# Surf Forecast vs SurfMap

The clearest difference is ads: SurfMap at none against Surf Forecast's shown. SurfMap also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Surf Forecast's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (93% vs 75%). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Surf Forecast sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and SurfMap sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.00 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Surf Forecast holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 55 and 40 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Surf Forecast's written reviews are positive against 75% of SurfMap's.

Surf Forecast ships an update every 3 weeks, SurfMap weekly. Both last shipped on November 13, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Surf Forecast | SurfMap |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecast-swell-scope/id6747609653/reviews)** | [4.5 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfmap-personalized-forecast/id6749829392/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **55** | 40 |
| Positive reviews | **92.9% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 128 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Flockatoo Tech Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1721743955) | [Guillaume Bernos](https://appshunter.io/developer/1557243040) |

## What reviewers say

### Surf Forecast

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

This app provides detailed, raw surf forecast data for custom locations worldwide. It allows users to log their sessions, rate conditions, and compare past experiences with future forecasts to make informed decisions about surfing.

**Highlights:** Custom surf spot creation worldwide, Raw forecast data from premier weather models, Detailed surf journal with auto-import, Comparison of similar past and future sessions, 14-day forecast with tides, wind, and water temp, Trend charts for easy data visualization

**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 |


### SurfMap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfmap-personalized-forecast/id6749829392)

Get personalized surf forecasts tailored to your skill level at thousands of global surf spots. Understand why conditions are rated a certain way and receive warnings for dangerous tides. Log your sessions and discover new surf locations with detailed guides.

**Highlights:** Personalized surf ratings by skill level, Hourly wave, wind, and tide graphs, AI-powered session enjoyment prediction, Customizable spot settings and warnings, Detailed surf guides for popular regions, Apple Watch session tracking, Siri integration for quick forecasts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Plan | $3.00 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Plan | $6.99 | per month |
| Annual Plan | $34.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $99.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Surf Forecast free?

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

### Is SurfMap free?

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

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

Surf Forecast is rated higher. Surf Forecast averages 4.9 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while SurfMap averages 4.5 from 40 ratings.

### Do Surf Forecast or SurfMap have ads?

Surf Forecast shows ads; SurfMap does not.

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

Surf Forecast ships an update every 3 weeks, and SurfMap weekly. Most recently, Surf Forecast was updated on November 13, 2026 and SurfMap on November 13, 2026.

---

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