# Surf Forecast vs Wavemaps

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Surf Forecast at none against Wavemaps's 2. Wavemaps's advantage is ratings volume (236 vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 9 months). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Wavemaps sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Surf Forecast asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Surf Forecast against 4.9 for Wavemaps. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Wavemaps has 236 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Surf Forecast ships an update every 9 months, Wavemaps every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surf Forecast | Wavemaps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecast-livesurfai/id6683299305/reviews)** | [4.9 (236 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavemaps-wave-forecasts/id6749452038/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **236** |
| Positive reviews | — | 87.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#124** |
| Size | 3 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Avatar Interactive LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1768445075) | [Miguel Canals](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830493078) |

## What reviewers say

### Surf Forecast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecast-livesurfai/id6683299305)

This app uses AI and real-time data to provide precise surf predictions for wave, swell, wind, and tide. It offers live reports from numerous locations and a user-friendly interface for surfers of all levels.

**Highlights:** AI-powered surf predictions, Real-time surf reports, Wave, swell, wind, and tide forecasts, User-friendly interface, Coverage of 30+ US locations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Wavemaps

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

**Currently charting:** #124 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 Forecast free?

Surf Forecast is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Wavemaps free?

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

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

Surf Forecast is rated higher. Surf Forecast averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Wavemaps averages 4.9 from 236 ratings.

### Do Surf Forecast or Wavemaps have ads?

Neither Surf Forecast nor Wavemaps shows ads.

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

Surf Forecast ships an update every 9 months, and Wavemaps every 3 months. Most recently, Surf Forecast was updated on October 5, 2026 and Wavemaps on October 28, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*