Comparison

Surf Journal App vs Smart Surf App

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

Head to head
About

Surf Journal App

Features
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Track Your Surf Sessions Effortlessly Log a session in under a minute, save it for life. Include pictures, notes, and a rating. Swell and wind data are brought in automatically, so you can see what conditions line up with your best sessions. Key Features: • Fast and Easy Logging: Record your surf session in less than a minute. • Automatic Weather Data: Get wind, swell, and other conditions automatically saved for every session. • Calendar View: See what type of sessions you've had day by day with the calendar view. • Map View: See where you've been surfing and where your top sessions are. • Surf Stats: See how much you're surfing and how good your sessions are by week, month, and year. From beginners to seasoned surfers, anyone can use this app to stay connected to the ocean, track progress, and make the most of every wave.

About

Smart Surf App

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Track your surf sessions. Understand your progression. Surfing progress can be hard to notice. One session feels amazing, the next one humbling. Smart Surf is a surf session tracker and surf log that helps you capture your time in the water so you can recognize patterns, reflect on sessions, and build confidence over time. Log your surf sessions, track boards and wave conditions, and build your personal Surf Passport as you surf. The more sessions you log, the easier it becomes to notice patterns in your surfing. Smart Surf is designed for surfers who want to better understand their comfort in the water and their progression over time. Your Surf Passport belongs to you. Share it with a coach or surf school if you want, or simply use it to reflect on your own surfing journey. FEATURES LOG SURF SESSIONS Use Smart Surf as your surf log and session tracker. Capture each surf session including: • wave height and conditions • time in the water • boards used • focus skills • personal reflections BUILD YOUR SURF PASSPORT Your Surf Passport becomes a snapshot of your surfing. Track: • sessions surfed • comfort zone in the water • boards you ride • focus skills you are working on Over time, your Surf Passport reflects your surf experience and progression. UNDERSTAND YOUR SURF PROGRESS Surfing improvement can be subtle. Smart Surf helps surfers notice patterns and build confidence by reflecting on their sessions over time. Generate surf insights from your session reflections to help identify what’s improving, what feels challenging, and what to focus on next. SAVE YOUR FAVORITE SURF SPOTS Keep track of the beaches and surf breaks where you surf. SHARE WITH SURF COACHES (Optional) If you choose, you can share your Surf Passport with coaches or surf schools to help them quickly understand your surfing experience. DESIGNED FOR SURFERS Whether you are: • learning to catch your first green waves • traveling and surfing new surf spots • working with a surf coach • or simply tracking your surf sessions Smart Surf helps you better understand your surfing. YOUR SURF JOURNEY, YOUR PASSPORT Surfing is a lifelong journey. Smart Surf helps you capture it. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vS-V7qRKKRNjIXCoL5SkMfj2qZpb461689o6o7B-8u8O-2zN76QTDyKY60h90pJpZcIR96bEenVgdcw/pub

Screenshots

Surf Journal App4 screens
Smart Surf App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Surf Journal App at none against Smart Surf App's 2. Smart Surf App's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Smart Surf App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Surf Journal App asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Surf Journal App ships an update every 2 months, Smart Surf App every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Surf Journal App versus Smart Surf App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurf Journal AppSmart Surf App
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid EvansChristine St Clair

In-app purchases

None

Surf Journal App

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Smart Surf App

Subscriptions2
  • Surfer Pro Monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Surfer Pro Yearly$19.991 Year

Questions

Is Surf Journal App free?
Surf Journal App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Smart Surf App free?
Smart Surf App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Surf Journal App or Smart Surf App have ads?
Neither Surf Journal App nor Smart Surf App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Surf Journal App or Smart Surf App?
Surf Journal App ships an update every 2 months, and Smart Surf App every 4 weeks. Most recently, Surf Journal App was updated on September 20, 2026 and Smart Surf App on September 19, 2026.

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