# Rotto Swim

> GPS tracker for open water swim events and participant tracking. (iPhone/iPad app by MapImagery.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rotto-swim/id600020356 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [MapImagery](https://appshunter.io/developer/600020359)
- Category: Navigation, Lifestyle
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 13 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 11.0 · 86 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2013-02-13
- Data updated: 2026-06-01
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rotto-swim/id600020356/reviews.md

## What is Rotto Swim?

The Rottnest Channel Swim is an annual 19.7km open water swim from Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island.

The Rotto Swim app is for swimmers and support crew to track their position along their desired route and receive race updates during the event. 

A swimmer or support crew member who sets up their phone to transmit will also allow friends and family to track their progress.

Rotto Swim makes use your device's GPS in foreground and background  in order to track your location.  

You can disable the apps use of the GPS by changing the Location Services setting to "Never" via Settings -> Rotto Swim -> Location.   

Please Note: "Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life."

## Key features

- Real-time GPS tracking
- Swimmer and support crew tracking
- Friends and family progress monitoring
- Race updates
- Background location tracking

## Recent user reviews (10 of 13)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rotto-swim/id600020356/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Poor

*2025-02-22, version 2025.1.476*

Not at all accurate. Was useless in locating our swimmer.

### 1/5 — Terrible

*2024-02-24*

Very disappointing app, trying to track a solo swimmer but it won’t locate. So tried a small bunch of competitors each side of that number but only a couple show up. 

Hopeless!!

### 1/5 — 1 star, buggy as it gets.

*2024-02-24, version 2024.1.467*

Barely works.

### 1/5 — Not compatible Galaxy S24

*2024-02-04, version 2023.0.444*

Doesn’t seem to want to work with a Galaxys24+

### 1/5 — So disappointing.

*2023-02-25, version 2022.2.440*

They’ve finished but the tracker has them at half way!
I’ll probably never have the chance to watch my Grandsons, do this again. Beyond devastated.

### 1/5 — Totally useless

*2023-02-25, version 2022.2.440*

I was going to track a friend, but the app is entirely useless unfortunately.

### 1/5 — Disappointing

*2021-02-20, version 2021.0.347*

Trying to follow my nephew and nieces and not getting any of it :-(

### 5/5 — Great app!

*2017-02-23, version 4.1.2*

Fantastic for keeping tabs on a rotto swimmer! Would recommend anyone swimming this year to make sure they download it.

### 1/5 — Very unreliable

*2015-02-22, version 3.0.7*

So I've set this up for my last 3 swims to Rottnest and each time, according to supporters, it's hugely unreliable.
Doubt I'll bother in future

### 1/5 — Hopeless

*2015-02-21, version 3.0.7*

Didn't work it was useless. No less than useless.

## Frequently asked questions about Rotto Swim

### What is Rotto Swim used for?

Rotto Swim is used to track swimmers and their support crews during the Rottnest Channel Swim. It allows real-time location monitoring for participants and their followers.

### Can Rotto Swim be used offline?

The app relies on GPS for location tracking, which typically requires a signal. While background tracking is supported, continuous use of GPS in the background can significantly decrease battery life.

### What devices does Rotto Swim support?

Rotto Swim is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices.

### How often is Rotto Swim updated?

The latest version of Rotto Swim is 2026.0.484, last updated on February 9, 2026. This indicates frequent updates to maintain functionality.

### What is the age rating for Rotto Swim?

Rotto Swim has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

### Does Rotto Swim have ads?

No, Rotto Swim does not contain advertisements. It is a free application without any ad interruptions.

### How does Rotto Swim track location?

Rotto Swim utilizes your device's GPS in both the foreground and background to track your location accurately during the swim event.

### What is the user sentiment for Rotto Swim?

Rotto Swim has a rating of 3.0 stars from 2 ratings. This suggests a mixed to neutral user reception based on the limited feedback available.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2026.0.484 — 2026-02-09

In this version the map has been updated with additional buoys located at the 15.5km, 16.5km and 17.5km on the rhumb line for this years event.

### 2026.0.483 — 2026-02-04

In this version iOS 26 support is provided for liquid glass features.   Various changes related to networking have been made to fix iOS 26 specific networking issues.

### 2025.1.476 — 2025-02-13

New in this version is the addition of a new feature which allows a skipper to report their location to the swim officials via the app.   Also a feature is included in the app to allow a skipper to report to the officials that their swimmer or team has withdrawn from the event.

### 2025.0.473 — 2025-02-04

In this version the map is updated with the inclusion of a Southern boundary to the coarse which is marked in yellow and for most of the coarse is 1.5 km south of the rhumb line.

### 2025.0.470 — 2024-10-18

This version fixes a crash on the map page which happens in iOS 18.0

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## More apps by MapImagery

- [Port to Pub](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/port-to-pub/id1090716092)
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All apps by MapImagery: https://appshunter.io/developer/600020359

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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 2026-06-01.*
