# GRLSWIRL vs Swella

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: GRLSWIRL at none against Swella's 2. GRLSWIRL also leads on ratings volume (113 vs 3) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). Swella's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Swella sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. GRLSWIRL asks for nothing beyond the download.

Swella holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: GRLSWIRL has 113 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of GRLSWIRL's written reviews are positive against 100% of Swella's.

GRLSWIRL ships an update every 3 months, Swella monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | GRLSWIRL | Swella |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (113 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grlswirl/id6747403797/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swella/id6754044464/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **113** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 94.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 93 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [grlswirl llc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1821247566) | [Rita Marques](https://appshunter.io/developer/1846435725) |

## What reviewers say

### GRLSWIRL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grlswirl/id6747403797)

Connect with skaters globally, discover local chapters, and find meetups. Learn new skills with tutorials from pros and find exciting skate events and spots. Join the community chat to share your progress and stay updated on brand news.

**Highlights:** Connect with skaters worldwide, Learn new skills with tutorials, Find events and skate spots, Join community chat, Stay updated on announcements

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Swella

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swella/id6754044464)

Connect with women who surf, whether you're at a local break or traveling. Plan surf sessions and trips, discover nearby surfers, and build confidence in the water. Find your surf sisters and never paddle out alone again.

**Highlights:** Create surfer profile, Share surf sessions and trips, Discover nearby women surfers, Connect by location, dates, and level, Chat and plan surf meetups, Build confidence in the lineup

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Swella Plus Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Swella Plus Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is GRLSWIRL free?

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

### Is Swella free?

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

### Which has better reviews, GRLSWIRL or Swella?

Swella is rated higher. GRLSWIRL averages 4.8 out of 5 from 113 ratings, while Swella averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do GRLSWIRL or Swella have ads?

Neither GRLSWIRL nor Swella shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, GRLSWIRL or Swella?

GRLSWIRL ships an update every 3 months, and Swella monthly. Most recently, GRLSWIRL was updated on November 5, 2026 and Swella on October 30, 2026.

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