Swell Scope vs Surf Prophet
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Swell Scope
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.
- 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
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Raw forecasts at your own custom spots. Originally crowdfunded by surfers worldwide. Over 2 million forecasts served already! Swell Scope - the surf forecast app with no surf spots. Instead, you add your own custom surf breaks by dropping a pin anywhere in the world. Use first-of-their kind tools to setup the exposure of your spot in just a few seconds. Then jump into beautiful charts, animations, and visuals that show you the raw forecast data from the world’s premier weather models. After your session, auto-import the conditions into your journal and add your own detailed ratings for things like breaking-wave shape and surface cleanliness. Next time the conditions are similar, you’ll see your own ratings alongside the raw forecast data. Everything is designed so that you can make the call yourself, instead of relying on mysterious predictions and algorithms. My hope is to bring back the joy & excitement of learning your local, making the call, and chasing those special sessions. Over 5,000 people helped beta test Swell Scope throughout 2025! Here are some of the favourite features they helped us develop: 14-Day Forecast - Raw forecast data from the premier weather agencies. Primary, Secondary, and Wind Swells. Height, period, & direction. Wind strength & direction. Tides. Sunrise & Sunset times. Water Temp. Weather including rain & cloud cover. Custom Surf Spots - Worldwide - Drop a pin anywhere in the world to see the forecast there. Use first-of-their kind tools to setup the exposure & inform the app of onshore/offshore directions. Surf Journal with Auto-Import - Add your sessions to your journal and all the conditions are automatically imported. Fill out detailed ratings bout breaking wave shape, wind quality, and more Similar Sessions - Next time the conditions are similar, see your past ratings alongside the forecast. Use the comparison screen to see for yourself how similar the sessions are and make the call Trend Charts - See three full days of charted data for every detail in forecast on a single screen. Spotting trends is easy when you can see so much in one view Fresh Data - See which weather agencies & models are being used for every detail in the forecast. Data is updated in the app as soon as it's published by the sources. Most models update every 6-hours, with some being as frequent as hourly! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.swell-scope.com/privacy-policy
Surf Prophet
Get personalized surf spot recommendations powered by AI. This app analyzes ocean conditions and your past performance to help you find the best waves. Track your sessions, discover optimal conditions, and contribute to a community-driven surf forecasting database.
- AI-powered surf spot recommendations
- Personalized predictions with confidence percentages
- Detailed reasoning for spot suggestions
- Session logging and condition tracking
- Seasonal performance analytics
- Comprehensive spot database
- Community-driven data sharing
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Surf Prophet - AI Surf Forecasting Turn every surf session into better waves with intelligent, data-driven predictions. Surf Prophet revolutionizes surf forecasting by combining real-time ocean conditions with machine learning algorithms trained on actual surf sessions. Instead of guessing where to surf, get personalized recommendations based on historical performance data and current conditions. Smart Predictions AI analyzes current swell, wind, and tide data against user-logged sessions Get ranked recommendations with confidence percentages Detailed reasoning for each spot recommendation Learn which breaks work best in specific conditions Data-Driven Insights Track your sessions with detailed condition logging Seasonal performance analytics for every break Success rate tracking across different spots Discover optimal conditions for your favorite waves Real-Time Conditions Live NOAA buoy data from multiple sources Accurate swell height, period, and direction Current wind and tide information Data confidence indicators for reliability Comprehensive Spot Database Add and share new surf spots with the community Spot-specific break types and skill level recommendations GPS coordinates and optimal condition ranges Advanced Analytics Monthly performance breakdowns by spot Learned optimal conditions from successful sessions Historical trends and seasonal patterns Export session data for personal analysis Community Features Log sessions to improve predictions for everyone Contribute new surf spots to the database Anonymous data sharing for better forecasting Community-verified spot information Perfect For: Surfers who want to maximize their wave time Data enthusiasts who love surf analytics Beginners learning which breaks suit their skill level Experienced surfers tracking performance trends Why Surf Prophet? Traditional surf forecasts tell you what the waves are doing. Surf Prophet tells you where YOU should surf based on what actually works. Our AI learns from real surf sessions, not just meteorological models. Every session you log makes the predictions smarter. Every spot you add helps the community. Join the future of surf forecasting where data meets stoke. Requirements: iOS 15.0 or later Location permission for accurate local conditions Internet connection for real-time data Download Surf Prophet and never surf mediocre waves again.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Surf Prophet at none against Swell Scope's 3. Surf Prophet also leads on update cadence (daily vs monthly). Swell Scope's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (55 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and device support 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
Both are free to download. Swell Scope sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Surf Prophet asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Swell Scope against 5.0 for Surf Prophet. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Swell Scope has 55 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 93% of Swell Scope's written reviews are positive against 100% of Surf Prophet's.
Swell Scope ships an update monthly, Surf Prophet daily. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Swell Scope | Surf Prophet |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (55 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 92.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 55 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Daily — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 113 MB | 45 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Flockatoo Tech Pty Ltd | Christopher Boyns |
Customer experience
Swell Scope
Surf Prophet
In-app purchases
Swell Scope
- Unlimited Access14 Days trial$2.991 Month
- Unlimited Access1 Month trial$24.991 Year
- Lifetime Unlimited Access$49.99
Surf Prophet
No in-app purchases









