# Beach Buddy App vs BeachLens

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BeachLens at 96% against Beach Buddy App's 0%. BeachLens also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (94 vs 4). Beach Buddy App's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Beach Buddy App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and BeachLens sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

BeachLens holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BeachLens has 94 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Beach Buddy App's written reviews are positive against 96% of BeachLens's.

Beach Buddy App ships an update every 5 days, BeachLens weekly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Beach Buddy App | BeachLens |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beach-buddy-app/id6758108792/reviews) | **[4.8 (94 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beachlens/id6759271980/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **94** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **95.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 95 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Dawn Lindsay](https://appshunter.io/developer/1870935733) | [ALAREX LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877796264) |

## What reviewers say

### Beach Buddy App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beach-buddy-app/id6758108792)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beach Buddy Pro (Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Beach Buddy Vacation Pass | $2.99 | one-time |


### BeachLens

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beachlens/id6759271980)

Get real-time updates on beach conditions, weather, water quality, and safety before you visit. Plan your perfect beach day with detailed information on amenities, parking, and local insights. Share your own reports from the shoreline to help other beachgoers.

**Highlights:** Real-time beach weather forecasts, Water quality and red tide updates, Wave height and rip current risk, Beach amenities and parking info, Community-sourced shoreline reports, Beach ratings and reviews

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LENS+ Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| LENS+ Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Beach Buddy App free?

Beach Buddy App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BeachLens free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Beach Buddy App or BeachLens?

BeachLens is rated higher. Beach Buddy App averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while BeachLens averages 4.8 from 94 ratings.

### Do Beach Buddy App or BeachLens have ads?

BeachLens shows ads; Beach Buddy App does not.

### Which is updated more often, Beach Buddy App or BeachLens?

Beach Buddy App ships an update every 5 days, and BeachLens weekly. Most recently, Beach Buddy App was updated on October 31, 2026 and BeachLens on October 31, 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.*