Comparison

Surf vs ridespot

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

Head to head
About

Surf

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
Read full description

Surf-Forecast.com gives you simple, accurate and easy-to-read surf forecasts so you have the best chance of hitting those breaks when the waves are pumping. Built by surfers, for surfers, and trusted by millions of surfers for over 20 years, our updated app lets you see all your favorite surf spots at a glance. Providing detailed surf forecasts for over 7,000 breaks worldwide, our new features let you see further ahead than ever before - giving you plenty of advance warning for when those swells start coming in. Find the best surfing conditions near you and use the rating tool to find exactly when to go. – FREE App Features ⁃ Detailed surf forecasts ⁃ Wavefinder map ⁃ Live webcam links ⁃ Multi-swell component presentation ⁃ Tide times ⁃ Detailed mapping to locate nearby breaks – Surf Premium Benefits ⁃ Access to the full 16 days of our new Wavefinder feature ⁃ Hourly forecasts ⁃ 16 day forecasts ⁃ Custom surf alerts ⁃ Ad-free browsing on our website So what are you waiting for? Grab your board and get exploring. We’ll see you out there! For the full Terms and Conditions of this service please visit: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

ridespot

Discover the best wind and weather conditions for your watersports. Find thousands of global spots with live data, smart analysis, and customizable filters. Perfect for all skill levels, from beginners to pros.

Highlights
  • Global spot map with 3000+ locations
  • Live weather and precise wind forecasts
  • AI-powered smart wind analysis
  • Customizable spot filters
  • Offline mode for spot access
  • Detailed spot information and local services
Features
Read full description

ridespot - Your Spot Compass for Perfect Sessions! Stop guessing where the wind is good! ridespot is your ultimate kiting app that shows you where the wind blows best and conditions are perfect. Whether you're a beginner looking for your first spot or a pro wanting to discover hidden gems – ridespot gets you where the action is! What makes ridespot special? • Global Spot Map: Discover 3000 spots worldwide – from your home waters to exotic destinations • Live Weather Data: ridespot deliver precise wind forecasts and current conditions • Smart Wind Analysis: Our AI considers topography and venturi effects for even more accurate wind predictions • Perfect Filters: Find spots by difficulty, distance, surface type and much more • Dark Mode: Keep track even at sunset • Offline Mode: Your favorite spots available even without internet Perfect for Everybody: - Beginners find safe flat water spots with standing depth - Intermediate riders discover new challenges - Pros track the best conditions for their sessions Wind, Weather, Waves – everything at a glance: Forget hours of checking different weather apps! ridespot shows you instantly: - Wind speed and direction - Gusts and wind consistency - Temperature and precipitation - 7-day forecast - Best times for your session More than just a spot finder: - Detailed spot info with access, parking and facilities - Distance calculation to your location - Difficulty levels and surface information - Local services and surf schools nearby Download ridespot now and turn every wind forecast into your next adventure!

Screenshots

Surf4 screens
ridespot4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Surf at Free against ridespot's $0.99. Surf also leads on chart position (#85 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). ridespot's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On device support 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

Surf is free to download; ridespot costs $0.99 up front. Surf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. ridespot asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Surf ships an update every 6 weeks, ridespot every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Surf versus ridespot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurfridespot
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.9 (940 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings940 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#85 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size138 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMeteo365 Ltd.Sven Schimmelpfennig

Customer experience

Surf

All ratings940 ratings
Positive99.3%
Neutral0.1%
Negative0.6%
Written reviews124 reviews
Positive87.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative9.7%

ridespot

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Surf

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes or freezes on some devices
  • Geolocation issues with break markers

Requested features

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

ridespot

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Surf

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Service: Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Premium Service (Yearly)$34.991 Year
None

ridespot

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Surf free?
Surf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ridespot free?
ridespot costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Surf or ridespot have ads?
Surf shows ads; ridespot does not.
Which is updated more often, Surf or ridespot?
Surf ships an update every 6 weeks, and ridespot every 8 days. Most recently, Surf was updated on October 18, 2026 and ridespot on October 11, 2026.

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