# Surf Captain vs Wave Whisperer

The clearest difference is ads: Wave Whisperer at none against Surf Captain's shown. Wave Whisperer also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 76%). Surf Captain's advantage is ratings volume (1.1K vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, rating, 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 Wave Whisperer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Wave Whisperer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Surf Captain has 1.1K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Surf Captain's written reviews are positive against 100% of Wave Whisperer's.

Surf Captain ships an update weekly, Wave Whisperer monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surf Captain | Wave Whisperer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-captain-surf-forecasts/id1566602258/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-whisperer/id6769619488/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 75.8% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#192** | — |
| Size | 61 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Weather Captain](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566602260) | [In the Moment Technology LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896674486) |

## What reviewers say

### Surf Captain

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

**Currently charting:** #192 Top Grossing · 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 |


### Wave Whisperer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-whisperer/id6769619488)

Access real-time buoy data for surfers, including swell height, period, direction, and sea surface temperature. Track historical readings, compare conditions over 24 hours, and learn about buoy data with an educational section. Features a low-light mode and customizable units.

**Highlights:** Real-time buoy data (swell, period, direction, temp), 24-hour condition comparison, Save and revisit historical readings, Rotating compass with swell direction, Buoy School educational section, Low Light display mode, Customizable units (feet/meters, F/C)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Unlock | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Surf Captain free?

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

### Is Wave Whisperer free?

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

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

Wave Whisperer is rated higher. Surf Captain averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Wave Whisperer averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Surf Captain or Wave Whisperer have ads?

Surf Captain shows ads; Wave Whisperer does not.

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

Surf Captain ships an update weekly, and Wave Whisperer monthly. Most recently, Surf Captain was updated on October 30, 2026 and Wave Whisperer on October 28, 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.*