Waterspeed vs Hoolan (2026): which app for kite, wing and windsurf tracking?
Hoolan measures jumps and is free on Apple Watch and Garmin. Waterspeed records from the phone or more watches, covers 30+ watersports and goes deeper on jibes and VMG.
By the Waterspeed team
Choose Hoolan if jumps are your thing and you track on an Apple Watch or a Garmin: it measures jump height, airtime and distance, and it is free. Choose Waterspeed if you want to track with your phone or a Coros, Suunto or Wear OS watch, also paddle or race, or want detailed jibe, tack and VMG analysis.
Compared as of October 2026, from Hoolan’s App Store page (US) and hoolan.app, and Waterspeed’s help centre. We make Waterspeed; corrections welcome at support@waterspeedapp.com.
How do Waterspeed and Hoolan compare?
| Waterspeed | Hoolan | |
|---|---|---|
| Sports | 30+ watersports: sailing, wing, windsurf, kite, SUP, kayak, rowing and more | Kite, wing, windsurf and their foil variants, parawing, snowkite and snow wing, sailing, land yachting |
| Jump height and airtime | No | Yes: height, airtime, distance, takeoff speed; jumps under 1.5 m (5 ft) are not recorded |
| Jibes and tacks | Each one with entry and exit speed, made or missed; quality rating with Ultra | Transitions: success rate, average and max speed, entry and exit speed, duration |
| Foiling time | Yes | Not listed |
| Best speeds | 2 s to 1 hour; alpha 250 m to 1 km | Max speed, and over 100 m and 500 m |
| VMG, polar, legs | Yes (Ultra) | Not listed; runs show upwind and downwind gain |
| Apple Watch | Yes | Yes (Series 4 and later, watchOS 9 and later) |
| Garmin | Sync from Garmin Connect, plus a Connect IQ app | Yes, Garmin watches from 2017; jump tracking on certain models only |
| Wear OS | Yes | Not listed; Hoolan says Wear OS will come “in the future” |
| Coros, Suunto, Vakaros | Yes (sync or import) | Not listed |
| Track with the phone alone | Yes | No: built for smartwatch tracking |
| Phone apps | iPhone, Android, web | iPhone, Android |
| Safety | Live tracking from iPhone, Android or Apple Watch | Apple Watch with cellular: hold the side button to call emergency services and text your emergency contacts; live tracking not listed |
| Community | Challenges, groups, feed | Follow friends, share sessions |
| Export | Uploads to Strava and GPS-Speedsurfing; GPX and CSV export (Pro); imports GPX, FIT and VKX on the web | Direct Strava integration, GPX and FIT export, Apple Health sync |
| Price model | Free; Pro and Ultra subscriptions | Free: no subscriptions, no ads |
| App Store rating (US, 22 Oct 2026) | 4.6 (1,112 ratings) | 4.9 (72 ratings) |
“Not listed” means the feature is not in Hoolan’s App Store description or on its website.
When is Hoolan the better pick?
- You want to know how high and how long you jumped.
- You track on an Apple Watch or a Garmin and want everything free.
- You only kite, wing or windsurf and want a small, focused app.
When is Waterspeed the better pick?
- You want to see why a jibe failed: entry and exit speed per turn and your success rate. See how to improve your jibes with GPS data.
- You record on a Coros, Suunto or Wear OS watch, or with your phone.
- You also SUP, kayak or row, or race sailboats and want a race countdown and VMG in the same log.
- You want someone ashore to follow your position live during a session. See live location sharing.
FAQ
Is Hoolan free?
Yes. Hoolan says all its features are free, with no subscriptions and no ads.
Does Hoolan work without a watch?
No. Hoolan describes itself as built exclusively for smartwatch tracking. Waterspeed also records from the phone.
Can I use both?
Yes, they are separate apps. Hoolan exports GPX and FIT files, and the Waterspeed web app imports both.
