If you're planning any activity at sea and need to know how the tide will behave, in this article you'll find the best five free programs to predict tides. This way you'll know when there is high tide, low tide, and the times and heights of each. Although these platforms only show information, some come with advanced features such as customizing time zones and activity logs, among many other options.
JTides
JTides is a powerful platform that shows tide stability for almost the entire world. The environment updates from the most important stations globally. To use it, just select a region on the map and the program will display tide statistics. The tool shows low tide, high tide, various statistics, and the heights and times for each. You can then export the data as PDF. The platform comes with several configuration options and is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. It requires Java.
WTides
WTides is a very good tide prediction program. It supports UTC and AKDT time zones. The tide chart is generated once you select a country (it doesn't cover all countries) and from the chart you'll see the height and time of tides as well as the altitude of the Moon and Sun, among other parameters. After getting all the tide data, you can export it as PNG. The program is available for Windows (registration required) or you can use its online version.
WXTide32
WXTide32 is one of the simplest options on the list. The platform has a large number of countries and stations for predicting tides. The data provided includes tide heights, UTC time zone, and high and low tide times. The tool lacks advanced options and the ability to export information. It is available for Windows.
Tidal Analysis Software Kit
Tidal Analysis Software Kit is a suite of programs developed by the National Oceanography Centre of Canada. With the suite you'll find tide predictions and tide tables. Although the platforms are intended for very advanced use and are mainly focused on the northern hemisphere, it's a very good option for finding highly efficient data. It is available for Windows and Linux.
XTide
XTide is another suite of platforms for tide prediction. The platform offers a wide variety of formats and charts. The utility uses the National Oceanic Service in the United States as its prediction source (it takes stations from around the world). The environment also provides other important data such as current predictions. Available for Windows, Linux, and Android ARM.
Bon voyage!
