# Surf vs ridespot

The clearest difference is price: Surf at Free against ridespot's $0.99. Surf also leads on chart position (#78 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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surf | ridespot |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | **[4.9 (940 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecastcom/id6450721636/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **940** | — |
| Positive reviews | 87.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#78** | — |
| Size | 138 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Meteo365 Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/661723505) | [Sven Schimmelpfennig](https://appshunter.io/developer/1816738998) |

## What reviewers say

### Surf

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

**Currently charting:** #78 Top Grossing · Weather, #162 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


### ridespot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ridespot/id6746417309)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*
