Swell Scope vs Current
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
Current
Get detailed, physics-based surf forecasts for California breaks. See wave height, how waves break, swell details, wind, tide, and water temperature. A free daily forecast is available, with premium features for multi-day predictions and advanced statistics.
- Physics-based surf forecasts
- Wave break type prediction
- Swell partitions and timeline
- Lull duration and wave energy
- Water temperature
- Multi-day forecast (premium)
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Current gives you physics-based surf forecasts for every break In California and the East and Gulf Coasts. Current is part of a movement to create more accurate and detailed surf forecasts. What you get: • 8-day surf forecast for every spot - swell, wind, tide, surf heights, and ratings • An animated map - wind, currents, and swell in motion, surf height painted along the coastline • Spot stats you won't find anywhere else - set height, breaker type, peakiness • Secret spots - draw your own spot anywhere on the coast and get a full forecast for it Today's forecast is free for every spot. Upgrade to Current Premium for multi-day forecasts, detailed surf-zone statistics, and map overlays. Forecasts are estimates — always check real conditions and surf within your limits. - Support URL: https://currentsurf.com · Marketing URL (optional): https://currentsurf.com · Privacy Policy URL: https://currentsurf.com/privacy CURRENT PREMIUM (optional subscription) Premium Monthly - $4.99/month, auto-renews. Unlocks the full 8-day forecast everywhere: future-day map overlays, future-day spot stats, and up to 100 secret spots. Today's forecast is always free. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews monthly unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in your App Store settings. Privacy Policy: https://currentsurf.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://currentsurf.com/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Swell Scope at 4.9 against Current's 4.5. Swell Scope also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 80%) and ratings volume (55 vs 17). Current's advantage is chart position (#206 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 and Current sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Swell Scope holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 55 and 17 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Swell Scope's written reviews are positive against 80% of Current's.
Swell Scope ships an update monthly, Current fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Swell Scope | Current |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (55 ratings) — better | 4.5 (17 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 92.9% of reviews — better | 80.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 55 — better | 17 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | #206 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 112 MB | 40 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Flockatoo Tech Pty Ltd | Colin Weaver |
Customer experience
Swell Scope
Current
In-app purchases
Swell Scope
- Unlimited Access14 Days trial$2.991 Month
- Unlimited Access1 Month trial$24.991 Year
- Lifetime Unlimited Access$49.99
Current
- Current Premium$4.991 Month







