Comparison

Lotus vs Kaiyo

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • Hourly & Weekly Surf Forecasts
  • Nearest Spot Finder
  • Community Features
  • Apple Watch Integration
  • Live Surf Cameras
  • Add Custom Surf Spots
Features
Read full description

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

Lotus4 screens
Kaiyo4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Kaiyo sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Lotus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard5 real differences · 4 level
Lotus versus Kaiyo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLotusKaiyo
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings4 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size74 MB45 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperKunal SanghiAlberto Charabati

Customer experience

Lotus

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Kaiyo

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Lotus

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Kaiyo

One-time2
  • Tip The Developer$4.99
  • Tip the Developer$4.99

Questions

Is Lotus free?
Lotus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kaiyo free?
Kaiyo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lotus or Kaiyo?
Lotus and Kaiyo are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Lotus or Kaiyo have ads?
Neither Lotus nor Kaiyo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lotus or Kaiyo?
Lotus ships an update every 2 days, and Kaiyo every 11 days. Most recently, Lotus was updated on August 26, 2026 and Kaiyo on September 10, 2026.

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