The best tide app shows accurate tide times for your exact spot, a clear rising and falling chart and, if you're on the water, currents and wind as well. Choose by what you do: walking the beach, fishing, surfing, paddling or boating. Nine apps follow in no particular order.
Tides decide a lot by the coast: whether you can walk round the headland, when the fish are biting, when the surf is best and whether the slipway is usable. Getting caught by a rising tide is one of the most common reasons people need rescuing at the beach.
The nine apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from simple tide tables and clocks to marine charts and wind forecasts for water sports. Each description comes from the app's own App Store listing, re-checked this week. For more practical app guides like this, browse my blog or my research and free tools.
Tide apps compared
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own listing describes free use or a free download, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated on the pages we read. Many tide apps keep longer forecasts or extra stations in a premium plan.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Tide Times | Tide tables | Clear tide tables worldwide | Yes |
| Navionics Boating | Marine charts | Boating with charts | Yes |
| Tide Alert | NOAA tide charts | US NOAA stations | Yes |
| Tide Charts | Tide and weather | Tides with weather | Yes |
| Tide Clock | Tide clock | A glanceable tide clock | Yes |
| Tide Guide | Tide guide | Alerts for set tide times | Yes |
| Tides Near Me | Tides and currents | Tidal flow as well as height | Yes |
| Windfinder | Wind and tides | Wind sports | Yes |
| Windy.app | Wind and tides | Fishing and sailing forecasts | Yes |
Nine tide apps
My Tide Times
Best for: Beach walkers and anglers who want clear tide tables and charts for spots around the world.
Navionics Boating
Best for: Boaters who want nautical and fishing charts with tide and current details for planning a day on the water.
Tide Alert
Best for: US anglers and surfers who want tide charts based on NOAA stations near them.
Tide Charts
Best for: Day trippers who want tides, weather and radar on one screen before heading out.
Tide Clock
Best for: People who want a simple clock face showing whether the tide's rising or falling.
Tide Guide
Best for: Planners who want alerts before a chosen tide time, with weather details shown alongside the tide chart.
Tides Near Me
Best for: Kayakers and paddlers who want current information as well as tide heights near them.
Windfinder
Best for: Sailors, windsurfers and kitesurfers who want wind forecasts with tides and waves for their local spot.
Windy.app
Best for: Anglers and sailors who want detailed wind, tide and radar forecasts for their spot.
Tide height isn't the whole story
Tide times tell you when the water is high or low, but not how fast it's moving. NOAA says that in the open ocean tidal currents are relatively weak, but near estuary entrances, narrow straits and inlets the speed of tidal currents can reach up to several kilometers per hour.
What that means for you: if you paddle, swim or fish near an inlet or river mouth, check currents as well as tide times. Choose an app that shows currents, and plan to go with the flow rather than against it.
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Tide tables, charts or wind forecasts?
Tide table apps give you clear high and low times for nearby stations, which is all most beach walkers need. Chart and current apps add the rise and fall through the day and how fast water moves, which matters for paddlers and swimmers. Wind and marine apps combine tides with wind, waves and weather for sailors, surfers and anglers.
Pick the simplest app that answers your question. Walkers rarely need marine charts, but boaters shouldn't rely on a tide clock alone. It's also worth knowing which station your app uses. Tide times can differ by a surprising amount between two beaches a few miles apart, so pick the station nearest your spot and, if you're heading somewhere new, compare two apps before you go. If they disagree, plan around the more cautious time.
Planning a trip around the tide
- Find the station closest to where you're going.
- Check high and low times for your whole visit.
- Look at the chart to see how fast the tide is turning.
- Check currents if you're near an inlet or river mouth.
- Add wind and weather, which can change conditions.
- Tell someone your plan and expected return time.
Mistakes that catch people out
- Using a station miles away. Times can differ along the coast.
- Forgetting the walk back. Allow time to return before the tide turns.
- Ignoring onshore wind. It can push water higher than predicted.
- Relying on a dead phone. Charge it or take a printed table.
Tides for fishing and photography
Anglers often find fish feeding as the tide turns, when moving water stirs up food. Photographers love low tide for reflections and rock pools, and the golden hour is even better when it lines up with a falling tide. A tide app with charts lets you plan both around the best light and the best water.
Do you make a tide app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a tide app
For beach walks and rock pooling, a simple tide table app is perfect: check it before you leave and keep an eye on the time. If you fish, surf or paddle, choose an app that adds charts, currents and wind, because those details matter more than the high tide time.
Most importantly, use the app before you go, not when the water's already around your ankles. Tides are predictable, but people get caught out because they didn't look, and weather can push water higher than the tables show.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app for tide times?
A simple tide table app for beach trips, or an app with currents and wind for fishing, surfing and boating.
Are tide apps free?
All nine here are free to download, with longer forecasts or extra stations in some premium plans.
How accurate are tide apps?
They're based on predictions for nearby stations. Weather and wind can change actual water levels, so allow a margin.
Do I need to check currents as well as tides?
Yes, near inlets and river mouths. NOAA says tidal currents there can reach several kilometers per hour.
Can tide apps work offline?
Some let you save tide tables for offline use. Check before you lose signal.
Which tide app is best for kayaking?
Choose one that shows currents as well as tide times, especially near inlets, estuaries and narrow straits.
