Watch Chartplotter every 5 days. Most recently, Surf Coach was updated on September 24, 2026 and Watch Chartplotter on September 29, 2026.

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