Comparison

AYON Wave vs Surf Reader

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

Head to head
About

AYON Wave

This app translates complex oceanographic data into easy-to-understand surf conditions. It helps surfers of all levels predict wave height, swell, wind, and tides for better session planning. Discover surf spots globally and receive alerts for optimal conditions.

Highlights
  • Wave height, period, and direction forecasts
  • Surf condition ratings and explanations
  • Seven-day forecast timeline
  • Global surf spot discovery
  • Tide information and trends
  • Skill-level customization
  • Favorable surf condition alerts
Features
Read full description

AYON Wave — Wave Intelligence Where to surf, when, and why. AYON Wave turns the marine forecast into a clear call for your level — go, wait for a better window, or sit this one out — with the reasons written out, so you can check the reading against what you see at the beach. YOUR NEXT WINDOW See the best upcoming window at your home spot and favorites, hour by hour. Every call weighs wave size against your comfort range and swell direction against what the break accepts, plus wind, tide and daylight. MATCHED TO YOU Set your level and the wave sizes you enjoy. The same swell can be right for one surfer and wrong for another, and AYON Wave answers for you. Log your sessions and the app can suggest tuning your comfort range — never without your confirmation. SPOT DNA 247 curated breaks in 28 countries carry their own profile: the swell they accept, the tide they work on, the wind that cleans them up, their difficulty and their known hazards. Anywhere else, search any beach on the globe for a forecast-only reading. CONFIDENCE, SHOWN HONESTLY Every call shows how strong the evidence behind it is — high, medium or low — and why. A model-estimated tide instead of a local station, crossed swells, missing data or spot details not yet verified all lower it. Confidence measures evidence. It is never a promise of safety. DATA & TRUST CENTER See where every number comes from: marine and weather forecasts from Open-Meteo, and NOAA tide predictions at US stations. A forecast is a model, not an observation, and AYON Wave labels it that way. SURF SCHOOLS Book a lesson with a local surf school through the AYON Ecosystem booking network — real schools, booked directly. WAVE PRO Subscribe for the complete 10-day hourly outlook, personal surf windows, smart alerts when the forecast changes, unlimited favorite spots and confidence explained in detail. Billed through the App Store; renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. In English, Português (Brasil) and Español. No account needed — AYON Passport is optional. Forecast guidance only. AYON Wave does not certify that surfing is safe, and conditions change quickly. Always check local warnings, watch the water and surf within your ability. AYON Wave is part of AYON Coastal Intelligence by AYON Ecosystem. Wind. Waves. Coast. One intelligence system. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Surf Reader

Features
Read full description

Surf Reader is a pocket-sized coaching companion built around Martin Dunn's 40-year surf-coaching method. Read the break, set your intention before you paddle out, then rate the surf you actually had — and watch your wave-selection skill grow session by session. MAP THE BREAK Sand banks shift, rips appear, peaks drift. Turn what you see in the lineup into a saved beach map you can pull up before every paddle-out. Eight break types, drawn your way. PLAN WITH INTENTION "Just have fun" is a great mantra and a poor session plan. A guided 7-question flow gives you one specific thing to work on each surf. REVIEW HONESTLY Rate your session the moment you're back on the sand. Surf Reader closes the loop between what you planned and what you actually did. WATCH YOUR SKILL RISE Every session feeds a simple picture of your progress, so better wave selection becomes a habit — not a guess. BUILT FOR SURFERS • 5 languages — English, Español, Português, 日本語, Français • 8 break types to map • Local-first: your sessions, plans and maps stay on your device — no account required Built on Martin Dunn's coaching from eSurfR.com, MartinDunn.com.au, and Martin Dunn Surf Camps.

Screenshots

AYON Wave4 screens
Surf Reader3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Surf Reader at none against AYON Wave's 1. Surf Reader also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks). AYON Wave's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads 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. AYON Wave sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Surf Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AYON Wave ships an update every 6 weeks, Surf Reader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
AYON Wave versus Surf Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAYON WaveSurf Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size74 MB85 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPaulo Cavalcante de OliveiraAshley Martin Dunn

In-app purchases

1 purchases

AYON Wave

Subscriptions1
  • Wave Pro Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
None

Surf Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AYON Wave free?
AYON Wave is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Surf Reader free?
Surf Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do AYON Wave or Surf Reader have ads?
Neither AYON Wave nor Surf Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AYON Wave or Surf Reader?
AYON Wave ships an update every 6 weeks, and Surf Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, AYON Wave was updated on October 26, 2026 and Surf Reader on October 16, 2026.

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