Comparison

Ocean Watch vs Shore TideChart

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

Head to head
About

Ocean Watch

Access tide predictions for over 3,300 stations across the US and Caribbean. Visualize tide data with stunning graphics and an interactive almanac. Plan your activities with offline access to predictions and custom notes.

Highlights
  • 3,300+ tide stations
  • Stunning graphics and visualizations
  • Offline tide predictions
  • Interactive almanac
  • Integrated station map
  • Custom notes and images
Read full description

• Over 3,300 stations on every coast of the US and beyond. (Note: limited support for stations beyond the US and Caribbean) • Stunning images, graphics and innovative visualizations to make sense of the information you care most about. • Tide predictions anywhere anytime. Sophisticated prediction algorithms and decades of data, all included so you don’t need a data connection. • Interactive Almanac so you can see the future and make your plans. • Integrated Station Map to get the big picture. • Updated design across Watch / iPhone / iPad and Mac • Best-in-class widgets and complications • Make it personal with custom notes and images.

About

Shore TideChart

This app provides comprehensive tide and marine weather forecasts for surfers, boaters, and anglers. It offers 7-day tide predictions, hourly marine weather, surf and boating condition ratings, and moon phase data. An offline mode is available for essential information.

Highlights
  • 7-Day Tide Forecasts
  • Hourly Marine Weather
  • Surf Ratings
  • Boating Conditions
  • Moon Phases & Fish Activity
  • Offline Mode
Features
Read full description

Shore TideChart - Complete Surfing, Boating, and Ocean Companion One app replaces four! Shore TideChart combines everything anglers, surfers, and boaters need in a single powerful tool. KEY FEATURES: 7-Day Tide Forecasts with visual tide graphs Hourly Marine Weather with detailed conditions Surf Ratings - Real-time surf quality assessments (Poor to Epic) Boating Conditions - Safety ratings with wind/swell analysis Moon Phases & Fish Activity - Best fishing times UV Index, sunrise/sunset, water temps OFFLINE MODE for Tides, Sunset, Moon Phases when out at sea "Use My Location" - Instantly finds nearest station 50+ Locations across US coastal states UNIQUE ADVANTAGES: Unlike basic tide apps, Shore Tide Chart calculates actual surf and boating conditions using real-time swell, wind, and wave data. Know instantly if it's worth heading out. PERFECT FOR: Surfers checking dawn patrol conditions Anglers timing the bite with tides and moon Boaters assessing safety before departing Beach-goers planning perfect days SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS: 14-day FREE trial, then choose: Monthly: $1.99 Annual: $9.99 (Save 58%!) Stop juggling multiple apps. Get complete ocean intelligence in one place. Key Features: * Tide Charts & Predictions – View real-time and future high/low tides with precise times. * Wave Heights & Swell Data – Know if the ocean is calm or surf-ready. * Wind Speed & Direction – Essential for sailing, fishing, and water sports. * Ocean Temperature – Plan for swimming, diving, and paddling. * Sunrise & Sunset Times – Know the best times to be on the water. * Favorite Locations – Save multiple tide stations for quick access. * Simple, Fast, & Accurate – No clutter, just the marine data you need. Who Is Shore Tide Chart For? Boaters & Sailors – Plan your next trip with accurate wind & tide forecasts. Surfers & Paddleboarders – Catch the perfect wave with wave height & wind direction data. Fishermen – Maximize your catch by knowing the best tide times & ocean conditions. Beachgoers & Swimmers – Stay informed about safe swimming conditions. Coverage: Tide and marine condition data is sourced from multiple places giving you a complete picture of the current forecast. Disclaimer: All forecasts and conditions are estimates only. Ocean conditions can change rapidly and unexpectedly. Always verify conditions personally and check official sources before any water activity. Not for navigation. User assumes all risk. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.shoreresolutions.com/app-development/tidechart/privacy-policy-for-shore-tide-chart/

Screenshots

Ocean Watch4 screens
Shore TideChart4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ocean Watch at none against Shore TideChart's 2. Ocean Watch also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (2.7K vs 15). Shore TideChart's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 8 months) and review sentiment (92% vs 74%). On price, rating 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. Shore TideChart sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Ocean Watch asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Ocean Watch against 4.7 for Shore TideChart. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ocean Watch has 2.7K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 74% of Ocean Watch's written reviews are positive against 92% of Shore TideChart's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ocean Watch ships an update every 8 months, Shore TideChart every 9 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Ocean Watch versus Shore TideChart: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOcean WatchShore TideChart
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.7K ratings) — better4.7 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews73.6% of reviews91.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.7K — better15
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS26.012.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size281 MB221 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBlue Bright Labs LLCMatthew Petrosky

Customer experience

Ocean Watch

All ratings2,483 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral2.4%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews106 reviews
Positive73.6%
Neutral12.3%
Negative14.2%

Shore TideChart

All ratings13 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive91.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.3%

Bugs and requests

Ocean Watch

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes when trying to open tide station details
  • Tide data sometimes stuck on wrong location
  • Apple Watch app not syncing or updating correctly
  • Issues with the app's widget not displaying accurate information

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add water temperature and wind speed data
  • Improve Apple Watch complication to show more detailed tide information
  • Expand coverage to more locations, especially in Canada and other countries
  • Add ability to set tide alerts or notifications
  • Improve stability and reliability to reduce crashes

Shore TideChart

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Ocean Watch

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Shore TideChart

Subscriptions2
  • Premium - Marine & Hourly Data$1.991 Month
  • Annual Premium - Detailed Data$9.991 Year

Questions

Is Ocean Watch free?
Ocean Watch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shore TideChart free?
Shore TideChart is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ocean Watch or Shore TideChart?
Ocean Watch is rated higher. Ocean Watch averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.7K ratings, while Shore TideChart averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.
Do Ocean Watch or Shore TideChart have ads?
Shore TideChart shows ads; Ocean Watch does not.
Which is updated more often, Ocean Watch or Shore TideChart?
Ocean Watch ships an update every 8 months, and Shore TideChart every 9 days. Most recently, Ocean Watch was updated on October 24, 2026 and Shore TideChart on October 24, 2026.

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