Comparison

Wave Day vs SurfWaves

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

Head to head
About

Wave Day

This app uses AI to predict the best surf conditions based on your past sessions and real-time forecasts. It offers detailed weather, tide, and wave data, with personalized alerts to help you catch the best waves.

Highlights
  • AI-powered surf alerts
  • Personalized session forecasts
  • Three-day hourly forecast
  • Interactive surf map
  • Unlimited session log
  • 10-day forecast
  • Automatic beach suggestions
Features
Read full description

Surf forecasts tell you what the ocean might do. Wave Day helps you understand what those conditions mean for you — at each individual spot. Wave Day combines detailed surf forecasting with a personal Surf Log that learns from the sessions you actually surf. Save a session and Wave Day stores the conditions from that exact time window. As your history grows, it compares those sessions with upcoming forecasts and identifies the conditions that have worked best for you at that specific spot. When similar conditions are expected again, Wave Day can notify you with the spot, day and time that best match your own surfing history. YOUR SURF. YOUR SPOTS. YOUR CONDITIONS. Generic forecasts often classify surfers as beginner, intermediate or advanced. Wave Day takes a different approach. Your ideal conditions are personal — and they can change from one beach to the next. The same swell, wind or tide can produce a great session at one spot and a poor session nearby. That is why Wave Day learns by spot. The more Surf Logs you save, the more useful your personal history becomes. PERSONAL SURF LOG After a session, save it to the corresponding spot and rate your experience. Wave Day keeps the conditions from that period so you can understand what made the session work. • Save sessions by surf spot • Preserve the conditions from each session • Rate your sessions • Compare past sessions with future forecasts • Receive alerts when matching conditions return • Build a different profile for every spot DETAILED SURF FORECAST AT A GLANCE See the forecast by hour together with key ocean and weather information, including wave conditions, wind, tides, water temperature and weather. Wave energy is also included — an important metric for experienced and professional surfers who want more context than wave height alone. SEE HOW WIND AND WAVES HIT THE SPOT A satellite view of each location helps you understand the geography of the beach and how forecast conditions may interact with it. View the spot together with wind and wave direction by time range, making it easier to understand why the same values can behave very differently from one beach to another. SURF SPOTS AROUND THE WORLD Add spots anywhere in the world by searching by name, entering coordinates, or dropping a pin on the map. Save favorites, check upcoming conditions, create a Surf Log for each location, and discover suggested spots worldwide. BUILT FOR EVERY LEVEL — WITHOUT REDUCING YOU TO A LEVEL Wave Day can be useful whether you are starting out, surfing regularly, competing, or practicing another water sport. Instead of assuming that every beginner, intermediate or advanced surfer wants the same conditions, Wave Day learns from your own sessions and from each individual spot. GLOBAL AND PERSONAL Wave Day supports 4 languages, adapts automatically to your device language, and also lets you change language manually. Choose the measurement system and metrics that work for you. You can also discover surfers connected with Wave Day, together with partners, sponsors and brands that are part of the community. UNLOCK WAVE DAY PREMIUM Get the complete Wave Day experience with: • Personalized surf alerts based on your Surf Log • Unlimited Surf Log sessions • 10-day surf forecast • Smart surf-spot suggestions • Unlimited favorite spots • Full access to tools designed to help you find better sessions The value of Wave Day grows with every session you save. Check the forecast. Surf the spot. Save the session. Let Wave Day learn what works for you. Try Wave Day Premium free for 3 days. SUBSCRIPTION POLICY After the free trial period, payment will be charged to your App Store account. The subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel your subscription from your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

SurfWaves

This app uses AI to predict optimal surfing conditions, recommending the best beaches and times to surf. It offers real-time visual analysis of beach cameras for wave quality, crowd, wind, and tide, with customizable regional settings and multilingual support.

Highlights
  • AI-powered surf condition forecasting
  • Smart beach and time recommendations
  • Live image analysis of beach cameras
  • Wave quality, crowd, wind, and tide interpretation
  • Customizable regional settings and units
  • Multilingual support
  • Home screen widgets and Apple CarPlay integration
Features
Read full description

SurfWaves is an essential mobile app for surfers of all levels, using Artificial Intelligence to forecast the best surf conditions. Instead of just showing raw data, the app delivers smart recommendations, pointing you to the ideal beach and the best time to hit the water. Now SurfWaves speaks your language and matches your home: choose your country on first launch and the app opens in your language, with a color palette inspired by your region and the units you use every day — height in meters or feet, temperature in °C or °F, and wind in knots. Beach search is more relevant too, filtered by your country. SurfWaves goes beyond the traditional forecast: it features a live image analysis system that automatically interprets real-time beach cameras to visually identify wave quality, crowd, wind, and tide — giving you an instant, reliable read on sea conditions. Reading the forecast is clearer than ever: consistent wave colors across all beaches so you can compare spots at a glance, immediate offshore/onshore wind indication, and AI analysis always front and center, so you can quickly decide whether it's worth paddling out. In favorites, a background map shows exactly the beach you're tracking. With quick access to your favorite spots' conditions through Home Screen widgets, and the convenience of safely checking the forecast via Apple CarPlay on your way to the beach, SurfWaves is the most complete and integrated tool so you never miss a good surf session again. The app also offers multilingual support and is available in: Português (PT) English (EN) Español (ES) 日本語 (JA) Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Wave Day4 screens
SurfWaves4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: SurfWaves at none against Wave Day's shown. SurfWaves also leads on update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Wave Day sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and SurfWaves sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Wave Day ships an update fortnightly, SurfWaves weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Wave Day versus SurfWaves: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWave DaySurfWaves
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB80 MB
Age rating17++4
DeveloperMichel OdremanDereck Vicentin Leme

Customer experience

Wave Day

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%

SurfWaves

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Wave Day

Subscriptions2
  • Level One Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Level One Yearly$39.991 Year
3 purchases

SurfWaves

Subscriptions3
  • mensal R$9.907 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Trimestral R$29.907 Days trial$24.993 Months
  • Anual R$129.907 Days trial$99.991 Year

Questions

Is Wave Day free?
Wave Day is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SurfWaves free?
SurfWaves is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Wave Day or SurfWaves have ads?
Wave Day shows ads; SurfWaves does not.
Which is updated more often, Wave Day or SurfWaves?
Wave Day ships an update fortnightly, and SurfWaves weekly. Most recently, Wave Day was updated on October 12, 2026 and SurfWaves on October 13, 2026.

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