Comparison

Current vs RipCurrent

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

Head to head
About

Current

Get detailed, physics-based surf forecasts for California breaks. See wave height, how waves break, swell details, wind, tide, and water temperature. A free daily forecast is available, with premium features for multi-day predictions and advanced statistics.

Highlights
  • Physics-based surf forecasts
  • Wave break type prediction
  • Swell partitions and timeline
  • Lull duration and wave energy
  • Water temperature
  • Multi-day forecast (premium)
Currently charting
Read full description

Current gives you physics-based surf forecasts for every break In California and the East and Gulf Coasts. Current is part of a movement to create more accurate and detailed surf forecasts. What you get: • 8-day surf forecast for every spot - swell, wind, tide, surf heights, and ratings • An animated map - wind, currents, and swell in motion, surf height painted along the coastline • Spot stats you won't find anywhere else - set height, breaker type, peakiness • Secret spots - draw your own spot anywhere on the coast and get a full forecast for it Today's forecast is free for every spot. Upgrade to Current Premium for multi-day forecasts, detailed surf-zone statistics, and map overlays. Forecasts are estimates — always check real conditions and surf within your limits. - Support URL: https://currentsurf.com · Marketing URL (optional): https://currentsurf.com · Privacy Policy URL: https://currentsurf.com/privacy CURRENT PREMIUM (optional subscription) Premium Monthly - $4.99/month, auto-renews. Unlocks the full 8-day forecast everywhere: future-day map overlays, future-day spot stats, and up to 100 secret spots. Today's forecast is always free. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews monthly unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in your App Store settings. Privacy Policy: https://currentsurf.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://currentsurf.com/terms

About

RipCurrent

Features
Read full description

Know before you go in. RipCurrent shows the official rip current risk for any US beach — plus the actual warning flags lifeguards are flying at 50+ beaches — in one clean, fast app. RIP CURRENT RISK, STRAIGHT FROM THE NWS • Today's official LOW / MODERATE / HIGH rip current risk for any US beach • A multi-day outlook so you can plan the whole trip • Live Rip Current Statements and Beach Hazards Statements as they're issued REAL BEACH FLAGS • The actual flag flying right now — green, yellow, red, double red, purple — at 50+ beaches that publish it (the Florida Panhandle, Gulf Coast, Miami Beach, Galveston, and more) • Reported by the lifeguard agencies themselves, with the report time ALERTS FOR YOUR BEACH • Watch a beach and get a notification when the NWS issues a Rip Current Statement or Beach Hazards Statement for it MADE FOR BEACH DAYS • A US map with every saved beach color-coded by today's risk • Add any beach by name — comes with favorites from Miami to Waikiki • Learn what the risk levels mean and what to do if you're ever caught in a rip Rip currents are the #1 killer at US surf beaches — about 100 people drown in them every year, and most victims never saw a warning. RipCurrent puts the official forecast and the real flags in your pocket. Data sources: rip current risk, outlooks, and alerts come from the NOAA / National Weather Service Surf Zone Forecasts and alert feeds, available at https://www.weather.gov — beach flag statuses come from the local lifeguard agencies that publish them (South Walton Fire District, Escambia County Public Safety, PCB Beach & Surf Patrol, Galveston Island Beach Patrol, Mote Marine's Beach Conditions Reporting System, and more). RipCurrent is an independent app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of NOAA, the National Weather Service, any government agency, or any lifeguard organization. Awareness only — not for emergency decisions. Conditions vary along a beach and change quickly. Always heed lifeguards and posted flags.

Screenshots

Current4 screens
RipCurrent4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RipCurrent at none against Current's 1. Current's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#209 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, device support 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. Current sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. RipCurrent asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Current ships an update fortnightly, RipCurrent every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Current versus RipCurrent: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCurrentRipCurrent
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (14 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings14 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
Best chart rank#209 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperColin WeaverQvyshift LLC

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Current

Subscriptions1
  • Current Premium$4.991 Month
None

RipCurrent

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Current free?
Current is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is RipCurrent free?
RipCurrent is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Current or RipCurrent have ads?
RipCurrent shows ads; Current does not.
Which is updated more often, Current or RipCurrent?
Current ships an update fortnightly, and RipCurrent every 2 weeks. Most recently, Current was updated on October 8, 2026 and RipCurrent on October 7, 2026.

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