Comparison

WaveCheck vs MarineWise

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

Head to head
About

WaveCheck

This app analyzes surf forecasts to help you find the best waves based on your skill level and equipment. It offers detailed hourly breakdowns of conditions, personalized alerts, and the ability to track your surf sessions and compare them on leaderboards.

Highlights
  • Personalized surf scores
  • 2,500+ surf spots globally
  • Detailed hourly forecasts
  • Smart push notifications
  • Session logging and history
  • Leaderboard rankings
  • Interactive map discovery
Features
Read full description

WaveCheck scores every surf forecast for you — so you know exactly where and when to paddle out. PERSONALIZED SURF SCORES Every forecast is scored for your skill level and board — or set your own custom preferences. 2,500+ SPOTS ACROSS THE WORLD Browse on an interactive map or view each spot's satellite imagery to visualize the conditions DETAILED FORECASTS Hour-by-hour breakdown: wave height, swell direction and period, wind speed and direction, tide charts, water temperature, and more. DAILY DIGEST Get your daily spots to go surf to, with 5 days out shown with a Pro subscription SMART ALERTS Get a push notification the evening before when tomorrow looks good at your favorite spots. Set your minimum score threshold so you only get pinged when it's worth it. SPOT PREFERENCES Set custom preferences for individual spots — because your ideal conditions at a beach break aren't the same as a reef. Override your global settings per spot. SESSION TRACKING Log every surf with conditions, personal ratings, and notes. Build your surf journal and see your history at every spot. Forecast conditions are saved automatically so you can look back and learn what works for you. CLIMB THE RANKS Log sessions to climb the leaderboard. See how you stack up against other surfers at your spot, your area, and your country. MAP DISCOVERY Explore new breaks near you or anywhere. Color-coded clusters show you where conditions are firing right now. Zoom in to find hidden gems. GOOGLE CALENDAR SYNC Sync planned sessions to your calendar so you never double-book a good swell. Questions or feedback? support@wavecheck.surf Instagram: @wavecheck.app WaveCheck Pro Subscription WaveCheck Pro unlocks 10-day forecasts and daily digests, unlimited favorite spots, spot alerts, spot preferences and supports an indie developer. Pricing: - Monthly: $4.99/month - Annual: $49.99/year (save 17%) Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Terms of Use: https://wavecheck.surf/terms Privacy Policy: https://wavecheck.surf/privacy

About

MarineWise

Features
Read full description

Know before you go. MarineWise combines tides, marine weather, solunar periods, and a daily fishing score into one app built for boaters and anglers. MARINE WEATHER Wind speed and direction, wave height and period, and sea surface conditions from Open-Meteo — 7 days out. Know what the water looks like before you leave the dock. TIDE PREDICTIONS NOAA-sourced tide charts and predictions for thousands of stations along the US coastline. See the full tidal curve, high and low extremes, and tide timing for any day. DAILY FISHING SCORE Every day gets a 0–100 score calculated from the factors that actually affect fish activity — tidal movement, solunar peaks, barometric pressure, wind conditions, and prime feeding windows. No guesswork. One number tells you how good the day looks before you leave the dock. SOLUNAR FORECASTS Major and minor feeding periods calculated from the moon's position for your exact location. See moonrise, moonset, moon phase, and the daily solunar timeline at a glance. TRIP PLANNER Pick a date and get a recommendation with a suggested departure time based on tide windows, solunar peaks, and weather conditions combined. BUILT FOR THE WATER - Save favorite locations for quick access - Offline-friendly — data loads fast and stays cached - Dark interface designed for bright sunlight and early mornings - No account required. No ads. MarineWise is for recreational planning only. Always check official sources before heading offshore.

Screenshots

WaveCheck4 screens
MarineWise4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MarineWise at none against WaveCheck's 2. WaveCheck's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads and device support 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. WaveCheck sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. MarineWise asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 6 level
WaveCheck versus MarineWise: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWaveCheckMarineWise
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size95 MB33 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperAustin UrracaThreetwenty LLC

In-app purchases

2 purchases

WaveCheck

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Yearly$49.991 Year
None

MarineWise

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WaveCheck free?
WaveCheck is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MarineWise free?
MarineWise is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do WaveCheck or MarineWise have ads?
Neither WaveCheck nor MarineWise shows ads.

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