Comparison

Surf Forecast vs SurfMatch

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

Head to head
About

Surf Forecast

Features
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Know if the surf is worth it before you grab your board. Curlio is a premium surf forecast app built for surfers who want a faster, clearer call: go now, wait for the best window, or skip the drive. Check wave forecasts, surf reports, swell, wind, tide, and surf conditions in one clean dashboard designed for everyday sessions and surf trips. Whether you are planning a dawn patrol, checking your local break, or looking for better waves nearby, Curlio helps you understand the ocean without decoding complicated charts. With Curlio, you can: • Check a clear Surf Score for your favorite spots • Find the best surf window based on swell, wind, and tide • View wave forecasts and surf conditions at a glance • Track local surf spots, trip spots, and the breaks you care about • Save favorites and private spots • Get smart surf alerts when conditions line up • Review swell, wind, and tide charts • Use widgets to check the forecast faster • Read simple surf briefings before your next session Curlio is made for: • Local surfers checking daily conditions • Surf travelers planning sessions in new places • Beginners who want a simpler surf report • Intermediate surfers comparing spots and timing • Anyone who wants a clean, fast wave forecast without noise Plan better sessions: • Surf Forecast: See what is happening now and what is building next. • Best Surf Window: Know when swell, wind, and tide are most likely to line up. • Surf Alerts: Get notified when your selected spot starts looking good. • Wave Conditions: Check swell height, period, wind, tide, and overall surf quality. • Spot Tracking: Follow the beaches, reefs, points, and private breaks you care about. • Surf Briefs: Get a plain-English read on the session so you can decide faster. • Widgets: Keep your surf forecast close without opening the app every time. Curlio turns marine weather data into a simple surfing decision. Instead of switching between tide charts, wind forecasts, swell models, and surf reports, you get one focused view built around the question that matters: Is it worth paddling out? Use Curlio to plan your next session, catch cleaner windows, and spend less time guessing. Optional Subscription, please read before subscribing: • You can subscribe to access premium features included in your selected Curlio plan. • Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. • Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period at the price shown for your selected plan. • You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal in your App Store account settings after purchase. • If you cancel auto-renewal, you will keep access until the end of the current paid period. • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Terms of Use: https://curlio.app/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://curlio.app/privacy.html EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Still have questions? Email us at hello@curlio.app and we will be happy to respond.

About

SurfMatch

This app provides AI-powered surf forecasts and wave tracking to help surfers find the best conditions. It offers a clean interface with essential data, including a surf score, interactive maps, and local creator profiles. An optional Pro subscription unlocks advanced features like live buoy data and a 14-day outlook.

Highlights
  • AI-powered surf score (0-5 rating)
  • Hyper-local AI analysis
  • 3-day and 14-day forecasts
  • Interactive map with swell and wind vectors
  • Live offshore buoy data
  • Strike Zone tidal curve prediction
  • Unlimited saved surf spots (Pro)
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A note from Cory, founder & surfer: Most surf apps are cluttered with confusing graphs and aggressive ads. SurfMatch is built by surfers who wanted a better way. We combine premium Xweather data, advanced wave modeling, and community feedback to help you score more waves and suffer fewer skunkings. 300+ Curated Breaks (And Growing Fast!) We currently track over 300 highly curated surf spots across 5 continents, and we are actively building out hundreds more every week. If you download the app and don't see your local break on the map yet, let us know! Use the "Request a Spot" feature in the app or reach out directly to info@surfmatchapp.com, and we’ll add it to the top of our development queue. Stop checking five different apps to figure out where to paddle out. True Surf Face Math: We translate deepwater buoy data into the actual rideable wave height based on local bathymetry. SurfMatch Score: A strict 0-5 rating tailored to the unique mechanics of each spot. Dynamic Strike Zones: Interactive tidal curves that actively track against a break's bathymetry and lock into the optimal window. Live Telemetry: Real-time wave tracking and size boosts from global offshore stations. What You Get For Free: The SurfMatch Score: Stop doing mental math with wind angles and swell periods. Our algorithm synthesizes the data to rate every hour. Free SurfMatch Intelligence: Test-drive our digital coach with a free, hyper-local analysis. Tap the Intelligence icon to get a highly technical breakdown of your break's bathymetry and swell metrics before you paddle out—no subscription required. 3-Day Forecasts: Get hyper-local windows for your nearest breaks. Interactive Map Cues: Read the lineup with intuitive map arrows (Blue for Swell, Pink for Wind) aligned to oceanographic flow standards. Simple, Clean Interface: Get the essential data—Est. Surf Face, wave energy, wind direction, and tide tracking—in a premium interface designed for actual surfers, not meteorologists. Save Your Spots: Save up to 3 of your go-to breaks and sync conditions across devices. Unlock SurfMatch Pro (7-Day Free Trial) Try it free for 7 days, then $6.99/month or $59.99/year. Cancel anytime. Upgrade to our premium tier to unlock the ultimate forecasting toolkit: Live Ocean Radar & Xweather Integration: Stop relying exclusively on generic weather models. Access high-resolution Xweather data and track incoming storm cells and global swell energy in real-time with our interactive radar. Live Telemetry & Buoy Boosts: See exactly what is happening in the water right now with dedicated tracking cards and real-time size and period boosts. Pro SurfMatch Intelligence: Your personal digital surf coach and travel agent. Ask for quiver matches and lineup tactics, or plan global strike missions with live flight prices and wave dossiers sent directly to your inbox. Dynamic Strike Zones: Never miss the window. We’ve engineered a dynamic, tidal curve that actively tracks against a break's unique bathymetry. When the tide hits the optimal window, it locks into the Strike Zone. Local Creator Profiles: Want your session captured? Spot forecasts now feature local surf photographers and videographers. Check out their portfolios and connect directly to book a shoot. 14-Day Outlook: Plan your sessions, road trips, and global strike missions up to two weeks in advance. Unlimited Favorites: Save your entire local hit-list in a day-by-day matrix sorted by live conditions. Download SurfMatch today and know before you go. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.surfmatchapp.com/legal-pages/terms-conditions Privacy Policy: https://www.surfmatchapp.com/legal-pages/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Surf Forecast4 screens
SurfMatch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: SurfMatch at every 5 days against Surf Forecast's every 2 weeks. SurfMatch also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Surf Forecast sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and SurfMatch sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Surf Forecast ships an update every 2 weeks, SurfMatch every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Surf Forecast versus SurfMatch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurf ForecastSurfMatch
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size87 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLeveling LPCory King

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Surf Forecast

Subscriptions3
  • Curlio Pro - 1 Week$6.997 Days
  • Curlio Pro PROMO$29.991 Year
  • Curlio Pro - 1 Year$44.991 Year
One-time1
  • Curlio Pro - Forever$179.00
2 purchases

SurfMatch

Subscriptions2
  • SurfMatch Pro Monthly Subscription7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • SurfMatch Pro Annual Subscription7 Days trial$44.991 Year

Questions

Is Surf Forecast free?
Surf Forecast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SurfMatch free?
SurfMatch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Surf Forecast or SurfMatch have ads?
Neither Surf Forecast nor SurfMatch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Surf Forecast or SurfMatch?
Surf Forecast ships an update every 2 weeks, and SurfMatch every 5 days. Most recently, Surf Forecast was updated on October 8, 2026 and SurfMatch on October 16, 2026.

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