Comparison

Whale Tracker vs Beach Buddy App

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

Head to head
About

Whale Tracker

Discover real-time, verified whale and shark sightings worldwide on a live map. Receive proximity alerts, track individual whales, and explore migration routes. Ideal for whale watchers, boaters, and ocean enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Live sightings map
  • Proximity alerts
  • Track individual whales
  • Worldwide coverage
  • Migration routes
  • Captain Mode for boaters
Features
Read full description

See whales — in real time. Whale Tracker turns every coastline into a live map of what's out there right now — verified whale sightings near you, reported by a trusted community of spotters, captains, and researchers worldwide. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Live sightings map — orca, humpback, blue, sperm, grey, fin & southern right whales • Sightings near you — see what's been spotted on your coast today • Proximity alerts — get notified the moment a whale is near, by species and radius • Follow individual whales — know when one you're tracking is seen again • Worldwide coverage — USA, Canada, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Iceland, the Azores, Japan, UK & dozens more • Migration routes — follow the giants as they travel • Captain Mode — live chart with real-time proximity alerts & speed warnings for boaters • Listen Live — hear orcas and humpbacks on live underwater microphones • Whale news & articles — whale science, conservation & current sightings Whether you're whale watching, boating, fishing, or just love the ocean, Whale Tracker puts the sea in your pocket. Download and see what's swimming near you today. Auto-Renewable Subscription Some features require an active subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at purchase confirmation. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/orca-spotter-privacy-policy/home

About

Beach Buddy App

Discover the best beaches with real-time information on surf, tides, weather, and marine hazards. Get alerts for shark activity and rip currents to ensure a safe and enjoyable day by the ocean.

Highlights
  • Global shark and marine activity map
  • Beach discovery and condition comparison
  • Real-time hazard alerts (sharks, rip currents)
  • Integrated surf, tide, and weather data
  • Beach flag and official advisory information
  • Live beach and ocean camera feeds
  • Community reporting for sightings
Features
Read full description

Beach Buddy App Store Description Beach Buddy helps you find the right beach, understand current conditions, and know what matters before you go. Search beaches around the world, explore amenities and local rules, check weather, surf and tides, view marine hazards and beach flags, learn about marine life you may encounter, and get location-aware conservation guidance. Whether you’re visiting a nearby shoreline or traveling somewhere new, Beach Buddy brings beach planning, marine awareness, safety information, and local guidance together in one place. KEY FEATURES FIND THE RIGHT BEACH • Search beaches around the world • Explore amenities, local services, rules, and access information • Compare conditions before deciding where to go • Use the Marine Assistant to find beaches based on needs such as dog-friendly, family-friendly, easy access, and less crowded options MARINE LIFE WATCH • Learn about marine life you may encounter in the area • See location- and season-aware information for rays, jellyfish, sharks, reef life, marine mammals, and other wildlife • Learn when certain animals may be more common • Get practical guidance on what to do if you encounter them • Review useful beach habits such as the stingray shuffle PROTECT THIS BEACH • Get conservation guidance relevant to your location • Learn about nesting seasons, wildlife, and sensitive habitats • See practical ways to protect sea turtles, shorebirds, nesting areas, and other coastal wildlife MARINE HAZARDS & CONDITIONS • View marine hazard warnings where available • Check shark activity, rip-current risk, storms, and other reported hazards • Review beach flags and official advisories when supported SURF, TIDES & WEATHER • Check weather and wind • View surf, wave, swell, and ocean information • Review tides and water conditions • Prepare for beach, surf, fishing, and boating activities EXPLORE & BOOK • Discover nearby restaurants, attractions, activities, hotels, and vacation rentals • View participating marketplace listings and Booking Benefits where available CAMERAS — PRO OR VACATION PASS • View available beach, coastline, underwater, and drone cameras • Check visible conditions before leaving home COMMUNITY REPORTING • Submit shark sightings and marine hazard reports • Help improve awareness for other beachgoers MARINE SAFETY GUIDE • Learn about rip currents • Understand conditions associated with increased shark activity • Review practical ocean-safety guidance BEACH BUDDY PRO Beach Buddy Pro helps monitor the beaches you care about. Pro features include: • Personalized marine condition and hazard monitoring • Push notifications on supported phones and connected smartwatches • Unlimited favorite beaches • Global Shark Map and expanded shark activity tools • Beach, underwater, and drone camera access where available • Ad-free experience A Pro purchase also helps support continued development, research, data monitoring, and operating costs. Vacation Pass provides 30 days of premium features with a one-time purchase and no auto-renewal. Some features, cameras, advisories, wildlife guidance, data sources, and alerts depend on location and availability. Beach Buddy Pro requires a paid subscription. MARINE AWARENESS & CONSERVATION Beach Buddy promotes informed, responsible ocean use without demonizing sharks or other marine wildlife. Better awareness helps beachgoers make better decisions while respecting the animals and habitats that make each coastline unique. Beach and ocean information is often scattered across multiple apps, agencies, and websites. Beach Buddy brings it together in one place. Find your beach. Know what to expect. Protect what lives there. Know before you go. Privacy Policy https://beachbuddy.shop/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Whale Tracker3 screens
Beach Buddy App4 screens

Verdict

The call

Whale Tracker and Beach Buddy App both sit at 4.2 stars, but that hides the real split: 57% of Whale Tracker's written reviews are positive against 0% of Beach Buddy App's. Whale Tracker also leads on ratings volume (28 vs 4). Beach Buddy App's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Whale Tracker sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Beach Buddy App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Whale Tracker holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Whale Tracker has 28 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Whale Tracker's written reviews are positive against 0% of Beach Buddy App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Whale Tracker ships an update every 2 weeks, Beach Buddy App every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Whale Tracker versus Beach Buddy App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWhale TrackerBeach Buddy App
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (28 ratings) — better4.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings28 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB95 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSTEPHEN VICTOR HARTDawn Lindsay

Customer experience

Whale Tracker

All ratings28 ratings
Positive82.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative17.9%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral4.8%
Negative38.1%

Beach Buddy App

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Whale Tracker

Subscriptions9
  • Whale Tracker Monthly2 variants$3.991 Month
  • Whale Tracker Premium Monthly2 variants$4.991 Month
  • Whale Tracker Monthly2 variants$4.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Whale Tracker Premium Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Whale Tracker Yearly$14.991 Year
  • Whale Tracker Premium Yearly2 variants$19.991 Year
  • Whale Tracker Yearly2 variants$19.991 Year
  • Whale Tracker Yearly$22.991 Year
  • Whale Tracker Premium Yearly$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Unlock everything forever.$64.99
2 purchases

Beach Buddy App

Subscriptions1
  • Beach Buddy Pro (Monthly)$2.991 Month
One-time1
  • Beach Buddy Vacation Pass$2.99

Questions

Is Whale Tracker free?
Whale Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Beach Buddy App free?
Beach Buddy App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Whale Tracker or Beach Buddy App?
Whale Tracker is rated higher. Whale Tracker averages 4.2 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Beach Buddy App averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Whale Tracker or Beach Buddy App have ads?
Neither Whale Tracker nor Beach Buddy App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Whale Tracker or Beach Buddy App?
Whale Tracker ships an update every 2 weeks, and Beach Buddy App every 5 days. Most recently, Whale Tracker was updated on October 28, 2026 and Beach Buddy App on October 17, 2026.

Other comparisons