BayCurrents vs PredictCurrent
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BayCurrents
Visualize high-resolution surface currents in the San Francisco Bay. This app supports various maritime activities with data up to 48 hours in the future. It operates autonomously offline, using NOAA model data enhanced by radar and tidal observations.
- High-resolution surface current maps
- 48-hour future forecasting
- Offline autonomous operation
- NOAA numerical model data
- Supports recreational and professional maritime activities
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BayCurrents is a mobile app for displaying maps of high resolution surface currents within the San Francisco Bay. The app is intended to support a wide range of maritime activities, from recreational fishing and sailing to the operation of professional transport vessels. The source for the surface current data is a numerical model operated by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The model benefits from oceanographic high-frequency radar (HFR) measurements from the Central & Northern California Ocean Observing System (CeNCOOS) HFR Network, along with other observations such as tides and wind. The resulting dataset contains current vector fields for hourly timestamps ranging from the recent past, to the present and up to 48 hours into the future. The complete vector dataset is downloaded by the app to allow autonomous offline operation. This app contains experimental data and is NOT for navigational purposes.
PredictCurrent
Navigate coastal waters with detailed tidal and ocean current maps. Access 10-day forecasts for currents, wind, waves, and sea temperatures. Essential for safe marine planning and exploration.
- Ultra-high-resolution 100m tidal current maps
- 400m and 4km global coastline coverage
- 10-day animated forecasts for currents, wind, and waves
- Hourly tide chart data
- Wind-against-current interaction analysis
- Sea temperature tracking
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Navigate coastal adventures with precision using real-time tidal current data from PredictWind. PredictCurrent delivers ultra-high-resolution 100m tidal current maps, plus 400m and 4km maps covering 90% of global coastlines. It also includes full ocean current coverage, empowering fishermen, sailors, and coastal explorers with essential tools for current tracking, tide planning, and marine navigation. Developed by PredictWind’s expert oceanographers, trusted globally for industry-leading forecasting, PredictCurrent supports confident and safe coastal navigation for boating, fishing, sailing, and kayaking. Why PredictCurrent - Unrivalled Precision: Ultra-high-resolution 100m tidal current maps provide unmatched detail for coastal tide planning, ideal for fishing, sailing, or paddle sports. Also includes 400m and 4km resolution maps. - Trusted Expertise: Built by PredictWind, pioneers in marine and ocean current forecasting, delivering professional-grade data. - Comprehensive Tracking: Monitor tidal currents, ocean currents, winds, waves, and sea temperatures with animated maps and hourly tide chart data for 10 days. - Coastal Navigation: Join fishermen, sailors, kayakers, and coastal explorers worldwide who rely on PredictWind’s marine weather and current data for informed navigation. Key Features - Ultra-High-Resolution 100m Tidal Current Maps: Visualise intricate nearshore water current movements with clarity, ideal for coastal navigation, route planning, and safety. - High-Resolution 400m & 4km Maps: Access tide and ocean current coverage for 90% of global coastlines, seamlessly integrated with live ocean current data. - Advanced Dashboard: Analyse wind-against-current interactions, wave heights, tide cycles, and directions using accurate ECMWF wind forecasts. - Animated 10-Day Forecasts: View dynamic tidal currents, ocean currents, wind, waves, and sea temperature forecasts on interactive marine maps. - Detailed Data Tables: Access hourly data on current speed and direction, plus alerts for wind-against-current situations. Tailored for fisherman, sailors, kayakers, and coastal adventurers, PredictCurrent offers essential tools for safe marine planning—backed by PredictWind’s proven ocean data and current tracking accuracy. Start with a 14-day free trial. Access ultra-high-resolution tidal current data, tide charts, ocean current forecasts, wind, waves, and sea temperature tools for your next coastal journey. Terms & Conditions: https://www.predictcurrent.com/terms-and-conditions Privacy Policy: https://www.predictcurrent.com/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: BayCurrents at 5.0 against PredictCurrent's 4.5. BayCurrents also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5). PredictCurrent's advantage is ratings volume (255 vs 3) and chart position (#59 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, 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
Both are free to download. PredictCurrent sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $15.00 per month. BayCurrents asks for nothing beyond the download.
BayCurrents holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PredictCurrent has 255 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.
BayCurrents ships an update every 2 months, PredictCurrent monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BayCurrents | PredictCurrent |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | 4.5 (255 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 56.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 255 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #59 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 50 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute | PredictWind Limited |
Customer experience
BayCurrents
PredictCurrent
Bugs and requests
BayCurrents
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
PredictCurrent
Reported bugs
8 issues- Unable to add location error messages despite valid coordinates
- Location setup fails to respond or complete
- Password not saved correctly in database, preventing login
- Account creation fails with character handling errors
- App crashes when setting locations
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- Free trial access inconsistent across devices
- iPad version blocks access to charts despite iPhone trial access
- Data unavailable errors at valid deep water locations
Requested features
9 requests- Extended forecast data for full 24-hour next day coverage
- Smaller time increment stepping (sub-hourly) for racing
- Exact tide turn time information beyond hourly data
- Legend/symbol guide for app indicators
- Improved coastal and estuarine modeling
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- Better 100m resolution coverage beyond UK Solent region
- Cross-platform synchronization between iPhone and iPad
- Offline access to saved locations
- Multi-language support (German, French, etc.)
In-app purchases
BayCurrents
No in-app purchases
PredictCurrent
- PredictCurrent Pro 1-Month14 Days trial$15.001 Month
- PredictCurrent Pro 3-Monthly14 Days trial$29.003 Months
- PredictCurrent Pro 3-Monthly3 Days trial$29.003 Months
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- PredictCurrent Pro 3-Monthly7 Days trial$29.003 Months
- PredictCurrent Pro Annual14 Days trial$99.001 Year
Questions
Is BayCurrents free?
Is PredictCurrent free?
Which has better reviews, BayCurrents or PredictCurrent?
Do BayCurrents or PredictCurrent have ads?
Which is updated more often, BayCurrents or PredictCurrent?
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