# Surf vs Tides CR

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tides CR at none against Surf's 2. Tides CR also leads on ads (none vs shown). Surf's advantage is ratings volume (999 vs 1) and chart position (#100 vs unranked). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Surf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Tides CR asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Surf against 5.0 for Tides CR. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Surf has 999 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surf | Tides CR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (999 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecastcom/id6450721636/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tides-cr/id6478358503/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **999** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 86.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | — |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#100** | — |
| Size | 138 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Meteo365 Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/661723505) | [Costatek S.A.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460710073) |

## What reviewers say

### Surf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecastcom/id6450721636)

**Currently charting:** #100 Top Grossing · Weather, #154 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

Get simple, accurate surf forecasts for over 7,000 breaks worldwide. Plan your sessions with detailed wave information, tide times, and mapping to find the best conditions and nearby spots. Access extended forecasts and custom alerts with premium features.

**Highlights:** Detailed surf forecasts, Wavefinder map, Live webcam links, Tide times, 12-day forecasts, Custom surf alerts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Service: Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Service (Yearly) | $34.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌊 Accurate surf forecasts
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🗺️ Comprehensive coverage of locations
- 🔍 Detailed information (swell, wind, tides, etc.)
- 💰 Good value for subscription

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔄 Inconsistent data updates
- 🌊 Wave height/conditions not always accurate
- 🏞️ Missing data for some locations (e.g. Great Lakes)
- 🤔 Confusing or misleading surf ratings/forecasts

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes or freezes on some devices
- Geolocation issues with break markers

**Requested features**

- Ability to manually refresh data
- More detailed tidal/current information
- Expanded location coverage
- Improved accuracy for wave height/conditions


### Tides CR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tides-cr/id6478358503)

This app provides accurate, real-time tide information for the Costa Rican coastline. It uses data from the nearest buoy to help users plan beach days, fishing trips, and surf sessions.

**Highlights:** Real-time tide information, Data from nearest buoy, User-friendly interface, Apple Watch app and complication, Coastal adventure planning

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Surf free?

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

### Is Tides CR free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Surf or Tides CR?

Tides CR is rated higher. Surf averages 4.9 out of 5 from 999 ratings, while Tides CR averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Surf or Tides CR have ads?

Surf shows ads; Tides CR does not.

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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.*