# DriftWatch vs Coaster

The clearest difference is ads: DriftWatch at none against Coaster's shown. Coaster's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 12 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.4). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DriftWatch sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year and Coaster sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

DriftWatch ships an update every 12 months, Coaster every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DriftWatch | Coaster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 85 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rene Dacier](https://appshunter.io/developer/1001235750) | [Michael Mathieu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1451289797) |

## What reviewers say

### DriftWatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/driftwatch/id1001235751)

This navigation app helps boat captains sleep soundly by monitoring anchor drift. It uses your device's GPS to alert you if your vessel moves outside a set boundary, providing peace of mind while at anchor.

**Highlights:** Anchor drift monitoring, GPS boundary alerts, Audible alarms, Battery level monitoring, Simple and easy to use

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Time Limit | $3.99 | per year |
| 24H Wind Forecast | $9.99 | per year |
| 24H Wind Forecast. | $9.99 | per year |


### Coaster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coaster-coast-watcher/id6642650729)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $4.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DriftWatch free?

DriftWatch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Coaster free?

Coaster is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do DriftWatch or Coaster have ads?

Coaster shows ads; DriftWatch does not.

### Which is updated more often, DriftWatch or Coaster?

DriftWatch ships an update every 12 months, and Coaster every 2 months. Most recently, DriftWatch was updated on September 6, 2026 and Coaster on September 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*