# Tide Chart USA vs AlphaCast

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tide Chart USA at none against AlphaCast's 1. Tide Chart USA also leads on ratings volume (7.7K vs 7) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). AlphaCast's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (100% vs 68%). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AlphaCast sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Tide Chart USA asks for nothing beyond the download.

AlphaCast holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tide Chart USA has 7.7K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Tide Chart USA's written reviews are positive against 100% of AlphaCast's.

Tide Chart USA ships an update every 5 months, AlphaCast every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tide Chart USA | AlphaCast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (7.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tide-chart-usa/id593308377/reviews) | **[5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphacast/id6752629975/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.7K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 68.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [hanitaro](https://appshunter.io/developer/500375118) | [STIX FISHING GEAR LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1833619037) |

## What reviewers say

### Tide Chart USA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tide-chart-usa/id593308377)

Access detailed tidal information for various locations. This app is designed for recreational fishing enthusiasts, providing essential data for planning your next outing. It is intended for personal use and not for commercial navigation.

**Highlights:** Tidal information display, Designed for fishing, Recreational use, No warranty provided

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent tide chart
- 👍 Easy to read and understand
- 👍 Useful for boating, fishing, and other activities
- 👍 Accurate and reliable
- 👍 Simple and visually appealing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Location issues - app defaults to wrong location
- 🐛 Inaccurate tide information in some areas
- 🐛 Unable to change or add locations
- 🐛 Daylight saving time not handled properly
- 🐛 Tide chart not detailed enough in some areas

**Reported bugs**

- Tide information off by an hour
- App gets stuck in wrong location
- Spelling errors in the app
- Incompatible with some devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to scroll backwards in time
- Extend timeline further into the future
- Add more location options
- Include current weather and conditions
- Provide a widget for the lock screen


### AlphaCast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alphacast/id6752629975)

This outdoor companion provides accurate local weather forecasts, moon phases, and tide information for hikers, anglers, and campers. Plan your adventures confidently with offline forecast downloads and smart alerts for changing conditions.

**Highlights:** Accurate local weather forecasts, Offline forecast downloads, Moon phases and illumination data, Tide information, Smart weather alerts, Clutter-free interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alphacast Pro Monthly | $0.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tide Chart USA free?

Tide Chart USA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is AlphaCast free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Tide Chart USA or AlphaCast?

AlphaCast is rated higher. Tide Chart USA averages 4.8 out of 5 from 7.7K ratings, while AlphaCast averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.

### Do Tide Chart USA or AlphaCast have ads?

Tide Chart USA shows ads; AlphaCast does not.

### Which is updated more often, Tide Chart USA or AlphaCast?

Tide Chart USA ships an update every 5 months, and AlphaCast every 8 days. Most recently, Tide Chart USA was updated on September 24, 2026 and AlphaCast on August 11, 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.*