Comparison

WaveCheck vs Surfing Waves

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 tell you the best times and places to surf based on your skill level and equipment. It offers detailed hourly conditions, smart alerts, session tracking, and a global map of surf spots.

Highlights
  • Personalized surf scores
  • 2,000+ surf spots worldwide
  • Detailed hourly forecasts
  • Smart push notifications
  • Session logging and history
  • Leaderboard and rankings
  • Google Calendar sync
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

Surfing Waves

Features
Read full description

Surfing Waves gives you powerful global surf intelligence so you can decide when and where to paddle out with confidence. Pick any beach or surf spot on the map and instantly see detailed forecast data, including wave height, swell period, swell direction, wind speed, wind direction, and tide information. Use the clear surf report view to check current and upcoming conditions at a glance. An AI surf summary analyzes waves, wind, tides, and trends to highlight the best surf windows for your location. See if it is worth heading to the ocean now or waiting for cleaner sets, stronger swell, or lighter wind. Customize your favorite spots and quickly compare conditions across different breaks, reefs, points, and beaches. Monitor marine weather changes with live style charts that show how height, period, and wind will evolve through the day. Switch between map and list views to explore new locations around the world. The Surfing Waves widget brings key surf data right to your Home Screen. Pin your top spot to see wave height, swell, wind, and tide status at a glance without opening the app. Stay ready for fast decisions when the surf starts pumping or when an offshore wind window appears. Enable notifications to receive surf alerts when forecast thresholds you set are met, such as minimum wave height, maximum wind speed, or preferred tide stage. Never miss a good session because you forgot to refresh a report. Surfing Waves is built for surfers of all levels who want reliable ocean data rather than guesswork. Check the forecast, read the AI summary, and time your surf around the best conditions available. Key features: • Global surf forecast coverage for beaches, reefs, and points • Wave height, swell period, swell direction, and tide stages • Wind speed, wind direction, and basic marine weather context • AI powered summary of the best surf windows • Home Screen widget for quick surf condition checks • Favorites list to track multiple surf locations easily • Clear charts for upcoming surf trends Plan smarter sessions, match your surfboard to the forecast, and track the conditions that matter to your style. Use Surfing Waves to follow the ocean, read the data, and surf when your local break looks its best.

Screenshots

WaveCheck4 screens
Surfing Waves3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Surfing Waves at none against WaveCheck's 2. WaveCheck's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). 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. Surfing Waves asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 6 level
WaveCheck versus Surfing Waves: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWaveCheckSurfing Waves
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size95 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAustin UrracaGal Linial

In-app purchases

2 purchases

WaveCheck

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

Surfing Waves

No in-app purchases

Questions

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

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