BeachFinderBeachFinder, the Surf-forecast.com alternative for the beach and swimming
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BeachFinder vs Surf-forecast.com
| Criterion | BeachFinder reco | Surf-forecast.com |
|---|---|---|
| What the app is for | ✓Choosing the right spot today (all activities) | Forecasting surf spot by spot |
| Surf forecast & star ratings | Basic swell (height, period, direction) | Yes, star ratings and swell/wind/tide tables |
| Per-spot sea temperature | ✓Yes, today's value, spot by spot | Partial, surf-focused |
| Directory of rated spots | ✓985,317 category records across separate activity datasets | Surf breaks only |
| Water quality & UV | ✓Swim signals and UV index | No |
| Activities covered | ✓Beach, surf, snorkeling, diving, van, whitewater, lakes | Surf only |
| Photos, parking & access | ✓Real photos, parking, access, drive time | Forecast tables, little on-the-ground info |
| Apple Watch & widgets | ✓Watch app + site & Windows widget | Website + widget |
| Price | Free (optional advanced features) | Free |
Methodology
This comparison is built from each app's publicly documented features (App Store and Google Play listings, publishers' official websites) and from BeachFinder's own data (184,900 unique beaches, lakes and swim spots after app-level geographic deduplication). Every competitor keeps the advantage in its area of specialty — the rows without a green check are the ones it wins. No usage statistics and no precise pricing are claimed about competitors. Other apps' features may change after this date.
What Surf-forecast.com does really well
- Free surf forecasts for thousands of breaks all around the world.
- A simple star-rating system and easy-to-read multi-day swell, wind and tide tables.
- Broad, subscription-free coverage that's well known and liked by the surf community.
Why switch from Surf-forecast to BeachFinder
Surf-forecast answers "is the swell good for surfing here?". BeachFinder answers "where do I go today, whatever the activity?". Surf-forecast's tables are great for reading the swell, but you're then left guessing whether a beach is worth the drive for a swim, snorkeling or a day out. BeachFinder does that work: it ranks nearby spots by water temperature, swim quality, UV, wind and access, with real photos, parking and drive time.
Can you use both?
Yes, and both are free. Keep Surf-forecast to quickly scan a break's swell and star rating before a surf session. Open BeachFinder to choose where to go — checking water temperature, UV, water quality, parking and access — for the beach, snorkeling, diving or a swim. To be fair: on swell tables and surf ratings, Surf-forecast goes deeper; BeachFinder covers everything else about your day at the water.
Frequently asked questions
Is BeachFinder free like Surf-forecast.com?
Yes, both are free. BeachFinder is free to download on iOS and Android, with optional advanced features, while Surf-forecast.com is a free surf-forecast service.
Does BeachFinder give surf forecasts like Surf-forecast?
It gives basic swell: height, period and direction per spot. Surf-forecast goes deeper on star-rated surf conditions and detailed swell/wind/tide tables. In return, BeachFinder adds sea temperature, UV, water quality and 985,317 category records across separate activity datasets that Surf-forecast doesn't have.
Does Surf-forecast.com have sea temperature and water quality per beach?
Not fully: Surf-forecast focuses on surf conditions (swell, wind, tide) spot by spot, without real photos, access info or swim-quality signals. BeachFinder covers all of that, for far more than surfing.
Which app to choose where to go at the water today?
BeachFinder: it ranks nearby spots by sea temperature, UV, water quality, wind and access, with photos, parking and reviews, for the beach, snorkeling, diving or a swim. Surf-forecast is built to read the swell, not to plan a broader day at the water.
Try BeachFinder — it's free
One app for every water outing, with community observations where available.
Independent comparison. Brand names belong to their respective owners and are cited for informational purposes (nominative use). Information accurate as of the update date; other apps' features may change.