# DriftWatch vs Hull Speed

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hull Speed at none against DriftWatch's 3. Hull Speed also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 12 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DriftWatch sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year. Hull Speed asks for nothing beyond the download.

DriftWatch ships an update every 12 months, Hull Speed every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | DriftWatch | Hull Speed |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hull-speed/id6784663005/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **3** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 85 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | **16.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rene Dacier](https://appshunter.io/developer/1001235750) | [Peter Zink](https://appshunter.io/developer/1872993886) |

## 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 |


### Hull Speed

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hull-speed/id6784663005)

This app provides sailors with a clear and accurate GPS speedometer displaying speed in knots. It features a live trend graph to help optimize sail trim and can show your theoretical hull speed for easy comparison. It is designed for privacy with no ads or tracking.

**Highlights:** Accurate GPS speed in knots, Live speed trend graph, Theoretical hull speed display, Apple Watch app with Keep Awake mode, Completely private, no tracking or ads

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DriftWatch free?

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

### Is Hull Speed free?

Hull Speed is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do DriftWatch or Hull Speed have ads?

Neither DriftWatch nor Hull Speed shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DriftWatch or Hull Speed?

DriftWatch ships an update every 12 months, and Hull Speed every 5 weeks. Most recently, DriftWatch was updated on October 7, 2026 and Hull Speed on October 7, 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.*