# Swell Intel vs SurfMap

The clearest difference is monetization model: Swell Intel at freemium against SurfMap's subscription. Swell Intel also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). SurfMap's advantage is ratings volume (40 vs 11). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Swell Intel sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and SurfMap sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Swell Intel holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 40 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Swell Intel's written reviews are positive against 75% of SurfMap's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Swell Intel | SurfMap |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swell-intel/id6747780816/reviews)** | [4.5 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfmap-personalized-forecast/id6749829392/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 11 | **40** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 75.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | Every 6 days |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Size | 51 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Swell Intel LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822856502) | [Guillaume Bernos](https://appshunter.io/developer/1557243040) |

## What reviewers say

### Swell Intel

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swell-intel/id6747780816)

Get detailed surf forecasts, real-time conditions, and smart alerts to find the best waves. Plan your surf trips with up to 16-day forecasts and easily scan spot conditions at a glance. Receive notifications when conditions meet your standards, ensuring you never miss a good session.

**Highlights:** Detailed surf forecasts up to 16 days, Real-time wave height, swell, and wind data, Smart alerts for optimal surf conditions, At-a-glance spot condition ratings, Detailed forecast charts (swell, wind, tide), Find and save nearby surf spots

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Swell Intel Premium Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Swell Intel Premium Plus | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Yearly | $24.99 | per year |


### SurfMap

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

This app uses AI to provide personalized surf forecasts based on your skill level and preferred spots. It offers an interactive map for viewing conditions and custom alerts to never miss a great session.

**Highlights:** AI-powered personalized forecasts, Interactive map with live conditions, 7-day surf planning, Customizable alerts, Tide and crowd level tracking, Skill-level adaptation

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Plan | $1.99 | 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 Swell Intel free?

Swell Intel 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, Swell Intel or SurfMap?

Swell Intel is rated higher. Swell Intel averages 5.0 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while SurfMap averages 4.5 from 40 ratings.

### Do Swell Intel or SurfMap have ads?

Neither Swell Intel nor SurfMap shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Swell Intel or SurfMap?

Swell Intel ships an update every 6 days, and SurfMap every 6 days. Most recently, Swell Intel was updated on October 24, 2026 and SurfMap on October 24, 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.*