Comparison

PredictWind vs Buoyweather

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PredictWind

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
Read full description

Accurate marine weather forecasts and powerful tools utilizing wind, wave and currents, save you time, keep you safe and ensure you get the most out of every day on the water. Access the world’s top-ranking forecast models for reliable and accurate wind and weather data, including ECMWF, AIFS, ICON, UKMO, GFS, and more. Our very own PWAi, PWG & PWE models deliver unmatched accuracy in the short-to-medium range. View high resolution marine weather maps for wind, gust, CAPE, wave, rain, cloud, pressure, air temperature, sea temperature, ocean data and solunar. Suitable for sailing yacht, powerboat and any other marine weather activity. In addition to marine forecasts, PredictWind also provides a suite of powerful marine weather tools to save you time and keep you safe at sea using Wind, Wave, Tidal and Ocean currents. Weather Routing takes your start and end points then calculates your route factoring in tides, currents, wind and wave data, depth and your Sailing Yacht or Powerboats unique dimensions to give you the best route for comfort or speed. Departure Planning quickly summarizes the forecast marine weather conditions you’ll encounter along your route if leaving on day 1, 2, 3, or 4. Use this data to select the perfect departure date, every time for your Sailing Yacht or Powerboat. ADDITIONAL FEATURES - Daily Briefing: Powerful marine weather data condensed into a simple text forecast. - Maps: High resolution forecasts maps with animated streamlines, wind barbs or arrows. - Tables: The ultimate dashboard for detailed analysis of Wind, Wave, Rain and more. - Graphs: Compare multiple marine forecasts at the same time. - Live Wind Observations and Webcams: Know what’s happening with the weather right now at your local spot. - Local Knowledge: Hear about the best marine spots, amenities and activities at your destination. - Weather Alerts: Set your preferences then get alerts when conditions are just the way you like them for Wind, wave and other parameters. - Ocean Data: See what’s happening under the waves with ocean and tidal currents, and sea temperature. - GPS Tracking: Get a free customized GPS tracking page for your blog or website showing wind data overlaid. - AIS Data: View over 280,000 vessels worldwide on the AIS network to see marine traffic. Terms and conditions: https://www.predictwind.com/about-us/terms-and-conditions
 Privacy policy: https://www.predictwind.com/about-us/privacy-policy

About

Buoyweather

Get detailed marine weather forecasts for offshore fishing and boating. Plan your trips with wind, wave, and tide predictions up to 16 days out. Visualize ocean conditions with high-resolution charts and a proprietary wave forecast model for enhanced accuracy.

Highlights
  • 16-day weather, wind, wave, and tide forecasts
  • Save unlimited favorite forecast points
  • High-res wind, swell, and sea surface temperature charts
  • Proprietary wave forecast model
  • Global satellite data integration
Features
Read full description

Buoyweather is the go-to marine forecast tool built for offshore boating and fishing enthusiasts who need accurate, actionable conditions for any point offshore. Plan smarter. Stay safer. Get out there more. - Get wind, wave, and tide forecasts for any point on the water. Pick a spot on the map, get the forecast. It's that simple. - Get the full story fast with the Captain's Brief, which translates conditions into a plain-language assessment so you can make the call at a glance. - Customize your home screen with your favorite spots and swipe through daily conditions to plan your days on the water. - Visualize the ocean with SST, bathymetry, satellite view, and high-res isobar charts built for boaters. - Rely on the most accurate forecasting tools in the world, including our proprietary wave forecast model and access to NAM and HRRR wind models, for higher resolution when precision matters most. Confidently plan your next long-range trip, offshore run, or crossing window with Premium: - Know what’s ahead with extended 16-day wind, wave, and tide forecasts and daily Captain’s Briefs. - See live conditions at your inlet, harbor mouth, or beach with live cams so you can make the call confidently. - Map and compare conditions for your entire trip with route forecasting. No more checking point by point. - Track where the current runs against the wind before you leave the dock with integrated ocean current maps. Terms of use: https://go.buoyweather.com/terms-of-use

Screenshots

PredictWind4 screens
Buoyweather4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: PredictWind at none against Buoyweather's shown. PredictWind also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 66%) and ratings volume (33K vs 1.2K). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PredictWind sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Buoyweather sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for PredictWind against 4.7 for Buoyweather. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PredictWind has 33K ratings behind it against 1.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of PredictWind's written reviews are positive against 66% of Buoyweather's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PredictWind ships an update every 9 days, Buoyweather every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
PredictWind versus Buoyweather: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPredictWindBuoyweather
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (33K ratings) — better4.7 (1.2K ratings)
Positive reviews84.4% of reviews — better65.6% of reviews
Number of ratings33K — better1.2K
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#20 — better#28
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.5 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB135 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPredictWind LimitedSurfline/Wavetrak

Customer experience

PredictWind

All ratings32,885 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral2.1%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews461 reviews
Positive84.4%
Neutral3.0%
Negative12.6%

Buoyweather

All ratings1,150 ratings
Positive94.0%
Neutral1.7%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews192 reviews
Positive65.6%
Neutral2.1%
Negative32.3%

User reviews

PredictWind

From 33K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Buoyweather

From 1.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate forecasts
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🌊 Helpful for offshore/fishing activities
  • ⭐ Reliable and trusted app
  • 💻 Useful website and desktop version

Room to improve

  • 💰 Premium subscription too expensive
  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
  • 📍 Inaccurate location detection
  • 🕰️ Limited free forecast period
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find information

Bugs and requests

PredictWind

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

Buoyweather

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Unable to register new users
  • Forecast data not loading properly
  • Favorites not saving correctly
  • Inconsistent weather information across app and website

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add water temperature information
  • Improve login and registration process
  • Provide more customization options
  • Integrate with more weather data sources
  • Enhance mobile app performance and stability

In-app purchases

16 purchases

PredictWind

Subscriptions11
  • Basic - Monthly7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Basic - 3 Monthly$12.003 Months
  • Basic - 3 Monthly7 Days trial$12.003 Months
Show 8 more
  • Basic - Annual7 Days trial$29.001 Year
  • Standard - Monthly7 Days trial$49.001 Month
  • Standard - 3 Monthly$99.003 Months
  • Professional - Monthly7 Days trial$99.001 Month
  • Standard - 3 Monthly7 Days trial$99.003 Months
  • Standard - Annual7 Days trial$249.001 Year
  • Professional - 3 Monthly7 Days trial$249.003 Months
  • Professional - Annual7 Days trial$499.001 Year
One-time5
  • Basic Subscription, 1 Month$3.99
  • Basic Subscription, 3 Months$11.99
  • Basic Subscription, 12 Months$28.99
Show 2 more
  • Standard Subscription, 1 Month$48.99
  • Professional Subscription, 1 Month$99.99
5 purchases

Buoyweather

Subscriptions3
  • Buoyweather Premium$14.991 Month
  • Buoyweather Premium7 Days trial$95.991 Year
  • Buoyweather Premium$95.991 Year
One-time2
  • 1 Month Subscription$14.99
  • 1 Year Subscription$79.99

Questions

Is PredictWind free?
PredictWind is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Buoyweather free?
Buoyweather is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, PredictWind or Buoyweather?
PredictWind is rated higher. PredictWind averages 4.8 out of 5 from 33K ratings, while Buoyweather averages 4.7 from 1.2K ratings.
Do PredictWind or Buoyweather have ads?
Buoyweather shows ads; PredictWind does not.
Which is updated more often, PredictWind or Buoyweather?
PredictWind ships an update every 9 days, and Buoyweather every 5 days. Most recently, PredictWind was updated on October 28, 2026 and Buoyweather on October 26, 2026.
Which is more popular, PredictWind or Buoyweather?
PredictWind currently peaks at #20 in the App Store charts, and Buoyweather at #28. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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