Comparison

Tide Charts vs AlphaCast

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

Head to head
About

Tide Charts

Access worldwide tidal estimates, lunar data, and weather forecasts. Plan outdoor adventures with ease using current radar and offline predictions. Supports Apple Watch and includes a Today Extension for quick access.

Highlights
  • Worldwide tidal estimates
  • Lunar data
  • Weather forecast
  • Current radar
  • Offline predictions
  • Favorite station management
  • Apple Watch support
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Finally a beautiful and simple way to view tides on your mobile device! In addition to worldwide tidal estimates at tide stations, you can see the lunar data, weather forecast, and current radar making your next outdoor adventure as easy to plan as possible. By default, the application will pick the closest tide station to you, but picking a different tide or weather station is as easy as viewing a map of your current location. You can also setup and quickly switch between many stored favorite stations if you need to. No internet access while outdoors? No problem. This app has been designed to give you tidal and lunar predictions without internet access! Tides at a glance • A clear chart of the whole day, with the current height marked and daylight hours shaded (lunar rise and set is the small gray bar on the bottom) • The times and heights of every high and low tide • Swipe left or right to move through the days, or pick a date on the calendar • Swipe down to see sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset and the phase of the moon • Subscribe for tide alerts that notify you before a chosen high or low tide • Home Screen widgets with today's tides and the next tide Worldwide Tidal Stations • Nearly 8,000 stations, from the coasts of the United States and Canada to Europe, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, South America and the Pacific islands • Find the nearest station with one tap, search by name, or browse the map, with satellite imagery when you want it • Keep your favorites one tap away Adjustable Height to Match Your Local Tide Table • Heights use the datum your local charts and tables use: MLLW in the United States, chart datum in Canada, Japan and Korea, LAT in Europe and Australia, MLWS in Peru and Ecuador (or you can choose your own from Mean Sea Level, MLLW, MLW, MLWS or LAT) Weather and Radar • Weather forecast is included for the station's location, with wind, temp, precipitation, and the day's high and low • Animated rain radar with a scrubber, so you can see what is coming Apple Watch • A full-screen tide chart on Apple Watch: turn the Digital Crown to step through highs, lows, sunrise, sunset and moon times, or drag to scrub through the next 30 days • Complications for every watch face, from a tide gauge to a chart of the next 24 hours, in the color you choose • Your favorite and nearby stations, with the current height and the next tide Tides is free with ads, however we do offer a one-time purchase to remove them if you would rather a clean distraction free experience.

About

AlphaCast

This outdoor companion provides accurate local weather forecasts, moon phases, and tide information for hikers, anglers, and campers. Plan your adventures confidently with offline forecast downloads and smart alerts for changing conditions.

Highlights
  • Accurate local weather forecasts
  • Offline forecast downloads
  • Moon phases and illumination data
  • Tide information
  • Smart weather alerts
  • Clutter-free interface
Features
Read full description

More than a weather app, this is your all-in-one outdoor companion. Whether you’re hiking mountain trails, fishing by the coast, or camping under the stars, it gives you the information you need to plan confidently and stay safe. Get accurate local forecasts that keep you prepared for changing skies. Download forecasts before your trip and use them offline when you’re beyond cell coverage. With moon phases and illumination data, you’ll know when trails will be lit by moonlight. Tide information helps anglers and coastal adventurers make the most of every outing. Designed with simplicity in mind, it delivers only the essentials. The clean, clutter-free interface puts weather, moon, and tide data front and center—no distractions, no confusion. Smart alerts notify you of sudden changes so you can adapt quickly and make safe decisions. From sunrise to storm, moonrise to tide shift, this tool keeps you one step ahead of nature. Built for hikers, anglers, and campers who want a straightforward app that just works, it turns preparation into peace of mind. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Tide Charts4 screens
AlphaCast4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: AlphaCast at none against Tide Charts's shown. AlphaCast also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 69%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). Tide Charts's advantage is ratings volume (115K vs 11) and chart position (#34 vs unranked). On price, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Tide Charts sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and AlphaCast sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AlphaCast holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tide Charts has 115K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Tide Charts's written reviews are positive against 100% of AlphaCast's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tide Charts ships an update every 3 weeks, AlphaCast every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Tide Charts versus AlphaCast: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTide ChartsAlphaCast
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (115K ratings)5.0 (11 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings115K — better11
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#34 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer7th GearSTIX FISHING GEAR LLC

Customer experience

Tide Charts

All ratings113,466 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral2.3%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews531 reviews
Positive68.9%
Neutral7.0%
Negative24.1%

AlphaCast

All ratings11 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Tide Charts

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Tide data off by several hours
  • Tide graph not displaying correctly
  • App crashing on ad dismissal
  • Apple Watch complications freezing

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to set custom locations
  • Improved accuracy and data sources
  • Option to purchase ad-free version
  • Landscape mode support
  • More detailed tide height information

AlphaCast

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Tide Charts

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99
1 purchases

AlphaCast

Subscriptions1
  • Alphacast Pro Monthly7 Days trial$0.991 Month

Questions

Is Tide Charts free?
Tide Charts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AlphaCast free?
AlphaCast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Tide Charts or AlphaCast?
AlphaCast is rated higher. Tide Charts averages 4.8 out of 5 from 115K ratings, while AlphaCast averages 5.0 from 11 ratings.
Do Tide Charts or AlphaCast have ads?
Tide Charts shows ads; AlphaCast does not.
Which is updated more often, Tide Charts or AlphaCast?
Tide Charts ships an update every 3 weeks, and AlphaCast every 8 days. Most recently, Tide Charts was updated on November 9, 2026 and AlphaCast on October 30, 2026.

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