# playbuoy vs Surf Forecast AI

The clearest difference is update cadence: playbuoy at every 2 weeks against Surf Forecast AI's every 3 months. playbuoy also leads on ratings volume (17 vs 3). Surf Forecast AI's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.5). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for playbuoy against 5.0 for Surf Forecast AI. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: playbuoy has 17 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

playbuoy ships an update every 2 weeks, Surf Forecast AI every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | playbuoy | Surf Forecast AI |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (17 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playbuoy/id1662001103/reviews) | [5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecast-ai/id6742982308/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **17** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 21 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matthew Iannucci](https://appshunter.io/developer/945847569) | [Conor Macken](https://appshunter.io/developer/1744760308) |

## What reviewers say

### playbuoy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playbuoy/id1662001103)

This app provides detailed swell observations and forecasts using NOAA buoy data and a custom algorithm. It offers beautiful, meaningful plots to compare real-time readings with model forecasts, helping you plan ocean activities.

**Highlights:** Detailed swell observations and forecasts, Custom algorithm for accurate swell breakdown, 16-day swell forecast data, Up to five swell components displayed, Visual comparison of buoy readings and model forecasts, Full directional wave spectra visualization, Widgets and watch complications

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Surf Forecast AI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecast-ai/id6742982308)

This app uses AI to analyze swell, tide, and wind data for the next 7 days, identifying the best times to surf. It helps you find optimal sessions at your local spots or discover the best waves in your region, reducing wasted trips.

**Highlights:** AI-powered session predictions, 7-day outlook for every surf spot, Integrated swell, tide, and wind data, Identifies best regional and local sessions, Reduces wasted surf trips

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is playbuoy free?

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

### Is Surf Forecast AI free?

Surf Forecast AI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, playbuoy or Surf Forecast AI?

playbuoy and Surf Forecast AI are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 17 and 3 ratings respectively.

### Do playbuoy or Surf Forecast AI have ads?

Neither playbuoy nor Surf Forecast AI shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, playbuoy or Surf Forecast AI?

playbuoy ships an update every 2 weeks, and Surf Forecast AI every 3 months. Most recently, playbuoy was updated on October 21, 2026 and Surf Forecast AI on October 14, 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.*