Comparison

Surf Forecast & Report vs SwellLab

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

Head to head
About

Surf Forecast & Report

Features
Read full description

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

SwellLab

Features
Read full description

SwellLab is a surf forecast app built for surfers in Taiwan. Covering 40+ surf spots across the island, it turns wave height, period, swell direction, wind, and tides into easy-to-understand localized ratings — helping you quickly decide where to surf and when to paddle out. Key features: • Surf forecast & scoring — a 10-day outlook with an easy 1–5 rating for every spot, tuned to each break's swell window, tide preference, and bottom type • Best Surf ranking — see which spots are firing right now, sorted across the whole island • Tide & moon — tide charts and moon phase together, so you know exactly when the window opens • Live cams — check real-time video before you drive out • Typhoon tracking — official CWA typhoon and marine warnings, plus swell forecasts through typhoon swell events • Pocket Spots — save your go-to breaks for one-tap access • Surf Alerts — get notified when your saved spots hit the conditions you're after • Multi-source forecast data from ECMWF, NOAA, DWD, Météo-France, and Taiwan's CWA SwellLab Pro unlocks the full 10-day forecast at our most advanced spots, hourly data refresh, unlimited Pocket Spots and Surf Alerts, and the full Best Surf ranking beyond today. Early-bird pricing available for a limited time. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Terms and Privacy Policy: https://swell-lab.com/privacy https://swell-lab.com/terms

Screenshots

Surf Forecast & Report4 screens
SwellLab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: SwellLab at every 3 days against Surf Forecast & Report's every 2 weeks. 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 & Report sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and SwellLab sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Surf Forecast & Report ships an update every 2 weeks, SwellLab every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Surf Forecast & Report versus SwellLab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSurf Forecast & ReportSwellLab
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLeveling LPChia-Yu Huang

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Surf Forecast & Report

Subscriptions3
  • Curlio Pro - 1 Week$5.997 Days
  • Curlio Pro PROMO$19.991 Year
  • Curlio Pro - 1 Year$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Curlio Pro - Forever$99.00
2 purchases

SwellLab

Subscriptions2
  • SwellLab Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • SwellLab Pro Annual$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Surf Forecast & Report free?
Surf Forecast & Report is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SwellLab free?
SwellLab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Surf Forecast & Report or SwellLab have ads?
Neither Surf Forecast & Report nor SwellLab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Surf Forecast & Report or SwellLab?
Surf Forecast & Report ships an update every 2 weeks, and SwellLab every 3 days. Most recently, Surf Forecast & Report was updated on November 9, 2026 and SwellLab on November 5, 2026.

Other comparisons