# Surf Forecast vs Wavemaps

The clearest difference is ads: Wavemaps at none against Surf Forecast's shown. Wavemaps also leads on chart position (#153 vs unranked) and ratings volume (250 vs 55). Surf Forecast's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Surf Forecast sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Wavemaps sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Surf Forecast against 4.9 for Wavemaps. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 55 and 250 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 93% of Surf Forecast's written reviews are positive against 88% of Wavemaps's.

Surf Forecast ships an update every 3 weeks, Wavemaps every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surf Forecast | Wavemaps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecast-swell-scope/id6747609653/reviews)** | [4.9 (250 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavemaps-wave-forecasts/id6749452038/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 55 | **250** |
| Positive reviews | **92.9% of reviews** | 87.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#153** |
| Size | 128 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Flockatoo Tech Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1721743955) | [Miguel Canals](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830493078) |

## What reviewers say

### Surf Forecast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecast-swell-scope/id6747609653)

This app allows users to create custom surf spots globally by dropping pins and provides detailed forecast data from premier weather models. It features a surf journal with auto-import and trend charts to help users make informed decisions about their sessions.

**Highlights:** Custom surf spot creation worldwide, 14-day detailed weather forecast, Surf journal with auto-import, Similar session comparison, Trend charts for forecast data, Real-time data updates

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Access | $2.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Access | $24.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Unlimited Access | $49.99 | one-time |


### Wavemaps

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

**Currently charting:** #153 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 (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wavemaps Pro | $7.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Surf Forecast free?

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

### 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 4.9 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while Wavemaps averages 4.9 from 250 ratings.

### Do Surf Forecast or Wavemaps have ads?

Surf Forecast shows ads; Wavemaps does not.

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

Surf Forecast ships an update every 3 weeks, and Wavemaps every 3 months. Most recently, Surf Forecast was updated on November 12, 2026 and Wavemaps on November 12, 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.*