# Windy.app vs Surf

The clearest difference is ads: Windy.app at none against Surf's shown. Windy.app also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (73K vs 1K). Surf's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 65%). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Windy.app sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Surf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Surf holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Windy.app has 73K ratings behind it against 1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Windy.app's written reviews are positive against 86% of Surf's.

Windy.app ships an update weekly, Surf every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Windy.app | Surf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (73K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/windyapp-wind-tides-radar/id997079492/reviews) | **[4.9 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecastcom/id6450721636/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **73K** | 1K |
| Positive reviews | 64.8% of reviews | **86.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | #67 |
| Size | 382 MB | 138 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Windy Weather World Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1375325329) | [Meteo365 Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/661723505) |

## What reviewers say

### Windy.app

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/windyapp-wind-tides-radar/id997079492)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Grossing · Weather, #10 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

This app provides detailed wind, wave, and weather forecasts for various outdoor activities. It offers historical data, real-time alerts, and a community feature for sharing conditions. Ideal for surfers, sailors, and other wind sports enthusiasts.

**Highlights:** Wind report, forecast, and statistics, Wind alert and storm warnings, Weather history (2012-2024), Local NOAA forecast with 10-day prediction, Wave forecast for ocean and sea, Animated wind tracker and radar, Offline mode for forecast access

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| WINDY PRO access for 1 month | $9.99 | per month |
| WINDY PRO account - 1 month | $19.99 | per month |
| WINDY PRO account | $39.99 | per year |
| WINDY PRO account | $39.99 | per year |
| Windy.app Fishing Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| WINDY PRO account | $59.99 | per year |
| WINDY PRO access | $59.99 | per year |
| WINDY PRO account | $99.99 | per year |
| WINDY PRO account | $164.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌊 Accurate wind and weather forecasts
- 🔍 Ability to compare multiple weather models
- 🗺️ Detailed and customizable map views
- 🛥️ Useful for sailing, fishing, and other water sports
- 🔧 Responsive and helpful support team

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription fees
- 🤔 Confusing user interface for casual users
- 🔒 Difficulty cancelling subscriptions
- 🔄 Inconsistent data accuracy across locations
- 📢 Excessive notifications and upsell prompts

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after recent updates
- Saved locations and settings not syncing properly
- Incorrect weather data displayed in some areas

**Requested features**

- Add radar and precipitation overlays
- Improve tide and current data accuracy
- Introduce more affordable subscription options
- Provide better support for Apple Watch integration
- Allow more customization of the user interface


### Surf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/surf-forecastcom/id6450721636)

**Currently charting:** #67 Top Grossing · Weather, #134 Top Free · Weather (US App Store)

Get simple, accurate surf forecasts for over 7,000 breaks worldwide. Plan your sessions with detailed wave information, tide times, and mapping to find the best conditions and nearby spots. Access extended forecasts and custom alerts with premium features.

**Highlights:** Detailed surf forecasts, Wavefinder map, Live webcam links, Tide times, 12-day forecasts, Custom surf alerts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Service: Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Premium Service (Yearly) | $34.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌊 Accurate surf forecasts
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 🗺️ Comprehensive coverage of locations
- 🔍 Detailed information (swell, wind, tides, etc.)
- 💰 Good value for subscription

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔄 Inconsistent data updates
- 🌊 Wave height/conditions not always accurate
- 🏞️ Missing data for some locations (e.g. Great Lakes)
- 🤔 Confusing or misleading surf ratings/forecasts

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes or freezes on some devices
- Geolocation issues with break markers

**Requested features**

- Ability to manually refresh data
- More detailed tidal/current information
- Expanded location coverage
- Improved accuracy for wave height/conditions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Windy.app free?

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

### Is Surf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Windy.app or Surf?

Surf is rated higher. Windy.app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 73K ratings, while Surf averages 4.9 from 1K ratings.

### Do Windy.app or Surf have ads?

Surf shows ads; Windy.app does not.

### Which is updated more often, Windy.app or Surf?

Windy.app ships an update weekly, and Surf every 6 weeks. Most recently, Windy.app was updated on November 7, 2026 and Surf on November 3, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Windy.app or Surf?

Windy.app currently peaks at #7 in the App Store charts, and Surf at #67. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*