Comparison

Lineup vs Wavemaps

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

Head to head
About

Lineup

Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Lineup is your surf companion: accurate forecasts for waves, wind and tides across 400+ spots, live cams, and everything you need to decide when and where to paddle out. LIVE CAMS Check real-time sea conditions from the best surf spots. SURF FORECAST Swell, wind, tides and wave height hour by hour. Plan your session with accurate data. SPOTS Explore 400+ spots, save your favorites, and get alerts when conditions are good. LINEUP PREMIUM Unlock HD cams, extended forecasts and exclusive features. Try it free for 7 days. — Lineup Premium is an auto-renewable subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. You can manage or cancel it in your Apple ID Settings. Terms of Use: https://lineup.surf/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://lineup.surf/privacy-policy

About

Wavemaps

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
Currently charting
Read full description

Wavemaps — A Professional Wave Forecasting Platform Wavemaps is a professional wave, wind, and marine forecasting platform built for people who spend serious time on or near the water. Surfers, fishers, sailors, captains, lifeguards, marine engineers, and coastal professionals run on the same system: the world's leading wave and marine weather models, refined into hyperlocal forecasts up to 16 days out. MULTI-MODEL COMPARISON Detailed wave forecasts compared side by side across leading global models, including ECMWF and GFS. Read the agreement between models at a glance and make calls with confidence. WAVEMAPS TIME MACHINE Visualize wave and wind forecast maps from 1979 to the present. Replay historical swells, storms, and seasons — and save them as memories to revisit. WAVEMAPS ENERGY COMPASS Our signature swell-direction visualization. See where wave energy is coming from, how it's distributed across components, and how it aligns with the coast you care about. ADVANCED SWELL COMPONENT ANALYSIS Decompose every wave forecast into its swell and wind-wave components — height, period, and direction for each. Know exactly which swell is doing the work. WAVEMAPS HD Ultra-high-resolution nearshore wave forecasts powered by our custom Wavemaps HD engine. For the first time in a forecasting platform, see how waves interact with the seabed — bathymetry, refraction, and shoaling rendered the way you'd see them on a research instrument. Available only in certain regions. WIND FORECASTS High-resolution wind forecasts including gusts, sustained speeds, and direction. Identify offshore, side-shore, and onshore conditions for any spot. THOUSANDS OF LOCATIONS Browse surf spots, fishing zones, and wave buoys worldwide. Save your favorites for personalized forecasts. Add your own spots and pull wave forecasts anywhere in the world. INTERACTIVE 3D MAPS Explore ultra-high-resolution maps of ocean and weather conditions across nearshore and offshore areas. Smooth, GPU-driven 3D visualization helps you understand current conditions and how they're changing over time. PROFESSIONAL FEATURES Premium subscriptions unlock advanced capabilities, extended forecast ranges, and deeper data analysis for users who need traceable, decision-grade ocean intelligence. Terms of Service: https://www.wavemaps.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.wavemaps.com/privacy

Screenshots

Lineup4 screens
Wavemaps4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Lineup at weekly against Wavemaps's every 3 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and chart position 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. Lineup 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lineup ships an update weekly, Wavemaps every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 10 level
Lineup versus Wavemaps: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLineupWavemaps
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.9 (186 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—87.5% of reviews
Number of ratings—186 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#192#161 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB119 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLineup S.A.S.Miguel Canals

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Lineup

Subscriptions2
  • Lineup Premium7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Lineup Premium7 Days trial$39.991 Year
2 purchases

Wavemaps

Subscriptions2
  • Wavemaps Pro7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Wavemaps Pro7 Days trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Lineup free?
Lineup is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Wavemaps free?
Wavemaps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Lineup or Wavemaps have ads?
Neither Lineup nor Wavemaps shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lineup or Wavemaps?
Lineup ships an update weekly, and Wavemaps every 3 months. Most recently, Lineup was updated on October 4, 2026 and Wavemaps on October 15, 2026.
Which is more popular, Lineup or Wavemaps?
Lineup currently peaks at #192 in the App Store charts, and Wavemaps at #161. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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