# Wavemaps vs TidalMap

The clearest difference is update cadence: TidalMap at every 6 days against Wavemaps's every 3 months. TidalMap also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 88%). Wavemaps's advantage is ratings volume (247 vs 4) and chart position (#155 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Wavemaps sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month and TidalMap sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Wavemaps against 5.0 for TidalMap. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Wavemaps has 247 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of Wavemaps's written reviews are positive against 100% of TidalMap's.

Wavemaps ships an update every 3 months, TidalMap every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Wavemaps | TidalMap |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.9 (247 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavemaps-wave-forecasts/id6749452038/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tidalmap-tide-chart-and-fishing/id6772791866/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **247** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 87.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#155** | — |
| Size | 119 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Miguel Canals](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830493078) | [AdCountant LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/6772791868) |

## What reviewers say

### Wavemaps

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

**Currently charting:** #155 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 (1)**

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


### TidalMap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tidalmap-tide-chart-and-fishing/id6772791866)

Access live tides, marine weather forecasts, and satellite overlays on an interactive chart. Plan your water activities with detailed predictions for wind, currents, and sea conditions. Save spots, record trips, and download charts for offline use.

**Highlights:** Live and predicted tide data, High-resolution weather and wind forecasts, 72-hour forecast time-travel, Sea-surface temperature and water color overlays, Current and swell forecasts, River flow and dam release schedules, Offline chart downloads

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| 1 Year Subscription | $99.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Wavemaps free?

Wavemaps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is TidalMap free?

TidalMap is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Wavemaps or TidalMap?

TidalMap is rated higher. Wavemaps averages 4.9 out of 5 from 247 ratings, while TidalMap averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Wavemaps or TidalMap have ads?

Neither Wavemaps nor TidalMap shows ads.

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

Wavemaps ships an update every 3 months, and TidalMap every 6 days. Most recently, Wavemaps was updated on November 8, 2026 and TidalMap on November 10, 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.*