Comparison

SurfUp vs Ithos

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

Head to head
About

SurfUp

Easily find and rent surfboards near your location. Reserve your chosen board, unlock it through the app, and manage your entire rental session from your phone for a seamless beach experience.

Highlights
  • Find available surfboards nearby
  • Reserve and unlock boards via app
  • Manage rental sessions on phone
  • Guided board return process
  • Convenient beach experience
Features
Read full description

SurfUp makes surfboard rentals simple. Find a board near you, reserve your ride, unlock your SurfPod, and get in the water with less friction. Whether you're a beginner looking for an easy way to start or a regular surfer who wants a more convenient rental experience, SurfUp helps you spend less time coordinating and more time surfing. With SurfUp, you can: - Find available boards near you - Reserve and unlock boards through the app - Manage your rental session from your phone - Return your board with a simple guided flow - Get a smoother, more convenient beach experience SurfUp is built to make surfboard access easier, faster, and more flexible for riders and partner locations alike. Download SurfUp and start your next session.

About

Ithos

Connect with expert instructors and schools for action sports like kitesurfing, surfing, and golf. Find private or group lessons, track your progress, and manage bookings and payments seamlessly. Learn responsibly with vetted professionals.

Highlights
  • Find action sports lessons
  • Connect with expert instructors
  • Track athletic progression
  • Seamless booking and scheduling
  • Transparent pricing
  • Verified instructor profiles
Features
Read full description

Unlock Your Potential with Ithos: Learn, Progress, and Grow Ithos is YOUR platform for connecting with instructors, schools, studios, and coaches of all varieties. with expert instructors and schools. Whether you’re looking to master kitesurfing, wing foiling, surfing, windsurfing, golf, or tennis, or beyond Ithos ensures a seamless, transparent, and rewarding learning experience. From first-timers to seasoned athletes, Ithos makes it easy to find lessons tailored to your skill level and schedule: • Private Coaching: Focused, one-on-one instruction. • Group Sessions: Learn with others while building connections. • Specialized Programs: Hone advanced techniques or try something entirely new. With Ithos, you’re always in control of your journey. New categories added regularly! Your milestones celebrated Track and celebrate your achievements: athletic profiles and progressions. • A Complete Record of Your Progression: Each lesson, milestone, and skill advancement is documented for you. • Shareable and Unique: Showcase your athletic profile with friends, family, or potential collaborators. • A Lifetime of Growth: Your journey evolves with you, creating a lasting record of your Accomplishments. At Ithos, we empower instructors and schools to set their own prices while keeping costs low for Everyone: • No Price Manipulation: You pay what’s set by your instructor or school. • Hassle-Free Platform: Ithos resolves the friction of lesson management, from scheduling to payments, at the lowest possible operational cost.No hefty service fees, Ithos prioritizes fairness, keeping the focus on your experience, and your Communities. All-in-one platform for Students Ithos removes the guesswork, offering everything you need in one place: • Upfront pricing with no surprises. • Verified instructor and school profiles for quality assurance. • Seamless booking and scheduling. Safety and quality you can trust Your safety is paramount. All instructors and schools are thoroughly vetted, ensuring a secure and professional learning environment. Learn responsibly With eco-conscious learning options and support for sustainable practices, Ithos helps you protect the planet while pursuing your passion. Start your journey today with Ithos and create a lasting legacy of your athletic achievements. Download the app now and take your first step into the world of dynamic action sports!

Screenshots

SurfUp3 screens
Ithos4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Ithos at 5.0 against SurfUp's 4.7. Ithos also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks). SurfUp's advantage is ratings volume (27 vs 4). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ithos holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SurfUp has 27 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of SurfUp's written reviews are positive against 100% of Ithos's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SurfUp ships an update every 6 weeks, Ithos every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SurfUp versus Ithos: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurfUpIthos
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (27 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings27 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size30 MB97 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSurfUp, Inc.ITHOS LLC

Customer experience

SurfUp

All ratings27 ratings
Positive92.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.1%

Ithos

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

SurfUp

No in-app purchases

None

Ithos

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SurfUp free?
SurfUp is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ithos free?
Ithos is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SurfUp or Ithos?
Ithos is rated higher. SurfUp averages 4.7 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while Ithos averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do SurfUp or Ithos have ads?
Neither SurfUp nor Ithos shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SurfUp or Ithos?
SurfUp ships an update every 6 weeks, and Ithos every 3 weeks. Most recently, SurfUp was updated on October 9, 2026 and Ithos on September 30, 2026.

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