# OnCourse - boating & sailing — Navigation - mAIS

> Boating and sailing navigation aid for traffic awareness, voyage planning, and position sharing. (iPhone/iPad app by MarineTraffic Applications LTD.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oncourse-boating-and-sailing/id606860310 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [MarineTraffic Applications LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1668374750)
- Category: Navigation, Travel
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 2.20/5 from 30 App Store ratings · 23 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 49 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2013-02-28
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oncourse-boating-and-sailing/id606860310/reviews.md

## What is OnCourse?

Improve your experience at sea with OnCourse, the new boating and sailing navigation aid from MarineTraffic, the global leader in vessel tracking. 
OnCourse helps you stay aware of the traffic around you, plan your voyages, while sharing your position with your friends and loved ones through the MarineTraffic Live Map.

Increase your awareness while sailing 
- Plan and monitor your voyage*
- Calculate the optimal route*
- Add your own customisable waypoints to the map
- Collision detection & avoidance while sailing, with AIS
- Additional information during sailing (time to next waypoint, next ETA, final ETA, distance & bearing to waypoint)

Share your position on MarineTraffic.com and engage with the boaters’ community
- Report your own position even if your boat is not equipped with an AIS transponder, so that your friends and family can follow you in near real-time
- Track a particular boat in a race or keep in touch with friends’ boats whilst cruising
- Identify other vessels that are sailing in the area (provided that they transmit their positions)

Have fun!
- Recognise vessels by using the Augmented Reality tool* 
- Try out the VR feature (requires a VR headset)*

Very low data and battery consumption 
All standard units of measurement supported

(*) Available only with OnCourse Plus subscriptions

Note: OnCourse is not AIS, OnCourse simulates the data transmitted by AIS transponders; however, it only transmits data through the Internet and not over AIS radio-frequencies. The information transmitted by OnCourse is not visible by the AIS receivers of other vessels. It will only be displayed on the MarineTraffic website and apps. As such, OnCourse is a self-reporting tool that does not substitute AIS transmissions and it is not, by any means, related to the safety and navigation equipment of a vessel.

Intended use
Provided that Internet connectivity is available, the vessel's positions will start being reported once the OnCourse application is launched on your mobile device. Positions will continue being reported even if the app is running in the background! Broadcasting must be turned off whenever the device leaves the vessel.

How to use OnCourse - Registration Required
Registration for a MarineTraffic account is required in order to start reporting your position through the application. The details of the vessel must be also configured when using the app.

Get more with OnCourse Plus
- Global Nautical Charts
- Augmented Reality tool & VR glasses support
- Route Planner tool with optimal route calculation
- Global Wind Forecasts (48h)
- Detailed info for vessels around you

Subscription name: OnCourse Plus (1 year)
Subscription cost: $57.99 (USD)
Subscription duration: 1 year
Auto-renewable subscription: Your subscription will be renewed every year i.e. you will be charged annually

For the above subscription:
• Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase
• Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period
• Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal
• Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase
• Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable

Disclaimer
This application is to be used for informational reasons and as navigation assistance. This is not a substitute for the good seamanship practices, the onboard navigation and safety instruments required by applicable regulations.

Continued use of GPS running in the background can decrease battery life

Terms of Use: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/p/terms
Privacy Policy: http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/p/privacy-policy

## Key features

- Vessel traffic awareness
- Voyage planning
- Position sharing
- Collision detection (AIS)
- Customizable waypoints
- Augmented reality tool

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OnCourse Plus (1 year) | $57.99 | per year |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 23)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oncourse-boating-and-sailing/id606860310/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Stopped working in sept 2024

*2024-10-25*

This app stopped working. 

This has not worked for over a month.  

Seems that nobody cares

### 1/5 — No longer provides tracking to MarineTraffic

*2024-10-12*

As very long term users of MarineTraffic (MT) we were really pleased to find the OnCourse app to show our position and track when out-of-range of AIS shore stations. However, a few weeks ago it stopped showing that. The Destination entered on OnCourse is still transferred to MT but position/course is not (even though OnCourse shows hundreds of positions have been sent with “Success”). We are going over to a rival app: noforeignland.

### 1/5 — Works for 5 seconds

*2024-04-26*

This app works for 5 seconds then switches off not prepared to buy until much better

### 5/5 — Great app and service

*2024-03-31*

As a cruising sailor with family and friends around the world, this is is a fantastic app that allows me to automatically share our location, heading and boat speed straight to MarineTraffic from my iPhone.

There is a bug currently that defaults our status to “underway using engine” which no doubt is an easy fix. 

Thanks Kpler for providing this app! 

@sailing.orea

### 2/5 — No tracking

*2023-12-25*

No tracking unless you pay. This service is free on other apps.

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work

*2023-03-10*

I have tried setting up an account many times. It just won’t let me log in. I finally logged in but the app never seems to update my position for AIS.

**Developer response:** We are sorry that this was your experience. This is not the kind of service that we pride ourselves on and we definitely would like to further review the issue. 
Please share your issue at https://bit.ly/3dzeALs  along with more information. Looking forward to hearing from you.

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work

*2023-01-30, version 2.2.15*

I have tried setting up an account many times. It just won’t let me log in.

### 2/5 — Registration fail

*2022-10-21*

Unable to use app as registration just gives failed message every time, deleted app.

**Developer response:** Hello! Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding our app. In order for us to assist with this issue, it would be helpful to have a little bit more information. Can you send any screenshots related to the issue along with your device details at https://bit.ly/3dzeALs? Thanks.

### 1/5 — Backwards

*2022-08-13, version 2.2.15*

My boat seam to travel backwards down the lake and no matter what I do I cant get it turned around. Tried turn my phone hitting the arrow location button,  nothing

**Developer response:** Thank you for your honest feedback. We would like to better understand your case in order to assist you further. Please share your issue at https://bit.ly/3dzeALs  along with more information about the vessel (MMSI). This will help us assist you properly.

### 1/5 — Won’t allow registration

*2021-08-15, version 2.2.15*

Registered old (paid) app with google 
New app won’t allow me access
Old app fantastic
MAJOR backslide with this

**Developer response:** We appreciate the note. As we are always striving to improve our services and help our users get value from them, it would be very helpful to learn what has led you to have this conclusion on our App. You can share more details here: https://bit.ly/2GsHvCe and we will be glad to review them. Looking forward to hearing from you.

## Frequently asked questions about OnCourse

### What is OnCourse Plus and how much does it cost?

OnCourse Plus is a subscription that unlocks premium features like global nautical charts, augmented reality, and route planning. The annual subscription costs $57.99 USD and includes a 3-day free trial.

### Does OnCourse replace a vessel's AIS transponder?

No, OnCourse simulates AIS data and transmits through the internet, not radio frequencies. It is a self-reporting tool and does not substitute for official AIS transmissions or safety equipment.

### How often is OnCourse updated?

The app was last updated on November 16, 2024, indicating regular maintenance and potential feature additions. The latest version is 2.2.58.

### What devices is OnCourse compatible with?

OnCourse is available for iPhone and iPad devices. It requires iOS 4+.

### What are the main benefits of using OnCourse?

Users can increase awareness of surrounding traffic, plan and monitor voyages, and share their position with friends and family. It also offers collision detection and augmented reality features.

### Is registration required to use OnCourse?

Yes, registration for a MarineTraffic account is required to start reporting your position through the application. Vessel details must also be configured.

### What is the user sentiment for OnCourse?

OnCourse has a rating of 2.2 stars from 30 ratings, suggesting that user satisfaction may be mixed. Further detailed review analysis would be needed to understand specific likes and dislikes.

### Can OnCourse be used offline?

The description states that Internet connectivity is required for position reporting. While some features might function offline, real-time traffic and sharing depend on an active internet connection.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.2.58 — 2024-11-16

- Fixes issue with nautical charts
- Fixed a broken link in the Help section
- Support for iPhone 16

### 2.2.52 — 2024-04-10

Security fixes and improvements

### 2.2.42 — 2023-11-10

Important security updates

### 2.2.40 — 2023-09-28

- Bug fixes and performance improvements
- Support for latest iOS devices

### 2.2.32 — 2023-07-19

Fixes issue with nautical charts

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## More apps by MarineTraffic Applications LTD

- [MarineTraffic - Ship Tracking](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marinetraffic-ship-tracking/id563910324)

All apps by MarineTraffic Applications LTD: https://appshunter.io/developer/1668374750

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*
