# VesselFinder — user reviews

> 213 indexed App Store user reviews of VesselFinder by AstraPaging Ltd., rated 3.90/5 from 183 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vesselfinder/id918080862/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vesselfinder/id918080862.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 108 · 4★ 27 · 3★ 5 · 2★ 9 · 1★ 34

## What do users think of VesselFinder?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 💰 Free version provides basic functionality
- 🗺️ Clear map display with sea blue and land green
- 📊 Comprehensive vessel information available
- ⚓ Good for casual ship tracking and hobbyists
- 🎨 Clean graphics and minimal intrusive ads
- 🚀 Quick and responsive performance when working
- 📱 Works well on mobile devices for basic use

**Cons**

- ⏱️ Severely outdated vessel position data (days old)
- 🐛 App freezes on startup/splash screen frequently
- 💸 Misleading free version with limited functionality
- 🔄 Inconsistent and unreliable data updates
- ❌ Search functionality requires paid version
- 📍 Inaccurate vessel locations compared to competitors
- 🔐 Paywall for basic features advertised as free
- ⚠️ Poor performance on newer iOS versions
- 🚫 App crashes when zooming or navigating
- 📉 Significant decline in app quality over time
- 🔌 Unstable on iOS platform with frequent crashes
- 🗺️ Missing map display on some devices
- 💔 Lost features in updates (distance measurement tool)
- 🌍 Incomplete global coverage in some regions
- 🎯 Vessel information often missing or generic

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App freezes on splash screen and won't load
- Crashes when attempting to zoom on map
- Black screen display on certain devices
- App won't open or opens after long delays
- Crashes on iOS 11 and newer versions
- Incompatible with iPhone X and newer models
- Data not updating for days or weeks
- Crashes when searching for vessels
- Freezing issues after recent updates
- Map not displaying on iPad
- App crashes in low power mode
- Vessel information not loading correctly
- Inconsistent performance across iOS versions
- App becomes unstable after working briefly
- Zoom functionality broken in multiple versions

**Most requested features**

- Real-time GPS tracking instead of delayed AIS data
- Distance measurement tool restoration
- German language support
- Destination and departure information display
- Ability to remove ads without expensive pro version
- Better search functionality in free version
- Vessel departure time information
- Improved map zoom functionality
- Live results in search function
- Picture display before clicking on vessel
- Better map background/quality
- Local time display instead of UTC only
- Ability to delete incorrect vessel photos from profile

## Newest reviews (13 of 213)

### 4/5 — Couverture partielle

*2026-08-05*

En de nombreux endroits peu fréquentés, il n’y a pas de récepteurs mais c’est l’application la plus performante du marché en 2026

### 2/5 — Werbung gut und schön, aber

*2026-08-02*

Es erscheinen Mitteilungen, die gefakte Google-Mitteilungen öffnen. Darin die Mitteilung, dass mein iPhone mit Viren verseucht ist und ich im Appstore einen bestimmten Virenscanner laden soll. Pfui zu solcher Werbung. 
Schade, denn nach Umstellung von Marinetraffic, hatte ich mich gerade mit Vesselfinder angefreundet

### 2/5 — Dysfonctionnements

*2026-07-16*

En ce moment l’application ne fonctionne que par à coup. 
Aujourd’hui je ne trouve pas mon voilier zen3. 
J’ai effectué mardi 14 juillet le trajet :
Rosas. /. Marseillan et peu de trace mis à part la première heure. 
Avez vous un problème ?
Jeanjack.soutade@
gmail.com

### 4/5 — Good free options

*2026-07-07*

I have used marine traffic for a while but giving this a go as it seems to provide more options

### 3/5 — BARTAVELLE II

*2026-06-12*

Non conforme - photo 1 et dimensions voilier ne correspondent pas à mon voilier. Comment le changer 
Mon MMSI : 227 445 370 
Oceanis 41.1 Longueur 12 mètres Largeur 4,20 mètres 
Port d’attache Palavas Les Flots - France

### 3/5 — Funktioniert aktuell nicht

*2026-02-07*

Seit einigen Wochen friert die App auf meinem iPhone ein - man sieht nur das Start-Logo, mehr nicht

### 1/5 — i was using it now it won’t let me in

*2025-09-27, version 5.8.8*

it’s gotten to be a joke. it won’t let me in now

### 1/5 — Desactualizada

*2025-05-07, version 5.8.8*

Muy mala aplicación con actualizacion de las posiciones 1-2 veces al día , para lo que se paga deja bastante que desear .

### 1/5 — Crimea

*2025-04-05, version 5.8.8*

Aggiornate l’applicazione, i porti della Crimea non sono Ucraina.

### 3/5 — Приложение

*2025-03-31*

Невозможно зайти в приложение

### 1/5 — Nix geht

*2025-03-18*

Startbildschirm und Ende. Neuste Version. Nix wurde geändert!!!! Super Update

### 1/5 — App won’t open

*2025-03-04, version 5.8.6*

Suddenly app won’t open,

### 3/5 — Не загружается приложение

*2025-03-02*

Добрый день. После последней обновы приложение вообще не грузится. Висит на заставке-кораблике и все уже сколько дней. Прошу исправить!

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Massive Lag

*2026-08-02*

The position of vessels know to us is sometimes 2 or 3 days old, even though our friends tell us their AIS is transmitting. I keep getting a prompt to upgrade to satellite positioning for £300 a year, which is odd when it is effectively available for free. Started well and switched from Marine Traffic but it’s heading in the same monetisation direction.

### 1/5 — currently useless

*2026-07-18*

Currently updates are not working so the app doesn’t work. Even on my pro subscription

**Developer response:** Hi, please contact us at info@vesselfinder.com. There are no other complains so we would like to investigate your issues further.

### 1/5 — Update

*2026-06-08*

Nach dem letzten Update der light Version, kann man keine Distanzen mehr ausmessen. Sehr schlechte Entscheidung der Entwickler!

### 1/5 — Bateau fixe

*2026-06-08*

L’appli me met le bateau a Porto Santo , alors que nous sommes a Madere , marina Quinta do Lorde !!!

### 1/5 — Mediocre app

*2026-06-05*

The free version is buggy, often stuck on “doing maintenance”. To force you to the paid version the app voluntarily does not display your position. After you anchor, it shows you in limbo several miles out

### 1/5 — Fehlerhaft

*2026-05-27*

Zeigt die meisten großen Schiffe nie an, wo andere Apps was anzeigen. Hier aktuell müsste ein Kreuzfahrtschiff zu sehen sein, für VesselFinder existiert es nicht. App gelöscht.

### 1/5 — ICH VERSTEHE KEIN ENGLISCH

*2026-04-30*

Mach bitte deutsch

### 1/5 — Unbrauchbar

*2026-04-05*

Wenn die Position mit Schiffsnamen über 8 Stunden her angezeigt werden, was soll man damit? Interessant ist dabei, dass die aktuelle Position (wenn man sie denn kennt) ohne Schiffsnamen auch angezeigt wird. Was soll das?

**Developer response:** Bitte senden Sie uns eine E-Mail an info@vesselfinder.com mit zusätzlichen Details zu dem Problem, damit wir prüfen können, ob ein Fehler vorliegt.

### 1/5 — App funktioniert nicht mehr

*2026-03-31*

Die App lässt sich schon seit mehreren Tagen nicht mehr öffnen , zeigt nur das App Logo  . Ist das vielleicht eine Zensur von der EU damit man die Tankschiffe vor Rotterdam nicht sehen kann um uns vorzugaukeln wir haben kein Öl mehr ?

**Developer response:** Es tut uns sehr leid. Wir hatten einen Fehler, den wir umgehend behoben haben. Bitte aktualisieren Sie die App und starten Sie sie erneut.

### 1/5 — Scamvesselfinder

*2026-01-15*

I searched. For free vessel finder to checkout where my daughter’s cruise ship was,, for free I got 13 + hours ago, pay if you want real information. . Will be deleting

**Developer response:** We’re very sorry for the confusion and frustration. Terrestrial AIS coverage is available for free, but satellite (global) coverage requires a subscription.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Top Notch program

*2026-07-28*

With the fleet feature and the embed code our website just got a lot more interesting.

### 5/5 — Glad to have changed from the basic downgraded marine traffic to vessel finder - 👏🏻

*2026-07-06*

Delighted to see land markings on the maps - easy to track my vessels - does what it says - perfect !

### 5/5 — Sehr gut

*2026-05-31*

Man sieht sehr genaue Daten der Yacht

### 5/5 — Great little app!

*2026-04-14*

Clear settings, simple graphics, easy to use.
Bye bye to the now rubbish Marine Traffic … deleted!

### 5/5 — Ex MarineTraffic subscriber

*2026-03-21*

At least on this app, the sea is blue and the land is green, and it tells me what ships are out there. VesselFinder Lite gives me all that I need for free. 
It may not be as comprehensive or as detailed as MarineTraffic, but at least this app is quick, slick, clear to see and simple to use. All for free. The ads aren’t intrusive at all (long may it continue) with a great user interface.
I am happy to move here. I created a free account so I can add ship details and photos as I come across them on my holidays and travels. I urge you to all jump ship from MarineTraffic and boost the quality of the content over here on VesselFinder Lite. Full steam ahead! ⛴️

**Developer response:** Thank you so much for your kind words - we really appreciate it! We’re glad you’re enjoying the app, and it’s great to have you contributing to the community.

### 5/5 — Love It

*2026-02-28*

Easy to use. Gives a lot of info for free.

### 5/5 — Не открывается

*2025-03-14*

Перестал открываться, зависает на заставке

Upd: Все починили, спасибо!

### 5/5 — Fatih

*2024-08-18, version 5.7.0*

Tek kelimeyle mükemmel 👍

### 5/5 — Perfect

*2024-04-30, version 5.6.4*

This app is very helpful for someone like me who works in an Inland Vessel in European waterways. I could track my vessel’s position in real time, as well as my friends’ vessel positions. Thank you devs

### 5/5 — Gut mit einem kleinen Haken

*2024-02-08*

Gute und übersichtliche App, eignet sich gut zum Checken der Positionen der Schiffe. Allerdings würde ich mich freuen, wenn man wieder Distanzen ausmessen könnte!

Edit: Feature ist jetzt wieder verfügbar. Danke an die Entwickler dieser App!

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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 2026-08-25.*