Comparison

SurfLab 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

SurfLab

Features
Read full description

Surflab is the go-to app for breathing training and freediving. Whether you're a surfer, freediver, or simply looking to master your breath, Surflab guides you through every session. -- WHAT YOU CAN DO -- Pre-Surf Warmup 22 guided steps (~12 min) to prepare your body and mind before hitting the water. Mobility, activation, breathing — arrive at the lineup ready to perform. Freediving & Breath Hold Train your breath hold with guided cycles. Track your records, visualize your progress, and beat your personal best. CO2 Tolerance Test Measure your CO2 tolerance with a simple timed test. Track your progress over time and let the app automatically adapt your training to your actual level. 4-Part Breath Progression A 3-minute daily session that automatically adjusts to your CO2 score. The smartest progression to push your limits further. Power Breathing 3 rounds of intense breathing to boost your energy and strengthen your immune system. Perfect before a surf session or any physical activity. Box Breathing The Navy SEALs' technique to control stress and stay focused under pressure. 4 equal counts, a steel mind. Heart Coherence 5 minutes, 3 times a day. Reduce stress, improve sleep, and regulate your nervous system. Guided Hyperventilation Prepare your body for effort with fast, dynamic breathing cycles. -- TRACKING & PROGRESS -- - Personal CO2 score with history and trend - Daily streaks to stay motivated - Personal breath hold record in real time - Full history of all your sessions - Progress badges to unlock - Global and friends leaderboard - iOS Widget: your stats at a glance -- SURFLAB PRO -- - Cosmic Breath: 3 circular cycles + free breath holds (~16 min) - CO2/O2 Apnea Tables for serious freedivers - Guided training programs (14 to 30 days) - Advanced stats and detailed charts - Share your sessions on social media - AI Coach: personalized advice based on your history and CO2 score - 7-day free trial, no commitment -- APPLE WATCH -- Surflab connects to your Apple Watch to measure your heart rate in real time during your sessions. Start today. Your breath is your greatest strength. Terms of Use: 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

SurfLab4 screens
Surf Reader3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Surf Reader at none against SurfLab's 4. Surf Reader also leads on ads (none vs shown). SurfLab's advantage is device support (4 vs 1). On price, update cadence 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. SurfLab sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Surf Reader asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SurfLab ships an update weekly, Surf Reader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and August 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
SurfLab versus Surf Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurfLabSurf Reader
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB85 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVincent RamseyerAshley Martin Dunn

In-app purchases

4 purchases

SurfLab

Subscriptions2
  • SurfLab Premium Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • SurfLab Premium Yearly7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time2
  • Month free$1.99
  • SurfLAbApp$12.99
None

Surf Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SurfLab free?
SurfLab 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 SurfLab or Surf Reader have ads?
SurfLab shows ads; Surf Reader does not.
Which is updated more often, SurfLab or Surf Reader?
SurfLab ships an update weekly, and Surf Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, SurfLab was updated on September 8, 2026 and Surf Reader on August 19, 2026.

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