# SurfMap vs WaveWise

The clearest difference is monetization model: WaveWise at freemium against SurfMap's subscription. WaveWise also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). SurfMap's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (75% vs 50%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SurfMap sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and WaveWise sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

WaveWise holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 40 and 30 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of SurfMap's written reviews are positive against 50% of WaveWise's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SurfMap ships an update every 6 days, WaveWise weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SurfMap | WaveWise |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surfmap-personalized-forecast/id6749829392/reviews) | **[4.7 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavewise-surf-and-swell-reports/id6766909086/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **40** | 30 |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 57 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Guillaume Bernos](https://appshunter.io/developer/1557243040) | [Soffer Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896336379) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### WaveWise

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavewise-surf-and-swell-reports/id6766909086)

This app helps surfers find the best waves by analyzing forecasts and ranking nearby surf sessions. It personalizes recommendations based on skill level and desired wave size, and helps discover new surf spots. Users can plan their sessions days in advance with detailed, easy-to-understand weather breakdowns.

**Highlights:** Ranked spot comparison, Personalized surf filters, Session window analysis, Forecast explanation, New spot discovery, Multi-day outlook

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WaveWise Pro - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| WaveWise Pro - Annual | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SurfMap free?

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

### Is WaveWise free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SurfMap or WaveWise?

WaveWise is rated higher. SurfMap averages 4.5 out of 5 from 40 ratings, while WaveWise averages 4.7 from 30 ratings.

### Do SurfMap or WaveWise have ads?

WaveWise shows ads; SurfMap does not.

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

SurfMap ships an update every 6 days, and WaveWise weekly. Most recently, SurfMap was updated on October 30, 2026 and WaveWise 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.*