HopeWaves vs North Forecasting
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HopeWaves
Access real-time HD beach webcam snapshots and 16-day wave forecasts for Rhode Island. Get tide information and live buoy data to track current swell conditions. Widgets are available for home and lock screens.
- HD beach webcam snapshots
- 16-day wave forecasting
- Tide information
- Live NOAA buoy data
- Home and lock screen widgets
- Apple Watch widgets
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HopeWaves is the best way to check the waves on the go in Rhode Island. It displays the latest HD snapshots from beach webcams all over Rhode Island, keeping you in the loop with the current conditions. It also features a custom 16 day forecast derived from GFS and ECMWF Wave models, tide information and forecasts, and live buoy data straight from NOAA buoys. All of the tools you need to track down the current swell in one easy to use app. Try out the Tide and Buoy Widgets to get the latest data on your home or lock screen or apple watch!
North Forecasting
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North Forecasting is built for surfers who deal with the reality of the North Sea. Fast-changing conditions, strong winds, and narrow windows mean timing matters. The app gives you a clear 5-day forecast with swell percentages, wind, and weather data, plus wave and wind overlay maps that make it easier to see what’s actually happening out there. For the spots that its available we also included webcams! North Forecasting is uniquely made for the North Sea Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: North Forecasting at every 3 weeks against HopeWaves's every 2 months. HopeWaves's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. HopeWaves sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and North Forecasting sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
HopeWaves ships an update every 2 months, North Forecasting every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HopeWaves | North Forecasting |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (189 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 189 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 51 MB | 83 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Matthew Iannucci | Remi Audrey D Vanderhaeghen |
In-app purchases
HopeWaves
- Small Tip$1.99
- Medium Tip$4.99
- Large Tip$9.99
North Forecasting
- NORTH PRO monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
- NORTH PRO yearly3 Days trial$17.991 Year
Questions
Is HopeWaves free?
Is North Forecasting free?
Do HopeWaves or North Forecasting have ads?
Which is updated more often, HopeWaves or North Forecasting?
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