# MSW Surf Forecast vs Spitcast Surf Report

The clearest difference is monetization model: MSW Surf Forecast at free with in-app purchases against Spitcast Surf Report's subscription. MSW Surf Forecast also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 61%) and ratings volume (15K vs 408). Spitcast Surf Report's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MSW Surf Forecast sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Spitcast Surf Report sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MSW Surf Forecast holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MSW Surf Forecast has 15K ratings behind it against 408, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of MSW Surf Forecast's written reviews are positive against 61% of Spitcast Surf Report's.

MSW Surf Forecast ships an update every 6 weeks, Spitcast Surf Report every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MSW Surf Forecast | Spitcast Surf Report |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/msw-surf-forecast/id322103952/reviews)** | [4.7 (408 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spitcast-surf-report/id599090594/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | 408 |
| Positive reviews | **93.1% of reviews** | 60.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 31 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Surfline/Wavetrak](https://appshunter.io/developer/329198084) | [Jack Mullis](https://appshunter.io/developer/599090598) |

## What reviewers say

### MSW Surf Forecast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/msw-surf-forecast/id322103952)

Access comprehensive surf forecasts, live surf cams, and expert reports for breaks worldwide. Plan future surf trips with 16-day forecasts and relive your sessions with wave analysis and video playback. Shop surf gear and stay updated on surf news.

**Highlights:** Live surf cams at 950+ breaks, 16-day long-range forecasts, Daily surf reports from experts, Wave height, wind, weather, and tide data, Surf Alerts for perfect conditions, Cam Rewind for session replays, Surf gear shopping with premium benefits

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MSW App+ | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌊 Accurate surf forecasts
- 📊 Detailed wave and weather information
- 🗺️ Comprehensive coverage of surf spots
- ⏱️ Helpful tide and sunrise/sunset times
- 🎨 Intuitive and user-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional inaccuracies in forecasts
- 💰 Paywall for some features (e.g., webcams)
- 🔍 Limited number of spots in some regions
- 🔀 Navigation changes can be confusing
- 🔋 Concerns about battery drain

**Reported bugs**

- Favorites list not syncing across devices
- Webcam functionality not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Customizable notifications for swell/conditions
- Improved sorting/filtering of favorite spots
- More detailed local spot descriptions
- Integration with other weather/surf apps


### Spitcast Surf Report

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spitcast-surf-report/id599090594)

Get accurate surf forecasts for numerous locations across Northern and Southern California. This app interprets buoy data to provide easy-to-understand surf reports, helping surfers plan their next session.

**Highlights:** Accurate surf forecasts, Northern & Southern California spots, Buoy data interpretation, Easy-to-understand reports, Regional coverage

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Access | $0.49 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Lightweight and easy to use
- 👍 Great surf forecast
- 👍 Accurate reports
- 👍 No advertisements
- 👍 Low cost / high value

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Forecasts are inaccurate (off by feet/mph)
- 🐛 App stopped working after a week
- 🐛 Charts have fixed Y-axis, data exceeds axis
- 🐛 Dark mode impossible to read
- 🐛 Color contrast not accessible

**Reported bugs**

- App started nagging to sign up for premium
- App stopped working after a week
- Charts have fixed Y-axis, data exceeds axis and is unlabeled
- Dark mode is impossible to read
- Color contrast is not accessible

**Requested features**

- Option to change colors
- Add swell direction
- Add hourly specs like website
- Search for specific areas
- Explanation of symbols (circles, % of month letters)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MSW Surf Forecast free?

MSW Surf Forecast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Spitcast Surf Report free?

Spitcast Surf Report is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, MSW Surf Forecast or Spitcast Surf Report?

MSW Surf Forecast is rated higher. MSW Surf Forecast averages 4.8 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Spitcast Surf Report averages 4.7 from 408 ratings.

### Do MSW Surf Forecast or Spitcast Surf Report have ads?

MSW Surf Forecast shows ads; Spitcast Surf Report does not.

### Which is updated more often, MSW Surf Forecast or Spitcast Surf Report?

MSW Surf Forecast ships an update every 6 weeks, and Spitcast Surf Report every 2 months. Most recently, MSW Surf Forecast was updated on November 8, 2026 and Spitcast Surf Report on November 6, 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.*