# playbuoy vs Swell Scope

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: playbuoy at none against Swell Scope's 3. playbuoy also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly) and review sentiment (100% vs 92%). Swell Scope's advantage is ratings volume (48 vs 15) and iOS requirement (15.3 vs 18.5). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Swell Scope sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. playbuoy asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for playbuoy against 4.9 for Swell Scope. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 48 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of playbuoy's written reviews are positive against 92% of Swell Scope's.

playbuoy ships an update every 2 weeks, Swell Scope monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | playbuoy | Swell Scope |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playbuoy/id1662001103/reviews)** | [4.9 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swell-scope-surf-forecast/id6747609653/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **48** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 92.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 21 MB | 99 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **15.3** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matthew Iannucci](https://appshunter.io/developer/945847569) | [Flockatoo Tech Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1721743955) |

## 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


### Swell Scope

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swell-scope-surf-forecast/id6747609653)

This app allows users to create custom surf spots globally by dropping pins and provides detailed forecast data from premier weather models. It features a surf journal with auto-import and trend charts to help users make informed decisions about their sessions.

**Highlights:** Custom surf spot creation worldwide, 14-day detailed weather forecast, Surf journal with auto-import, Similar session comparison, Trend charts for forecast data, Real-time data updates

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Access | $2.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Access | $24.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Unlimited Access | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is playbuoy free?

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

### Is Swell Scope free?

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

### Which has better reviews, playbuoy or Swell Scope?

playbuoy is rated higher. playbuoy averages 5.0 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Swell Scope averages 4.9 from 48 ratings.

### Do playbuoy or Swell Scope have ads?

Neither playbuoy nor Swell Scope shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, playbuoy or Swell Scope?

playbuoy ships an update every 2 weeks, and Swell Scope monthly. Most recently, playbuoy was updated on September 17, 2026 and Swell Scope 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.*