Lotus vs Kaiyo
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lotus
This app allows surfers to track their sessions using AI, analyze performance with detailed insights, and connect with friends for virtual competitions and team communication. It integrates with health apps to monitor fitness goals.
- AI-powered session tracking
- Performance analytics and visualizations
- Health app integration for fitness goals
- Virtual surf events with friends
- Team leaderboards and trophies
- In-app team communication
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Team up with friends, battle for prizes, improve faster, and connect with your team. IMPROVE AND SHOW OFF • Track sessions using AI — turns (arcs), paddling, and more • Discover insights through analytics like maneuver visualizations • See how you're contributing to your fitness goals by tracking your heart rate and calories through integration with the Health app TEAM UP WITH FRIENDS • Surf in virtual events with friends and against others no matter where they are — any break, any time, any skill level • Battle for trophies and the top spots on leaderboards STAY CONNECTED WITH YOUR TEAM • Communicate effortlessly — no need to juggle multiple apps, texts, and email chains
Kaiyo
This app is your ultimate surf companion, offering detailed forecasts, spot finding, and session tracking. Connect with other surfers, share conditions, and discover new breaks.
- Hourly & Weekly Surf Forecasts
- Nearest Spot Finder
- Community Features
- Apple Watch Integration
- Live Surf Cameras
- Add Custom Surf Spots
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Catch every wave with confidence. Kaiyo - Your Ultimate Surf Companion Connect with your crew. Track your progress. Catch every wave. Kaiyo is the all-in-one surf platform built for surfers, by surfers. Whether you are looking to connect with your local lineup or analyze your performance in the water, Kaiyo delivers everything you need - right in your pocket and on your wrist. What’s New Kaiyo Community - Join the conversation. Share live conditions, post gear in the marketplace, find a ride, or organize meetups with local surfers at your favorite breaks. Apple Watch Integration - Track your surf sessions directly from your Apple Watch. Sync your waves, top speed, and heart rate seamlessly with the app. Add Your Own Surf Spots – Found a hidden gem? Drop a pin, name it, and make it yours. Live Surf Cameras – Watch real-time conditions at select beaches before you even wax your board. Core Features Hourly & Weekly Forecasts: Wave height, swell direction, period, wind, tide, and temperature. Nearest Spot Finder: Automatically shows the closest surf spots wherever you are. Favorites List: Keep your go-to breaks just a tap away. Session History: Review your tracked sessions to see your progress over time. Designed by surfers - for surfers.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Lotus at none against Kaiyo's 2. Lotus also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 11 days) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). Kaiyo's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). On price, rating, 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. Kaiyo sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Lotus asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Lotus against 5.0 for Kaiyo. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.
Lotus ships an update every 2 days, Kaiyo every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lotus | Kaiyo |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 days — better | Every 11 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 74 MB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kunal Sanghi | Alberto Charabati |
Customer experience
Lotus
Kaiyo
In-app purchases
Lotus
No in-app purchases
Kaiyo
- Tip The Developer$4.99
- Tip the Developer$4.99





