# Lotus vs SurfBound

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Lotus at none against SurfBound's 3. Lotus also leads on ratings volume (5 vs 1). SurfBound's advantage is iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SurfBound sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. 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 SurfBound. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lotus has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Lotus ships an update every 3 days, SurfBound every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lotus | SurfBound |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lotus-surf-team-development/id1619864551/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfbound-surf-tracker-and-log/id6787874143/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Every 4 days |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 76 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **18.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kunal Sanghi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1619864553) | [OysterX, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1276131621) |

## What reviewers say

### Lotus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lotus-surf-team-development/id1619864551)

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:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### SurfBound

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfbound-surf-tracker-and-log/id6787874143)

Effortlessly track your surf sessions with automatic wave detection, speed, and GPS logging directly from your smartwatch. Review your rides on your phone, progress through surf journeys, and check conditions worldwide. Share your sessions with friends and build your surf community.

**Highlights:** Automatic wave detection, GPS and speed tracking, Heart rate monitoring, Map replay with wave breakdown, Surf journey and level progression, Worldwide conditions and tides, Session sharing with friends

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SurfBound Pro Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| SurfBound Pro Quarterly | $7.99 | per 3 months |
| SurfBound Pro Yearly | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lotus free?

Lotus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is SurfBound free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Lotus or SurfBound?

Lotus and SurfBound are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 5 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Lotus or SurfBound have ads?

Neither Lotus nor SurfBound shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lotus or SurfBound?

Lotus ships an update every 3 days, and SurfBound every 4 days. Most recently, Lotus was updated on October 24, 2026 and SurfBound on October 31, 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.*