# Wavemaps vs SurfMap

The clearest difference is monetization model: Wavemaps at free with in-app purchases against SurfMap's subscription. Wavemaps also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (88% vs 67%). SurfMap's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Wavemaps sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 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.

Wavemaps holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 186 and 40 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Wavemaps's written reviews are positive against 67% of SurfMap's.

Wavemaps ships an update every 3 months, SurfMap every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Wavemaps | SurfMap |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (186 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavemaps-wave-forecasts/id6749452038/reviews)** | [4.5 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfmap-your-surf-forecast/id6749829392/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **186** | 40 |
| Positive reviews | **87.5% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#156** | — |
| Size | 119 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Miguel Canals](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830493078) | [Guillaume Bernos](https://appshunter.io/developer/1557243040) |

## What reviewers say

### Wavemaps

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

**Currently charting:** #156 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 (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wavemaps Pro | $7.99 | per month |
| Wavemaps Pro | $59.99 | per year |


### SurfMap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfmap-your-surf-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 Wavemaps free?

Wavemaps 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, Wavemaps or SurfMap?

Wavemaps is rated higher. Wavemaps averages 4.9 out of 5 from 186 ratings, while SurfMap averages 4.5 from 40 ratings.

### Do Wavemaps or SurfMap have ads?

Neither Wavemaps nor SurfMap shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Wavemaps or SurfMap?

Wavemaps ships an update every 3 months, and SurfMap every 6 days. Most recently, Wavemaps was updated on September 28, 2026 and SurfMap on September 18, 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.*