5 tide apps for Apple Watch: compare the planning tools
For a quick tide check on Apple Watch, start with Apple’s Tides app if it is available on your device and in your region. For configurable activity windows linked to an iPhone planning workflow, consider GoodTides. Tide Guide, Tides Near Me and TidesPro are other options with documented Watch support.
I make GoodTides, so it is included with that interest made explicit. This is a comparison of published documentation reviewed on 20 October 2026, not a hands-on test or an accuracy ranking. “Best” depends on your coast, device and the question you want answered.
Compare the five options
| App | Reason to consider it | Check before choosing |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Tides | Apple’s Watch tide app | Device and regional availability |
| GoodTides | Personal tide windows and saved places | Plus access; iOS 26 and watchOS 26 |
| Tide Guide | Charts and complications | Pro is required for complications |
| Tides Near Me | Tide and current stations | Coverage at your chosen coast |
| TidesPro | Tides with solunar information | The app’s current purchase options |
1. Apple Tides: begin with what you already have
Apple’s guide describes its Watch app and a seven-day view. Check availability first. If it answers your next-tide question, you may not need another app.
2. GoodTides: organise a coastal plan around your time
GoodTides starts with a place and an activity. You can adjust the tide rule, see matching windows across seven days and compare saved places. Its Apple Watch app and complications keep saved tide information close; widgets, Live Activities, Siri and alerts offer other ways to check it.
A window means the prediction matches your configured rule. It is not a safety assessment. Open the main app to inspect the source, freshness, prediction point and chart datum behind a result. Watch surfaces can lag behind the app, so the time and any stale-data label matter more than a pleasing complication.
GoodTides Plus unlocks live data and the full experience through an annual subscription or a one-off lifetime purchase. Only rely on an introductory offer if it is shown to your eligible account in the app. The iPhone app requires iOS 26; the Watch app requires watchOS 26. It supports English, German, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese, but not French.
3. Tide Guide: consider a chart-focused alternative
Tide Guide’s help centre confirms Watch charts and Pro complications. Consider it if you prefer exploring a chart. Check the features included in the current offering rather than assuming every surface is free.
4. Tides Near Me: consider stations and currents
Its App Store listing confirms station-based tide/current information and Watch support. Check your intended station before comparing forecasts between apps.
5. TidesPro: consider tide and solunar information
TidesPro documents Apple Watch support and a tide/solunar focus. It is another candidate when that combination matches your interests.
Choose by the job, then check the data
Write down the question you actually want on your wrist: “What is the next tide?”, “What does this chart show?” or “When does my own rule match the prediction?” Then check one familiar location in the shortlisted app. Compare the same place, date, time zone and height reference. Different numbers do not by themselves establish which app is more accurate.
No Watch app turns a forecast into permission to enter the water or cross a tidal route. Consult official local advice separately. GoodTides does not provide navigation or crossing-safety decisions.
Questions before installing
Does GoodTides work without sharing my location?
Yes. Search for and save a place instead. Forecast requests still send the chosen coordinate to the forecast service; personal Tide Moments stay on your device. See the privacy policy.
What if I want a practical setup guide?
Read how to plan a GoodTides tide window, or compare apps for beach walks and rockpooling. Get GoodTides on the App Store, with purchase terms shown before you commit.