# Surf Captain vs Surf

The clearest difference is update cadence: Surf Captain at weekly against Surf's every 6 weeks. Surf's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (940 vs 107). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Surf Captain sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year and Surf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Surf holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Surf has 940 ratings behind it against 107, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Surf Captain's written reviews are positive against 87% of Surf's.

Surf Captain ships an update weekly, Surf every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surf Captain | Surf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (107 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-captain/id1566602258/reviews) | **[4.9 (940 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecastcom/id6450721636/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 107 | **940** |
| Positive reviews | 77.4% of reviews | **86.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#82** | #106 |
| Size | 61 MB | 138 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Weather Captain](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566602260) | [Meteo365 Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/661723505) |

## What reviewers say

### Surf Captain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-captain/id1566602258)

**Currently charting:** #82 Top Grossing · Weather, #160 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

Get detailed 16-day surf forecasts for numerous locations across North America and the Caribbean. This app provides highly accurate predictions in a user-friendly interface, making it easy to plan your next surf session.

**Highlights:** 16-day surf forecasts, United States forecasts, Canada forecasts, Central America forecasts, Caribbean forecasts, Accurate predictions, Simple interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Surf Captain Pro | $9.99 | per year |
| Surf Captain Pro Annual | $19.99 | per year |
| Surf Captain Pro Plus Annual | $39.99 | per year |


### Surf

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

**Currently charting:** #106 Top Grossing · Weather, #149 Top Free · 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 Surf Captain free?

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

### Is Surf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Surf Captain or Surf?

Surf is rated higher. Surf Captain averages 4.6 out of 5 from 107 ratings, while Surf averages 4.9 from 940 ratings.

### Do Surf Captain or Surf have ads?

Both Surf Captain and Surf show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Surf Captain or Surf?

Surf Captain ships an update weekly, and Surf every 6 weeks. Most recently, Surf Captain was updated on September 25, 2026 and Surf on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Surf Captain or Surf?

Surf Captain currently peaks at #82 in the App Store charts, and Surf at #106. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*