---
title: "Surf forecast sites: Which are most popular?"
description: "Compare the swell and wind forecasts surfers check before they paddle out. Share of Search among Windguru, Surfline, Windy, Swellnet, Swellmap, Surf Captain and Surf-Forecast.com, the surf forecast sites Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/surf-forecast-sites"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Surf forecast sites: Which are most popular?

Compare the swell and wind forecasts surfers check before they paddle out. Share of Search among Windguru, Surfline, Windy, Swellnet, Swellmap, Surf Captain and Surf-Forecast.com, the surf forecast sites Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: Surf forecast sites
- **Market**: Global
- **Brands compared**: 7
- **Month measured**: Oct 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: Windguru, 55.8%

## Which brand is most popular in search among surf forecast sites worldwide?

- In October 2026, Windguru was the most searched among surf forecast sites worldwide, with an estimated 552K branded searches, 55.8% of all searches for the seven tracked by the Brandwave Brand Demand Index.
- Surfline is in 2nd place, 30.7 percentage points behind at 25%.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Windguru’s share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide increased from 46.5% to 55.8%.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Surfline’s share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide increased from 20.9% to 25%.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Windy’s share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide decreased from 25.4% to 11.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Windguru’s share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide peaked at 60.5% in August 2026 and was lowest at 46.5% in November 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Surfline’s share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide peaked at 26.1% in September 2026 and was lowest at 20.9% in November 2025.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Windy’s share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide peaked at 25.4% in November 2025 and was lowest at 7.6% in March 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Swellnet’s share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide peaked at 6.2% in March 2026 and was lowest at 3% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Swellmap’s share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide peaked at 3.6% in January 2026 and was lowest at 1.1% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Surfline rose from 3rd to 2nd among surf forecast sites worldwide.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Windy fell from 2nd to 3rd among surf forecast sites worldwide.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Swellnet, Swellmap, Surf Captain and Surf-Forecast.com held steady: their share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide each moved less than 0.5 percentage points.

## Top surf forecast sites in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In Brandwave's three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Surfline, Windy and Surf-Forecast.com were mentioned most often, in four of the five answers. Surfline was recommended most often, coming first in all four answers that gave a list. Windy was second, and Surf-Forecast.com was third. Swellnet, which ranked fourth in searches, was not mentioned at all.

Brands get a higher AI rank if they are mentioned earlier in the answers that list options.

| Brand | AI rank | ChatGPT answers that named it | Google AI Overviews that named it | All answers that named it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Surfline | 1st | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 |
| Windy | 2nd | 3 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 |
| Surf-Forecast.com | 3rd | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 5 |
| Windguru | 4th | 3 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 5 |
| Swellnet | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| Swellmap | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |
| Surf Captain | Not ranked | 0 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 5 |

## Every AI answer about surf forecast sites

- Asked ChatGPT "What's the best surf forecast site?": 1. Surfline, 2. Windy, 3. Windguru, 4. Surf-Forecast.com
- Asked ChatGPT "Which surf forecast is most accurate?": 1. Surfline, 2. Surf-Forecast.com, 3. Windy, 4. Windguru
- Asked ChatGPT "What app do surfers use to check the waves?": 1. Surfline, 2. Windy, 3. Windguru
- Searched Google, AI Overview "surf forecast": 1. Surf-Forecast.com
- Searched Google, AI Overview "surf forecast app": 1. Surfline, 2. Surf-Forecast.com, 3. Windy

Not named in any answer: Swellnet, Swellmap and Surf Captain.

Brands are listed in the order each answer named them. The answers were collected in the United States on October 27, 2026.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [Windguru vs Surfline: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/surfline-vs-windguru): 55.8% against 25% Share of Search.
- [Windguru vs Windy: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/windguru-vs-windy): 55.8% against 11.1% Share of Search.
- [Windguru vs Swellnet: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/swellnet-vs-windguru): 55.8% against 4.1% Share of Search.
- [Windguru vs Swellmap: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/swellmap-vs-windguru): 55.8% against 2.7% Share of Search.
- [Surfline vs Windy: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/surfline-vs-windy): 25% against 11.1% Share of Search.
- [Surfline vs Swellnet: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/surfline-vs-swellnet): 25% against 4.1% Share of Search.
- [Surfline vs Swellmap: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/surfline-vs-swellmap): 25% against 2.7% Share of Search.
- [Windy vs Swellnet: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/swellnet-vs-windy): 11.1% against 4.1% Share of Search.
- [Windy vs Swellmap: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/swellmap-vs-windy): 11.1% against 2.7% Share of Search.
- [Swellnet vs Swellmap: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/swellmap-vs-swellnet): 4.1% against 2.7% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for surf forecast sites worldwide in October 2026?

- In October 2026, Windy gained share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide, from 9.5% to 11.1%.
- In October 2026, Swellmap gained share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide, from 1.6% to 2.7%.
- In October 2026, Swellnet gained share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide, from 3.5% to 4.1%.
- In October 2026, Windguru lost share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide, from 58.1% to 55.8%.
- In October 2026, Surfline lost share of searches among surf forecast sites worldwide, from 26.1% to 25%.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Surf Captain worldwide rose 50% over 12 measured months, from 6.6K to 9.9K in October 2026.
- Estimated monthly branded searches for Surf-Forecast.com worldwide fell 17.2% over 12 measured months, from 2.9K to 2.4K in October 2026.

## Which surf forecast sites do people search for most?

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Windguru | 55.8% | 552K | -18.2% | Windguru |
| 2 | Surfline | 25% | 248K | -18.2% | Surfline |
| 3 | Windy | 11.1% | 110K | 0.0% | Windy |
| 4 | Swellnet | 4.1% | 40.5K | 0.0% | Swellnet |
| 5 | Swellmap | 2.7% | 27.1K | +49.7% | Swellmap |
| 6 | Surf Captain | 1% | 9.9K | -18.2% | Surf Captain |
| 7 | Surf-Forecast.com | 0.24% | 2.4K | 0.0% | Surf-Forecast.com |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Nov 2025 | Windguru | 552K | 46.5% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | Windy | 301K | 25.4% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | Surfline | 248K | 20.9% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | Swellnet | 49.5K | 4.2% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | Swellmap | 27.1K | 2.3% | 5 |
| Nov 2025 | Surf Captain | 6.6K | 0.56% | 6 |
| Nov 2025 | Surf-Forecast.com | 2.9K | 0.24% | 7 |
| Dec 2025 | Windguru | 552K | 54.4% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | Surfline | 247K | 24.4% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | Windy | 110K | 10.8% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | Swellnet | 60.5K | 6% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | Swellmap | 33.1K | 3.3% | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | Surf Captain | 6.6K | 0.65% | 6 |
| Dec 2025 | Surf-Forecast.com | 5.4K | 0.53% | 7 |
| Jan 2026 | Windguru | 675K | 60% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | Surfline | 247K | 22% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | Windy | 90.5K | 8% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | Swellnet | 60.5K | 5.4% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | Swellmap | 40.5K | 3.6% | 5 |
| Jan 2026 | Surf Captain | 6.6K | 0.59% | 6 |
| Jan 2026 | Surf-Forecast.com | 5.4K | 0.48% | 7 |
| Feb 2026 | Windguru | 552K | 60.4% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | Surfline | 202K | 22.2% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | Windy | 74K | 8.1% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | Swellnet | 49.5K | 5.4% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | Swellmap | 27.1K | 3% | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | Surf Captain | 5.4K | 0.59% | 6 |
| Feb 2026 | Surf-Forecast.com | 2.9K | 0.32% | 7 |
| Mar 2026 | Windguru | 552K | 56.9% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | Surfline | 248K | 25.5% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | Windy | 74K | 7.6% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | Swellnet | 60.6K | 6.2% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | Swellmap | 27.1K | 2.8% | 5 |
| Mar 2026 | Surf Captain | 6.6K | 0.68% | 6 |
| Mar 2026 | Surf-Forecast.com | 2.9K | 0.3% | 7 |
| Apr 2026 | Windguru | 552K | 56.2% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | Surfline | 248K | 25.2% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | Windy | 90.5K | 9.2% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | Swellnet | 60.5K | 6.2% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | Swellmap | 22.2K | 2.3% | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | Surf Captain | 6.6K | 0.67% | 6 |
| Apr 2026 | Surf-Forecast.com | 2.9K | 0.3% | 7 |
| May 2026 | Windguru | 552K | 56.8% | 1 |
| May 2026 | Surfline | 248K | 25.5% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Windy | 90.5K | 9.3% | 3 |
| May 2026 | Swellnet | 49.5K | 5.1% | 4 |
| May 2026 | Swellmap | 18.1K | 1.9% | 5 |
| May 2026 | Surf Captain | 8.1K | 0.83% | 6 |
| May 2026 | Surf-Forecast.com | 5.4K | 0.56% | 7 |
| Jun 2026 | Windguru | 552K | 57.4% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | Surfline | 248K | 25.8% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Windy | 90.5K | 9.4% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | Swellnet | 40.5K | 4.2% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | Swellmap | 18.1K | 1.9% | 5 |
| Jun 2026 | Surf Captain | 9.9K | 1% | 6 |
| Jun 2026 | Surf-Forecast.com | 2.9K | 0.3% | 7 |
| Jul 2026 | Windguru | 675K | 58.2% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | Surfline | 249K | 21.5% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | Windy | 165K | 14.2% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | Swellnet | 40.5K | 3.5% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | Swellmap | 14.8K | 1.3% | 5 |
| Jul 2026 | Surf Captain | 12.1K | 1% | 6 |
| Jul 2026 | Surf-Forecast.com | 3.6K | 0.31% | 7 |
| Aug 2026 | Windguru | 826K | 60.5% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | Surfline | 303K | 22.2% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | Windy | 165K | 12.1% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | Swellnet | 40.5K | 3% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | Swellmap | 14.8K | 1.1% | 5 |
| Aug 2026 | Surf Captain | 12.1K | 0.89% | 6 |
| Aug 2026 | Surf-Forecast.com | 4.4K | 0.32% | 7 |
| Sep 2026 | Windguru | 675K | 58.1% | 1 |
| Sep 2026 | Surfline | 303K | 26.1% | 2 |
| Sep 2026 | Windy | 110K | 9.5% | 3 |
| Sep 2026 | Swellnet | 40.5K | 3.5% | 4 |
| Sep 2026 | Swellmap | 18.1K | 1.6% | 5 |
| Sep 2026 | Surf Captain | 12.1K | 1% | 6 |
| Sep 2026 | Surf-Forecast.com | 2.4K | 0.21% | 7 |
| Oct 2026 | Windguru | 552K | 55.8% | 1 |
| Oct 2026 | Surfline | 248K | 25% | 2 |
| Oct 2026 | Windy | 110K | 11.1% | 3 |
| Oct 2026 | Swellnet | 40.5K | 4.1% | 4 |
| Oct 2026 | Swellmap | 27.1K | 2.7% | 5 |
| Oct 2026 | Surf Captain | 9.9K | 1% | 6 |
| Oct 2026 | Surf-Forecast.com | 2.4K | 0.24% | 7 |

## How are branded searches counted for surf forecast sites?

- **Surf Captain**: Measured on the search term “surf captain”.
- **Surf-Forecast.com**: Measured on the search term “surf forecast com”.
- **Surfline**: Measured on the search terms “surfline”, “surfline app” and “surfline premium”, summed into one figure.
- **Swellmap**: Measured on the search term “swellmap”.
- **Swellnet**: Measured on the search terms “swellnet” and “swellnet forecast”, summed into one figure.
- **Windguru**: Measured on the search terms “windguru”, “windguru app” and “windguru forecast”, summed into one figure.
- **Windy**: Measured on the search term “windy app”.

- [Surf Captain](/demand/global-en/brands/surf-captain)
- [Surf-Forecast.com](/demand/global-en/brands/surf-forecast-com)
- [Surfline](/demand/global-en/brands/surfline)
- [Swellmap](/demand/global-en/brands/swellmap)
- [Swellnet](/demand/global-en/brands/swellnet)
- [Windguru](/demand/global-en/brands/windguru)
- [Windy](/demand/global-en/brands/windy)

## Methodology

- [How is the Brand Demand Index measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among surf forecast sites worldwide?

In October 2026, Windguru was the most searched among surf forecast sites worldwide, with an estimated 552K branded searches, 55.8% of all searches for the seven tracked by the Brandwave Brand Demand Index. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Surf forecast sites: Which are most popular?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/surf-forecast-sites

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/surf-forecast-sites. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.