# playbuoy vs Tide Buoy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: playbuoy at none against Tide Buoy's 4. playbuoy also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (15 vs 2). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tide Buoy sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per year. playbuoy asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for playbuoy against 5.0 for Tide Buoy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: playbuoy has 15 ratings behind it against 2, 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, Tide Buoy weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | playbuoy | Tide Buoy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playbuoy/id1662001103/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tide-buoy/id6760411286/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 21 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | 18.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matthew Iannucci](https://appshunter.io/developer/945847569) | [WILLIAM BRADFORD BOOTH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1884330109) |

## 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


### Tide Buoy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tide-buoy/id6760411286)

Quickly access tide charts, surf conditions, and marine weather for your current location. Designed for surfers, anglers, and boaters, it provides clear visual data for coastal activities.

**Highlights:** Clear tide charts, Nearby tide station data, Surf and marine conditions, Save favorite spots, Visual tide curve, Coastal water data

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tide Buoy Premium (Yearly) | $2.99 | per year |
| Tide Buoy Support Tip $1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tide Buoy Support Tip $5 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Tide Buoy Support Tip $10 | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is playbuoy free?

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

### Is Tide Buoy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, playbuoy or Tide Buoy?

playbuoy and Tide Buoy are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 15 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do playbuoy or Tide Buoy have ads?

Tide Buoy shows ads; playbuoy does not.

### Which is updated more often, playbuoy or Tide Buoy?

playbuoy ships an update every 2 weeks, and Tide Buoy weekly. Most recently, playbuoy was updated on September 17, 2026 and Tide Buoy on September 29, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*