# Tide Charts vs Surf Agent

The clearest difference is ads: Surf Agent at none against Tide Charts's shown. Surf Agent also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.8) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Tide Charts's advantage is ratings volume (114K vs 3) and chart position (#26 vs unranked). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tide Charts sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Surf Agent sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Surf Agent holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tide Charts has 114K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Tide Charts ships an update every 3 weeks, Surf Agent weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tide Charts | Surf Agent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (114K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tide-charts/id957143504/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-agent/id6787843027/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **114K** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 68.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#26** | — |
| Size | 104 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [7th Gear](https://appshunter.io/developer/321178305) | [Derek Wrobel](https://appshunter.io/developer/6787843029) |

## What reviewers say

### Tide Charts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tide-charts/id957143504)

**Currently charting:** #26 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Clear tide information
- 👍 Useful for planning activities
- 💡 Comprehensive data including weather and moon phases
- 🤖 Accurate and reliable
- 🌟 Great app for Apple Watch

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate tide data in some locations
- 🙈 Intrusive and unskippable ads
- 🤯 Ads crashing the app
- 🤔 Confusing UI and navigation
- 🤖 Unreliable Apple Watch complications

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Surf Agent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-agent/id6787843027)

Get AI-powered surf forecasts with honest ratings and personalized board recommendations. This app analyzes real-time data to tell you the best spots and which of your boards to use for optimal conditions.

**Highlights:** AI-powered surf forecasts, Data-driven spot ratings, Personalized board recommendations, 7-day forecast planning, Cross-references NOAA buoys and NWS wind, Detailed surf condition analysis

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Surf Agent | $2.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tide Charts free?

Tide Charts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Surf Agent free?

Surf Agent is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Tide Charts or Surf Agent?

Surf Agent is rated higher. Tide Charts averages 4.8 out of 5 from 114K ratings, while Surf Agent averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Tide Charts or Surf Agent have ads?

Tide Charts shows ads; Surf Agent does not.

### Which is updated more often, Tide Charts or Surf Agent?

Tide Charts ships an update every 3 weeks, and Surf Agent weekly. Most recently, Tide Charts was updated on October 27, 2026 and Surf Agent on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*