# A free Tide Guide alternative for iPhone

Slackwater gives you tide charts, tidal current predictions and home screen widgets without a subscription, account or ads. Optional Premium adds alerts, station calendars, lock-screen widgets and Watch complications. If you like Tide Guide's design and want free charts for planning a beach visit, fishing trip or passage, compare the two screens below.

Tide Guide is a free download too. Its [App Store listing](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tide-guide-charts-tables/id1406371071) puts widgets, complications, detailed charts and future table data behind Pro. Annual and monthly subscriptions are listed alongside a lifetime purchase. The [Tide Guide help center](https://tideguide.com/help) says purchase options vary by account and storefront; check the in-app offer for your price.

Tide Guide earned an Apple Design Award and has marine weather, an Apple Watch app and Live Activities. Those are useful reasons to choose it. Slackwater focuses on the tide and current answer, with a curve you can scrub to the time you care about.

## What Slackwater includes free

Tides worldwide and currents across the US and Canada, with the next high, low or slack and the week's schedule. Current stations show speed and direction, max flood and max ebb, and how long the slack window lasts. Home screen widgets show the next event or the day's curve.

Bundled stations predict on your phone for any date without a connection. Canadian stations need an initial download to build an offline model from Canadian Hydrographic Service predictions. Some Canadian passes require a connection and are labeled in the app. Canadian coverage does not mean every station is available offline.

Slackwater is available on the App Store for iOS 26 and later, with a free Apple Watch app that runs without the phone. Premium has annual and lifetime purchase options; it is optional for tide and current charts, future dates and home screen widgets. Marine weather and ongoing tide Live Activities are Tide Guide features; Slackwater's Premium alarms can show a countdown Live Activity.

## Features and access

| | Tide Guide | Slackwater |
|---|---|---|
| Download | Free | Free |
| Charts and future dates | Detailed charts and future table data require Pro | Tide and current charts for any date, free |
| Tidal currents | Current conditions alongside marine weather | Station curves, slack time and duration, max flood/ebb, speed and direction |
| Offline | Check availability for your features and region | Bundled predictions offline; Canadian setup required, some passes online-only |
| Home screen widgets | Pro | Free |
| Lock-screen widgets and Watch complications | Pro | Premium |
| Apple Watch app | Yes | Free; runs without the phone |
| Weather | Marine weather conditions | Not included |
| Live Activities | Tide and other conditions | Premium alarm countdowns |

Tide Guide's feature and purchase information was checked against its US App Store listing and help center on October 9, 2026. Exact prices are omitted because the available in-app offer varies by account and storefront. Availability and offers can change.

## Compare the screens

| Tide Guide | Slackwater |
|---|---|
| ![Tide Guide's App Store image: Chatham, Stage Harbor, rising at 3.8 feet, high in 1 hour 56 minutes, marine weather, sun and moon times, and a tide curve](/shots/compare/tide-guide-chatham.webp) | ![Slackwater at Seattle: rising at 6.8 feet at 2:24 PM, a scrubbable curve, 9.0 foot range and full moon](/shots/compare/slackwater-seattle-tide.webp) |
| Tide Guide's current listing image shows Chatham with weather above the tide chart. | Slackwater shows Seattle with the height, rate of rise and curve, plus a link to a nearby current station. |

Tide Guide's image is from its US App Store listing, checked October 9, 2026. Slackwater's screenshots were captured October 12, 2026. The stations and times differ; these images compare the interfaces, not prediction accuracy.

Slackwater's current view at Deception Pass:

![Slackwater: Deception Pass scrubbed to 3:46 PM, slack at 0.0 knots, ebb in 8 minutes, with the next 7.2 knot maximum ebb at 6:30 PM](/shots/compare/slackwater-deception-slack.webp)

The green parts of the curve show the slack windows. Scrub to read the speed and direction at a chosen time, with the reference port's tide on the same screen.

## Which app fits

Choose Slackwater if you want free tide charts and home screen widgets, need current-station predictions, or use bundled stations somewhere without signal. Check the offline status of Canadian passes before relying on them away from a connection.

Choose Tide Guide if its marine weather, ongoing tide Live Activities or Watch layouts are what you need. Check which features require Pro before subscribing.

To try Slackwater, search your stations by name and star them. Favorites do not transfer from Tide Guide. Location is optional and stays on your device.

Predictions are not observations. Weather, river flow and local conditions change the water. Slackwater is not for navigation.

**[Download Slackwater on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/slackwater-tides-current/id6813654837)** · Free, no account. Requires iOS 26 or later.

See also: [the best tide and current apps for iPhone](/compare/best-tide-and-current-apps-iphone/) · [Slackwater vs AyeTides](/compare/slackwater-vs-ayetides/)