Comparison

Ocean Pulse vs XAKA | Surf Forecast

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

Head to head
About

Ocean Pulse

Visualize real-time NOAA buoy data as a dynamic, glowing map. Understand ocean conditions like swell direction, wave period, and height through intuitive visual cues rather than numbers. Access detailed conditions for over 170 buoys across various ocean regions.

Highlights
  • Real-time NOAA buoy data visualization
  • Color-coded swell direction
  • Pulse speed indicates wave period
  • Brightness shows wave height
  • Detailed buoy condition reports
  • Save favorite buoys
  • Search buoys by name, ID, or region
Features
Read full description

Ocean Pulse — a different way to check the surf. Ocean Pulse transforms real-time NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) buoy data into a living, glowing map. Each buoy pulses with light — color shows swell direction, pulse speed matches wave period, and brightness reveals wave height.  At a glance, you understand the ocean's current state without reading a single number, just like checking the surf from the shore. Featuring 170+ buoys from Alaska to the Caribbean, Ocean Pulse covers the Pacific, Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Hawaii. Tap any buoy for detailed conditions including wave height, period, direction, and water temperature. Save your favorite buoys for quick access. Search by name, ID, or region. Explore the color compass to learn the visual language of the ocean. Want to know one of my favorite ways to experience Ocean Pulse?...I love to dock it on my desk charger in landscape mode, with the whole beautiful ocean is always right there alive next to me! Ocean Pulse is the digital companion to my physical Ocean Pulse light sculptures — real-time ocean data, transformed into art (more about Ocean Pulse sculptures at www.seanobriendesigns.com). Ocean Pulse Origins I designed and built my first Ocean Pulse sculpture in 2011 after moving from the coast of California — where I could walk to check the surf every day — to Berlin, Germany, where the ocean was hundreds of miles away. I was always checking Surfline trying to stay connected, but I hated going online every time just to maintain my connection to the surf. I wanted to somehow have the "pulse" of the ocean in my living environment, always with me. I was craving the surf check ritual, coffee in hand, no matter where I lived in the world. With no coding skills, my brother and my dad helped write the code for the first sculpture — LED lights that visualize wave period, direction, and height in real time. A close friend helped me refine it. Today, Ocean Pulse sculptures live in many homes, keeping ocean-minded souls connected to the rhythms of the sea. With the advent of AI and my unrelenting curiosity about it, I was finally able to create this app — something I had wanted to build for a long time. While I love the Ocean Pulse sculptures and think everyone should have one in their homes, I know they're expensive. This app is my way of making the thing I love available to many more ocean-minded souls for the price of a cup of coffee. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope to refine it over time to make it even better for you.  This is truly a labor of love. Share a review and tell me what you think!

About

XAKA | Surf Forecast

Get personalized surf session recommendations based on your skill level and preferred conditions. Discover nearby surf spots, compare wave, wind, and tide data, and find the best time to hit the water. Plan less and surf more with this community-powered forecast tool.

Highlights
  • Personalized session recommendations
  • Find surf spots near any location
  • Filter by surf level
  • Compare wave, wind, and tide conditions
  • Check best time to surf
  • Explore recommendations on a map
  • Community-powered feedback
Features
Read full description

Find the right surf spot at the right time. XAKA turns complex surf forecasts into clear, personalized session recommendations. Choose your surf level, search location, radius, and preferred time. XAKA compares nearby spots and ranks the sessions that best match your criteria. PLAN LESS. SURF MORE. • Find surf spots near any chosen location • See which spots match your surf level • Compare wave, wind, and tide conditions • Check the best time to surf each spot • Review wave height, direction, period, and energy • Explore every recommendation on a satellite map BUILT AROUND YOUR LEVEL Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced surfer, XAKA filters out the noise and helps you make a faster, more informed choice. COMMUNITY-POWERED Share feedback after your session. Every report helps XAKA better understand local spots and improve future recommendations for the surf community. CURRENT COVERAGE Explore surf spots across France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Mexico, US. More regions to come. Forecasts and recommendations are provided for informational purposes only. Always assess local conditions, weather, access restrictions, your ability, and official safety advice before entering the water.

Screenshots

Ocean Pulse4 screens
XAKA | Surf Forecast3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: XAKA | Surf Forecast at every 5 days against Ocean Pulse's every 4 months. Ocean Pulse's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ocean Pulse ships an update every 4 months, XAKA | Surf Forecast every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Ocean Pulse versus XAKA | Surf Forecast: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOcean PulseXAKA | Surf Forecast
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSean O'BrienXAKA LABS

Customer experience

Ocean Pulse

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

XAKA | Surf Forecast

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Ocean Pulse

No in-app purchases

None

XAKA | Surf Forecast

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ocean Pulse free?
Ocean Pulse is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is XAKA | Surf Forecast free?
XAKA | Surf Forecast is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Ocean Pulse or XAKA | Surf Forecast have ads?
Neither Ocean Pulse nor XAKA | Surf Forecast shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ocean Pulse or XAKA | Surf Forecast?
Ocean Pulse ships an update every 4 months, and XAKA | Surf Forecast every 5 days. Most recently, Ocean Pulse was updated on October 23, 2026 and XAKA | Surf Forecast on October 21, 2026.

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