# Surf vs Wavemaps

The clearest difference is ads: Wavemaps at none against Surf's shown. Surf's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (1K vs 237). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Surf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Wavemaps sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Surf against 4.9 for Wavemaps. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1K and 237 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of Surf's written reviews are positive against 88% of Wavemaps's.

Surf ships an update every 6 weeks, Wavemaps every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surf | Wavemaps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecastcom/id6450721636/reviews) | **[4.9 (237 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavemaps-wave-forecasts/id6749452038/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 237 |
| Positive reviews | 86.4% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#111** | #125 |
| Size | 138 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Meteo365 Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/661723505) | [Miguel Canals](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830493078) |

## What reviewers say

### Surf

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

**Currently charting:** #111 Top Grossing · 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


### Wavemaps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavemaps-wave-forecasts/id6749452038)

**Currently charting:** #125 Top Grossing · Weather (US App Store)

This app provides detailed wave, surf, and wind forecasts for water enthusiasts and marine professionals. It offers global and nearshore wave modeling, real-time ocean data, and interactive 3D maps to visualize conditions. Users can save favorite locations and access premium features for advanced analysis.

**Highlights:** Global and nearshore wave forecasts, Custom ultra high-resolution wave models, Thousands of worldwide locations, Real-time ocean conditions from buoys, Interactive 3D-capable maps, Wave-seabed interaction visualization, Professional tools and extended forecasts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wavemaps Pro | $7.99 | per month |
| Wavemaps Pro | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Surf free?

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

### Is Wavemaps free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Surf or Wavemaps?

Wavemaps is rated higher. Surf averages 4.9 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Wavemaps averages 4.9 from 237 ratings.

### Do Surf or Wavemaps have ads?

Surf shows ads; Wavemaps does not.

### Which is updated more often, Surf or Wavemaps?

Surf ships an update every 6 weeks, and Wavemaps every 3 months. Most recently, Surf was updated on October 30, 2026 and Wavemaps on October 30, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Surf or Wavemaps?

Surf currently peaks at #111 in the App Store charts, and Wavemaps at #125. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*