Apps For Surfers: The Complete List [2023 Update]

If you’re a bit of a surf nerd you’re going to love this mega-list of all the best surfing apps on the planet.

You’ll find apps across all different categories, from surf forecasting, technique, games, and everything in between.

Use the links below to jump to the right sections.

SURF FIT: BREATH

SURF TRAINING | Free to download

The Surf Fit app has been co-developed by big wave charger Andrew Cotton to help improve CO2 tolerance underwater.

Now why is this important?

Well, you might not know this but it’s actually CO2 and not lack of Oxygen that causes the onset of diaphragm contractions triggering the need to breath.

Increase your CO2 tolerance, and you’ll be able to hold your breath for longer, simples.

And this app takes the practice of CO2 tables popularised by free divers, and give it to us surfers to get us prepared for gnarly situations.

• Simply and easy to use.
• Track your progress.
• Nice UX

Surf Fit: Breath App

MY VERDICT FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH…

I’ve been getting really into CO2 tables lately, and it’s nice to have an app built by a surfer, for surfers teaching this stuff.

It’s simple to use, and tracks all your progress. 

Nothing flashy, but does the job.

DAWN PATROL – WATCH APP

SURF TRAINING | Free to download

Premium Price from $18p/m

Dawn Patrol syncs up to your smart watch to track your surfs.

It’ll breakdown all sorts of statistics from how far you paddle, calories burned, waves caught, speed surfed and so much more.

If you’re a surf nerd and you love tracking everything you do then you’ll love this.

There’s even the opportunity to track your performance on different boards in your quiver to compare results.

• Synchronises with your smart watch.
• Tracks multiple different metrics from your surf.
• Syncs in with Apple/Google health on your phone.

Dawn Patrol: Watch App

MY VERDICT FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH…

I’m not much a fan of the whole smart watch thing and don’t have a lot of use for something like this. I’m too much of a luddite.

However, I can see the appeal. 

SURFING GAME APPS

Watch out, as some of these surfing games can be super addictive (guilty).

A long time has passed since the very first surfing games like Kelly Slater Pro Surfer back in the early 2000’s, and now, we have full-on surf games in the palm of your hand.

TRUE SURF

SURF GAMES | Free to download

In app purchases from $1.99

This game is epic.

From monster airs, to back-dooring enormous tubes in 25ft surf, this game has it all.

And you know what, even though getting tubed on this game feels nothing like the real thing, it’s still strangely satisfying.

Built by the team at Surfline, this game is a must for surfers on flat days.

• Surf real destinations from all around the world.
• Bring on storm conditions with power ups.
• Compete agains other people around the world and test your skills.

True Surf App

MY VERDICT FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH…

Even though I love this game, I’m terrible at it.

I think my best ever score is like a 6.5 or something distinctly average like that.

Nevertheless, once I start I get hooked and can’t put the thing down.

Certainly not a bad time filler when the time calls.

SURF TECHNIQUE APPS

Just like other popular sports out there, surfers are now seeing the benefits of professional surf coaching.

And with the internet at our disposal, the the worlds best coaches are now available to all, wherever you are in the world.

This has seen the proliferation of surf tuition apps, helping surfers learn how to surf, refine their techniques and improve.

JAMIE O’BRIEN: SURF TRAINING

SURF TRAINING | Free to download

Pro version: $9.99p/m or $99.99p/y

Popular YouTuber and Pipeline charger Jamie O’Brien has now released his own surf tuition app.

The app gives you access to a few free tutorials, and with upgrades you’ll have access to it all.

From what I can tell the app is certainly catering towards advanced surfers more than anything, so bare that one in mind.

• Lots of tutorials to choose from with premium account.
• Advice from a true expert.
• Q&A opportunities with Jamie himself.

Jamie O’Brien Surf Training App

MY VERDICT FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH…

I’ve liked Jamie since the early days way back before YouTube was even a thing, but I’m not a mega fan of this app. 

It feels a little shouty to me, and the app is incredibly slow to load and not very easy to navigate.

Just my two cents, so make of that what you will, but you can go and check it out for yourself via the links below.

SURF ATHLETE: SURF TRAINING

SURF TRAINING | Free to download

In app purchases from $18.99-$159.99

This app is all about building up fitness levels specifically for surfing.

It consists of lots of surfing workouts to help build up strength and endurance in the water.

• Surf specific workouts.
• Stretching routines.
• Multiple lessons for different abilities.

Surf Athlete App

MY VERDICT FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH…

I can’t say that I’ve used this app personally so can’t recommend either way.

For city surfers not close to the beach though I bet this could be a neat thing to try, the upgrades aren’t cheap though so bare that one in mind.

SURF ENTERTAINMENT APPS

To be honest, most if not all surf entertainment comes via social media like Instagram and Facebook nowadays, with very few independent media platforms out there.

There are however still a couple of little guys that haven’t been completely shut down by the big conglomerate media companies.

NOBODY SURF

SURF ENTERTAINMENT | Free to download

Pro version: $3.99p/m or $26.99p/y

The Nobody Surf app is a place where you can go to watch surf videos ad free, and check out some in depth surf guides, and pro surfer bio’s

• Over 10k surf videos
• Different categories for long boarding, short boarding and alt boards.
• Detailed backgrounds on pro surfers.

Jamie O’Brien Surf Training App

MY VERDICT FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH…

I’m all for the little guy, but it’s so hard nowadays when everything is uploaded to YouTube where we sell our time, concentration, and data in exchange for free entertainment.

I hope independent companies like Nobody Surf can maintain profitability to keep this type of thing going, but the outlook isn’t great.

WRAPPING IT UP

Well there you have it, all the best surf apps on the market right now.

I’ve done my best to make the most conclusive list of surf related apps I could but maybe there’s something I missed?

If so, chuck your favourites in the comments below and I’ll add them to the post.

Yew!Rowan

ROWAN CLIFFORD

Rowan is the technical nerd behind the scenes. A lover of everything entrepreneurial, and living a minimal, simple life. Surf, Travel, Create.