Comparison

Surf vs nextSurf

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

nextSurf

Features
Read full description

► Why nextSurf… We use AI to make nextSurf your essential surf companion. Getting insights should be fast and easy — we give you clean, minimal, intelligent reports. Why you’ll love it: ► Easy navigation — Tap, swipe, and go. No clutter, no confusion. Fast, simple, with accessibility built in. ► Choose your weather provider — Pick from trusted sources like NOAA, Stormglass, or ECMWF. ► Watch ready — Check tides, swell, and wind right from your Apple Watch. ► surfIntelligence™ AI Surf Reports — The best surf insights to come to your phone or watch. We focus on what’s next: the next hour, the next day, the next swell. Everything is designed for clarity and speed — conditions at a glance, not endless scrolling. Swipe or tap to see tides, wind, and swell. Favourites left, locations right, tomorrow’s forecast — swipe up. Plan your after-work session or dawn patrol in seconds. Includes a dedicated Apple Watch app so you can check the next conditions right from your wrist — even in the water. ►► DOWNLOAD nextSurf NOW Get ahead of the crowds by knowing when and where the next surf will be. Use our leading surfIntelligence™ to deliver insights into your hands and plan your next session. The fastest app when it comes to knowing exactly what you need to know — powered by surfIntelligence™. ► The Three Essentials Every surf depends on three things: What is the swell doing? When is the next tide? How is the wind blowing? nextSurf keeps these front and centre — simple, fast, accurate. We combine them into our own AI-powered surf forecast engine to deliver surfIntelligence™ that blends local knowledge with accurate forecasts — any beach, anywhere. ► AI Surf Reports Bringing leading-edge intelligence into your hands to help you make informed decisions with surfIntelligence™. Our AI-powered surf engine rates conditions on a 5-star scale and writes human-readable summaries using location-specific data. We provide a detailed 3-day report and a 7-day outlook for improved forecast accuracy. Conditions can change quickly with extended forecasts — our focused window improves reliability and delivers higher-quality surf reports. ► Built by Surfers, for Surfers We know what you need to know when planning your next surf — whether that’s the next hour, day, or week. ► Choose Your Source Our unique app gives you more control and flexibility to pick the tide and weather provider you trust — NOAA, Stormglass, or ECMWF. ► Lightning Fast, Beautifully Simple No distractions — just clean gestures for instant info. Fully accessible with VoiceOver support. ► Free or Pro Free for essential tides. Go Pro for full forecasts and AI reports. ► Apple Watch Ready See tides, swell, and wind at a glance. Designed for clarity and speed so you can stay focused on the surf. ► Why Surfers Love nextSurf “nextSurf makes it so easy to plan.” “Clean, simple, and fast.” ► Why Switch from Big Apps Choose the weather provider you trust. Refreshingly simple navigation and glanceable info — no clutter, no endless scrolling — just tap, swipe, and go. Our surfIntelligence™ gives you leading-edge insights powered by world-class AI. ► Disclaimer nextSurf provides surf data to help you plan, but always use your own judgement and check local conditions before paddling out. All data is sourced from trusted third-party providers, but ocean and weather conditions can change rapidly. By using nextSurf, you agree that you are solely responsible for your safety and decision-making. nextSurf and its creators accept no liability for any injuries, damages, or losses resulting from ocean activities. Stay safe. Surf smart. Support & FAQ: https://rocketdata.co.nz/apps/nextSurf/next-surf-support/ EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Terms of Use: https://rocketdata.co.nz/apps/nextSurf/terms-of-use/

Screenshots

Surf4 screens
nextSurf4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: nextSurf at none against Surf's shown. nextSurf also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 weeks). Surf's advantage is chart position (#130 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases and 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

Both are free to download. Surf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and nextSurf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Surf ships an update every 6 weeks, nextSurf every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Surf versus nextSurf: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurfnextSurf
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (1K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews86.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings1K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#130 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size138 MB125 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMeteo365 Ltd.Rocket Data Ltd

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

nextSurf

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
2 purchases

nextSurf

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Pro Annual7 Days trial$22.991 Year

Questions

Is Surf free?
Surf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is nextSurf free?
nextSurf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Surf or nextSurf have ads?
Surf shows ads; nextSurf does not.
Which is updated more often, Surf or nextSurf?
Surf ships an update every 6 weeks, and nextSurf every 9 days. Most recently, Surf was updated on October 30, 2026 and nextSurf on October 3, 2026.

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