# Windy.app vs Tidecast

The clearest difference is price: Windy.app at Free against Tidecast's $3.99. Windy.app also leads on ratings volume (73K vs 5) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Tidecast's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Windy.app is free to download; Tidecast costs $3.99 up front. Windy.app sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Tidecast asks for nothing beyond the download.

Tidecast holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Windy.app has 73K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Windy.app ships an update weekly, Tidecast every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Windy.app | Tidecast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | [4.7 (73K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/windyapp-wind-tides-radar/id997079492/reviews) | **[5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tidecast/id6767254590/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **73K** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 64.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | — |
| Size | 383 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Windy Weather World Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1375325329) | [My Dog Hates Technology LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1059454625) |

## What reviewers say

### Windy.app

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

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Grossing · Weather, #14 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


### Tidecast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tidecast/id6767254590)

Easily check tide times, water levels, and weather forecasts for coastal activities. Plan beach walks, tidepooling, or photography with tide charts and custom alerts. Access information offline and customize your view with light/dark modes and seasonal colors.

**Highlights:** Tide charts with sunrise, sunset, and moon phases, Integrated weather forecasts on tide charts, Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets, Customizable tide level alerts, Tidepooling mode with daylight and duration options, Wind, wave, and water temperature data, Offline tide and condition information

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Windy.app free?

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

### Is Tidecast free?

Tidecast costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

Tidecast is rated higher. Windy.app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 73K ratings, while Tidecast averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.

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

Neither Windy.app nor Tidecast shows ads.

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

Windy.app ships an update weekly, and Tidecast every 3 weeks. Most recently, Windy.app was updated on November 10, 2026 and Tidecast on October 31, 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.*