# playbuoy vs Wavemaps

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: playbuoy at none against Wavemaps's 2. playbuoy also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 88%). Wavemaps's advantage is ratings volume (186 vs 15) and chart position (#159 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Wavemaps sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 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 Wavemaps. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Wavemaps has 186 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of playbuoy's written reviews are positive against 88% of Wavemaps's.

playbuoy ships an update every 2 weeks, Wavemaps every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | playbuoy | Wavemaps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playbuoy/id1662001103/reviews)** | [4.9 (186 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavemaps-wave-forecasts/id6749452038/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **186** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 87.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#159** |
| Size | 21 MB | 119 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) | [Miguel Canals](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830493078) |

## 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


### Wavemaps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavemaps-wave-forecasts/id6749452038)

**Currently charting:** #159 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

This app provides detailed wave, surf, and wind forecasts for water enthusiasts and marine professionals. It offers global and nearshore wave modeling, real-time ocean data, and interactive 3D maps to visualize conditions. Users can save favorite locations and access premium features for advanced analysis.

**Highlights:** Global and nearshore wave forecasts, Custom ultra high-resolution wave models, Thousands of worldwide locations, Real-time ocean conditions from buoys, Interactive 3D-capable maps, Wave-seabed interaction visualization, Professional tools and extended forecasts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wavemaps Pro | $7.99 | per month |
| Wavemaps Pro | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is playbuoy free?

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

### Is Wavemaps free?

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

### Which has better reviews, playbuoy or Wavemaps?

playbuoy is rated higher. playbuoy averages 5.0 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Wavemaps averages 4.9 from 186 ratings.

### Do playbuoy or Wavemaps have ads?

Neither playbuoy nor Wavemaps shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, playbuoy or Wavemaps?

playbuoy ships an update every 2 weeks, and Wavemaps every 3 months. Most recently, playbuoy was updated on September 17, 2026 and Wavemaps on September 23, 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.*