Use Windguru if…
You're a Windguru lifer who reads the table like a stock chart. Don't change. Just add WindUp on top.
4.8★ on the App Store
vs Windguru
Windguru alternative — keep the data, add a live alarm
The short version: use Windguru to plan, WindUp to know the exact moment it's on. Windguru is the OG kitesurf forecast table with a cult GFS-model following; WindUp adds the live alarm it lacks, ringing you the second your spot fires — even on silent. Many riders run both.
Head to head
WindUp
Windguru
- Live wind alarm —
- Cuts through Do Not Disturb / Silent —
- Free live alarm (no subscription) Freemium
- GFS + ICON forecast tables —
- Live wind stations 10,000+ Some spots
Pick the one that fits how you actually use a wind app.
Use WindUp if…
You want the alarm to find you, not the other way around. Or you're new and want a clean UI.
5.0★ · 20+ reviews · Free
What Windguru does brilliantly.
This isn't a hit piece. Windguru is a serious app — here's where they shine.
- Decades-deep forecast data (GFS, ICON, AROME, NAM models)
- Hyper-local spot forecasts crowdsourced by riders
- Cult-favorite for hardcore wind sports
What Windguru doesn't do.
And where WindUp picks up the slack.
- Crowded interface that's hard to scan
- No live alarm — you refresh the table
- Mobile experience trails the website
- Subscription needed for advanced models
If you only install one.
Windguru remains the planning table serious riders trust, and if you check one forecast religiously, keep it. But a table can't tap you on the shoulder. Since both are free, the honest answer is: keep Windguru for the week-ahead read, add WindUp so the day-of doesn't depend on you remembering to look.
Feature comparison
| Feature | WindUp | Windguru |
|---|---|---|
| Live wind alarm | — | |
| Cuts through Do Not Disturb / Silent | — | |
| Free live alarm (no subscription) | Freemium | |
| GFS + ICON forecast tables | — | |
| Live wind stations | 10,000+ | Some spots |
| Modern mobile UI | — | |
| Direction + gust threshold filter | Limited |
WindUp vs Windguru — FAQ
Is there a Windguru alternative with a live alarm?
WindUp. Use Windguru's GFS/ICON tables to plan, then set a WindUp alarm at your spot so you don't have to refresh the table all morning.
Does Windguru notify you when wind hits?
Windguru has favorite spot alerts on certain plans, but no time-sensitive alarm that bypasses iOS Do Not Disturb. WindUp adds that layer.
Should I drop Windguru for WindUp?
No. Windguru's depth of forecast data is unmatched for hardcore riders. Run them side by side.
Related comparisons & guides
Try WindUp. Free, alongside Windguru.
You don't have to choose. Most riders use both — keep Windguru for the forecast and add a free live wind alarm that wakes you the moment your spot fires.