Comparison

Swellify vs WaveCheck

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

Head to head
About

Swellify

Get personalized surf recommendations and real-time forecasts tailored to your skill level. Receive timely notifications for your favorite spots and plan your surf sessions with confidence.

Highlights
  • Personalized surf recommendations
  • Customizable skill level settings
  • Daily surf updates
  • Email and push notifications
  • Save favorite surf spots
  • Hourly custom ratings
Features
Read full description

Swellify is where you find surf that's perfect for you. With personalized surf recommendations, you'll always know when and where to hit the waves. Swellify demystifies surf forecasts once and for all. It's simple and intuitive, anyone can get started instantly with just a three step setup. Get the best surf in 2026 with: Personalized Surf Recommendations - Whether you're a beginner, intermediate or advanced surfer, finding the best surf for you is a snap. Set your skill level and let Swellify do the rest. Notifications That Matter - Receive daily updates about the best surf for you at all your favorite spots. We know you're busy, so Swellify sends you email and push notifications ensuring you're always in the know, even if you forget to check. Goodbye, FOMO! Save Your Faves - Keeping an eye on your favorite surf spots has never been easier. Swellify keeps the surf at your fingertips, whether it's your local home breaks or your favorite road trip destinations. Your Surf, Your Schedule - Completely custom ratings for every hour of every day at every spot. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, Swellify empowers you to surf with confidence knowing the conditions match with your skill level. What surfers are saying: "I am loving the App, push notifications is a game changer. It's so much easier to quickly check and see is it good surf can I be bothered or not." - Suresh “Every time I get an email, I head down to Lyall Bay and there’s surf!” - Vicky “I’m liking the emails. Nice and short summaries and gets me amped for a surf.” - Matthew “Loving the email alerts! Set them for Riversdale, Lyall and Tbay and are working well :)” - Antony Swellify revolutionizes the way you stay connected to the waves. Download now to experience Swellify, your ultimate surf companion. By using Swellify you acknowledge that you have read, understand and accept Swellify's Terms of Service (https://www.swellify.app/legal/terms), Privacy Policy (https://www.swellify.app/legal/privacy) the App Store Terms of Service (https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/).

About

WaveCheck

This app analyzes surf forecasts to tell you the best times and places to surf based on your skill level and equipment. It offers detailed hourly conditions, smart alerts, session tracking, and a global map of surf spots.

Highlights
  • Personalized surf scores
  • 2,000+ surf spots worldwide
  • Detailed hourly forecasts
  • Smart push notifications
  • Session logging and history
  • Leaderboard and rankings
  • Google Calendar sync
Features
Read full description

WaveCheck scores every surf forecast for you — so you know exactly where and when to paddle out. PERSONALIZED SURF SCORES Every forecast is scored for your skill level and board — or set your own custom preferences. 2,000+ SPOTS ACROSS THE WORLD Browse on an interactive map or view each spot's satellite imagery to visualize the conditions DETAILED FORECASTS Hour-by-hour breakdown: wave height, swell direction and period, wind speed and direction, tide charts, water temperature, and more. DAILY DIGEST Get your daily spots to go surf to, with 5 days out shown with a Pro subscription SMART ALERTS Get a push notification the evening before when tomorrow looks good at your favorite spots. Set your minimum score threshold so you only get pinged when it's worth it. SPOT PREFERENCES Set custom preferences for individual spots — because your ideal conditions at a beach break aren't the same as a reef. Override your global settings per spot. SESSION TRACKING Log every surf with conditions, personal ratings, and notes. Build your surf journal and see your history at every spot. Forecast conditions are saved automatically so you can look back and learn what works for you. CLIMB THE RANKS Log sessions to climb the leaderboard. See how you stack up against other surfers at your spot, your area, and your country. MAP DISCOVERY Explore new breaks near you or anywhere. Color-coded clusters show you where conditions are firing right now. Zoom in to find hidden gems. GOOGLE CALENDAR SYNC Sync planned sessions to your calendar so you never double-book a good swell. Questions or feedback? support@wavecheck.surf Instagram: @wavecheck.app WaveCheck Pro Subscription WaveCheck Pro unlocks unlimited favorite spots, unlimited spot preferences, and supports an indie developer. 20% of all subscription revenue is donated to ocean conservation. Pricing: - Monthly: $4.99/month - Annual: $49.99/year (save 17%) Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Terms of Use: https://wavecheck.surf/terms Privacy Policy: https://wavecheck.surf/privacy

Screenshots

Swellify4 screens
WaveCheck4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: WaveCheck at 13.0 against Swellify's 17.6. On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Swellify sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and WaveCheck sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Swellify ships an update every 5 days, WaveCheck every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Swellify versus WaveCheck: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSwellifyWaveCheck
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size125 MB95 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSwellify LimitedAustin Urraca

Customer experience

Swellify

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

WaveCheck

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Swellify

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Annual$39.991 Year
2 purchases

WaveCheck

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Yearly$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Swellify free?
Swellify is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is WaveCheck free?
WaveCheck is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Swellify or WaveCheck have ads?
Neither Swellify nor WaveCheck shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Swellify or WaveCheck?
Swellify ships an update every 5 days, and WaveCheck every 4 days. Most recently, Swellify was updated on October 17, 2026 and WaveCheck on October 12, 2026.

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