Comparison

WaveGrade 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

WaveGrade

Features
Read full description

WaveGrade brings surf scoring and the daily wave forecast together in one focused app. Score your surfing • Upload a surf video for AI-assisted scoring based on speed, power, flow and technique. • Detect maneuvers and receive practical feedback for your next session. • Review previous scores and follow your progression over time. Plan better sessions • Check wave height, swell period, wind, energy, temperature and estimated tides. • Search nearby beaches and popular surf spots. • Save favorite spots and use morning surf alerts. • Keep a surf log with dates, ratings, spots and notes. WaveGrade is built for surfers who want to know when to paddle out and how they performed once they did. Available in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French and German. Terms of Use (EULA): https://righteous-feeling-b31.notion.site/T-rminos-de-Servicio-EULA-Surfscore-2fefaebdd46180be98ebcf2fd4b9f9fe?source=copy_link

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

WaveGrade4 screens
Surf Reader3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Surf Reader at none against WaveGrade's 3. Surf Reader also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads, device support 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. WaveGrade sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Surf Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WaveGrade ships an update every 3 months, Surf Reader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
WaveGrade versus Surf Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWaveGradeSurf Reader
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB85 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSergio Fernandez VillafanezAshley Martin Dunn

In-app purchases

3 purchases

WaveGrade

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Pro3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • SurfScore Monthly Pro$9.991 Month
  • SurfScore Annual Pro$49.991 Year
None

Surf Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WaveGrade free?
WaveGrade 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 WaveGrade or Surf Reader have ads?
Neither WaveGrade nor Surf Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WaveGrade or Surf Reader?
WaveGrade ships an update every 3 months, and Surf Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, WaveGrade was updated on November 9, 2026 and Surf Reader on October 31, 2026.

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