# Hanalei River vs Surf

The clearest difference is price: Surf at Free against Hanalei River's $0.99. Surf also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (999 vs 22). Hanalei River's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On device support there is nothing between them.

Surf is free to download; Hanalei River costs $0.99 up front. Surf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Hanalei River asks for nothing beyond the download.

Surf holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Surf has 999 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Hanalei River's written reviews are positive against 86% of Surf's.

Hanalei River ships an update every 2 weeks, Surf every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hanalei River | Surf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanalei-river/id1599017267/reviews) | **[4.9 (999 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecastcom/id6450721636/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **999** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **86.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | #112 |
| Size | 33 MB | 138 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ONOSOL LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1252773943) | [Meteo365 Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/661723505) |

## What reviewers say

### Hanalei River

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hanalei-river/id1599017267)

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Paid · Weather (US App Store)

Monitor river gauge heights and road conditions on Kaua'i during heavy rains. Access real-time data from USGS river gauges and view traffic camera feeds to check road accessibility. Future updates will include push notifications for rising river levels.

**Highlights:** USGS river gauge height monitoring, Hanalei Initiative road camera access, All Kaua'i river gauge data, Push notifications for rising rivers (upcoming)

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Surf

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

**Currently charting:** #112 Top Grossing · Weather, #142 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 Hanalei River free?

Hanalei River costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Surf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hanalei River or Surf?

Surf is rated higher. Hanalei River averages 4.5 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Surf averages 4.9 from 999 ratings.

### Do Hanalei River or Surf have ads?

Surf shows ads; Hanalei River does not.

### Which is updated more often, Hanalei River or Surf?

Hanalei River ships an update every 2 weeks, and Surf every 6 weeks. Most recently, Hanalei River was updated on October 27, 2026 and Surf on October 27, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Hanalei River or Surf?

Hanalei River currently peaks at #21 in the App Store charts, and Surf at #112. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*