# Surfline vs PredictWind

The clearest difference is ads: PredictWind at none against Surfline's shown. PredictWind also leads on iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.0). Surfline's advantage is chart position (#6 vs #20). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Surfline sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $14.95 per month and PredictWind sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Surfline against 4.8 for PredictWind. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 31K and 33K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Surfline's written reviews are positive against 84% of PredictWind's.

Surfline ships an update weekly, PredictWind every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surfline | PredictWind |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (31K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfline-wave-and-surf-reports/id393782096/reviews) | **[4.8 (33K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/predictwind-marine-forecasts/id477048487/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 31K | **33K** |
| Positive reviews | **85.9% of reviews** | 84.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#6** | #20 |
| Size | 207 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.5** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Surfline/Wavetrak](https://appshunter.io/developer/329198084) | [PredictWind Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/477048590) |

## What reviewers say

### Surfline

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

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Grossing · Weather, #20 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

This app provides detailed surf forecasts, live conditions, and expert analysis to help surfers plan their sessions. Access over 1000 live cams worldwide, hourly data on wave height, wind, and tide, and track your progress with session logging. Premium members receive exclusive discounts and giveaways.

**Highlights:** Global live surf cams, Hourly condition data, Expert surf reports, Detailed forecast analysis, Session logging, Apple Watch integration

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Surfline Premium | $14.95 | per month |
| Surfline Premium | $15.99 | per month |
| SL Premium - Monthly | $15.99 | per month |
| Surfline Forecast membership | $39.99 | per year |
| Surfline Premium with ads | $69.99 | per year |
| Surfline Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| Surfline Premium | $99.99 | 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


### PredictWind

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/predictwind-marine-forecasts/id477048487)

**Currently charting:** #20 Top Grossing · Weather, #61 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

Get accurate marine weather forecasts and powerful tools for wind, waves, and currents. Plan your trips with routing and departure planning features, and stay informed with live observations and alerts. Ideal for all marine activities.

**Highlights:** Accurate marine weather forecasts, Wind, wave, and current data, Weather routing and departure planning, High-resolution marine weather maps, Live wind observations and webcams, Weather alerts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Basic - Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Basic - 3 Monthly | $12.00 | per 3 months |
| Basic - 3 Monthly | $12.00 | per 3 months |
| Basic - Annual | $29.00 | per year |
| Standard - Monthly | $49.00 | per month |
| Standard - 3 Monthly | $99.00 | per 3 months |
| Professional - Monthly | $99.00 | per month |
| Standard - 3 Monthly | $99.00 | per 3 months |
| Standard - Annual | $249.00 | per year |
| Professional - 3 Monthly | $249.00 | per 3 months |
| Professional - Annual | $499.00 | per year |
| Basic Subscription, 1 Month | $3.99 | one-time |
| Basic Subscription, 3 Months | $11.99 | one-time |
| Basic Subscription, 12 Months | $28.99 | one-time |
| Standard Subscription, 1 Month | $48.99 | one-time |
| Professional Subscription, 1 Month | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Accurate weather forecasts
- 🚀 Comprehensive data and features
- 💡 Useful for sailing, fishing, and other outdoor activities
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🚀 Reliable and dependable

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional inaccuracies in weather predictions
- 💰 Expensive subscription costs
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription
- 🔒 Locked into using proprietary hardware and services
- 🔒 Limited free features

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes on some devices
- Inconsistent performance across different locations
- Subscription issues and billing problems

**Requested features**

- Improved integration with other apps and charts
- More frequent weather model updates
- Earlier weather forecast updates
- Ability to customize alert settings
- Improved offline functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Surfline free?

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

### Is PredictWind free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Surfline or PredictWind?

PredictWind is rated higher. Surfline averages 4.7 out of 5 from 31K ratings, while PredictWind averages 4.8 from 33K ratings.

### Do Surfline or PredictWind have ads?

Surfline shows ads; PredictWind does not.

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

Surfline ships an update weekly, and PredictWind every 9 days. Most recently, Surfline was updated on October 27, 2026 and PredictWind on October 27, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Surfline or PredictWind?

Surfline currently peaks at #6 in the App Store charts, and PredictWind at #20. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*
