# Surfline vs KWind

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: KWind at none against Surfline's 10. KWind also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 86%). Surfline's advantage is chart position (#3 vs unranked). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Surfline sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $14.95 per month. KWind asks for nothing beyond the download.

Surfline ships an update weekly, KWind every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surfline | KWind |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (31K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfline-wave-and-surf-reports/id393782096/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **31K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 85.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | — |
| Size | 208 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Surfline/Wavetrak](https://appshunter.io/developer/329198084) | [Helium Smart World](https://appshunter.io/developer/1704457081) |

## What reviewers say

### Surfline

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfline-wave-and-surf-reports/id393782096)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Grossing · Weather, #27 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

Get detailed surf forecasts, live cams, and session tracking to help you decide when and where to hit the waves. Plan your next surf adventure with expert insights and nearshore models.

**Highlights:** Live surf cams, Expert surf forecasts, Wind and tide data, Session tracking, 10-day forecasts, Customizable setup, Nearshore forecast model

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Surfline Premium | $14.95 | per month |
| SL Premium - Monthly | $15.99 | per month |
| Surfline Premium | $15.99 | per month |
| Surfline Forecast membership | $39.99 | per year |
| Surfline Premium with ads | $69.99 | per year |
| Surfline Premium | $119.99 | per year |
| Surfline Premium | $119.99 | per year |
| Surfline Premium+ | $149.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌊 Accurate surf forecasting
- 📽️ Useful live surf cams
- 🤙 Helpful for planning surf trips
- 🏄‍♂️ Invaluable for surfers
- 🗺️ Comprehensive coverage of surf spots

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤑 Expensive premium subscription
- 🚫 Limited access for free users
- 🌐 Inconsistent accuracy of forecasts
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate for new users
- 🔴 Frequent ads for premium service

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Inconsistent performance on different devices
- Unreliable live cam functionality
- Issues with login and account management

**Requested features**

- More live cams at popular surf spots
- Improved forecast accuracy and reliability
- Ability to share/comment on surf sessions
- Better integration with fitness trackers
- Customizable alerts and notifications


### KWind

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kwind/id1639308464)

This app provides real-time wind data, personalized alerts, and detailed spot information for wind sports enthusiasts. Plan your sessions with live conditions, historical trends, and tide details.

**Highlights:** Live wind data, Wind notifications, Spot guides, Wind history analysis, Wind statistics, Tide details, Wind station map

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Surfline free?

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

### Is KWind free?

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

### Do Surfline or KWind have ads?

Surfline shows ads; KWind does not.

### Which is updated more often, Surfline or KWind?

Surfline ships an update weekly, and KWind every 5 days. Most recently, Surfline was updated on November 6, 2026 and KWind on November 3, 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.*