Comparison

Wavemaps vs Reefcast.io

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Wavemaps

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
Currently charting
Read full description

Wavemaps — A Professional Wave Forecasting Platform Wavemaps is a professional wave, wind, and marine forecasting platform built for people who spend serious time on or near the water. Surfers, fishers, sailors, captains, lifeguards, marine engineers, and coastal professionals run on the same system: the world's leading wave and marine weather models, refined into hyperlocal forecasts up to 16 days out. MULTI-MODEL COMPARISON Detailed wave forecasts compared side by side across leading global models, including ECMWF and GFS. Read the agreement between models at a glance and make calls with confidence. WAVEMAPS TIME MACHINE Visualize wave and wind forecast maps from 1979 to the present. Replay historical swells, storms, and seasons — and save them as memories to revisit. WAVEMAPS ENERGY COMPASS Our signature swell-direction visualization. See where wave energy is coming from, how it's distributed across components, and how it aligns with the coast you care about. ADVANCED SWELL COMPONENT ANALYSIS Decompose every wave forecast into its swell and wind-wave components — height, period, and direction for each. Know exactly which swell is doing the work. WAVEMAPS HD Ultra-high-resolution nearshore wave forecasts powered by our custom Wavemaps HD engine. For the first time in a forecasting platform, see how waves interact with the seabed — bathymetry, refraction, and shoaling rendered the way you'd see them on a research instrument. Available only in certain regions. WIND FORECASTS High-resolution wind forecasts including gusts, sustained speeds, and direction. Identify offshore, side-shore, and onshore conditions for any spot. THOUSANDS OF LOCATIONS Browse surf spots, fishing zones, and wave buoys worldwide. Save your favorites for personalized forecasts. Add your own spots and pull wave forecasts anywhere in the world. INTERACTIVE 3D MAPS Explore ultra-high-resolution maps of ocean and weather conditions across nearshore and offshore areas. Smooth, GPU-driven 3D visualization helps you understand current conditions and how they're changing over time. PROFESSIONAL FEATURES Premium subscriptions unlock advanced capabilities, extended forecast ranges, and deeper data analysis for users who need traceable, decision-grade ocean intelligence. Terms of Service: https://www.wavemaps.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.wavemaps.com/privacy

About

Reefcast.io

Features
Read full description

Reefcast.io is the weather app built for life in the Maldives. Get hyperlocal forecasts, AI-powered rain predictions, marine conditions, and real-time alerts for every inhabited island — from Haa Alifu to Addu. Data powered by EUMETSAT, OpenWeather, Open-Meteo, Blitzortung, USGS, and NOAA.

Screenshots

Wavemaps4 screens
Reefcast.io4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Reefcast.io at none against Wavemaps's 2. Reefcast.io also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months). Wavemaps's advantage is chart position (#173 vs unranked). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Wavemaps sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Reefcast.io asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Wavemaps ships an update every 3 months, Reefcast.io every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Wavemaps versus Reefcast.io: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWavemapsReefcast.io
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (186 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings186 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#173 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size119 MB79 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMiguel CanalsAhsan Saleem

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Wavemaps

Subscriptions2
  • Wavemaps Pro7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Wavemaps Pro7 Days trial$59.991 Year
None

Reefcast.io

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Wavemaps free?
Wavemaps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Reefcast.io free?
Reefcast.io is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Wavemaps or Reefcast.io have ads?
Neither Wavemaps nor Reefcast.io shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Wavemaps or Reefcast.io?
Wavemaps ships an update every 3 months, and Reefcast.io every 4 days. Most recently, Wavemaps was updated on September 23, 2026 and Reefcast.io on September 6, 2026.

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