Comparison

pocketGPS vs navCenter

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

pocketGPS

This navigation app provides your current position, speed, and heading in multiple formats. It displays data through instruments like a compass and speedometer, and allows for waypoint and route navigation. Track your movements in the background and export logs.

Highlights
  • Current position in 3 formats
  • Speed in knots, MPH, KPH
  • True and Magnetic heading
  • Altitude in feet and meters
  • Barometric pressure display
  • Waypoint and route navigation
  • Background movement tracking
Read full description

This is a general purpose backup navigation app that will give the user their current position in the 3 main formats it will also give your speed in a knots, MPH of KPH. Heading is also available in both True and Magnetic. Altitude can be obtained in both feet and meters. The app also displays the current Barometric pressure in both hPa and inHg. the GPS accuracy is also displayed. Reverse lookup of your current position is available if internet access is available. The app will display data in both text format and as a series of instruments so you can view a compass, speedometer, Barometer, Gyro and pedometer. Also there are speed graphs available. The app also allows the user to enter waypoints and routes. You can then navigate directly using an waypoint or also use the app to follow a route. Finally the app will allow all your movements to be tracked in the background and the log can be viewed or exported at a later time.

About

navCenter

This app transforms your Apple devices into a multifunctional display for marine navigation data, including NMEA and AIS. It also provides autopilot remote control capabilities for compatible systems, connecting via a WiFi gateway.

Highlights
  • NMEA and AIS data display
  • Autopilot remote control
  • SeaTalk1™ and SeaTalkNG™ compatibility
  • WiFi gateway connection
  • NMEA2000 and NMEA0183 format support
  • Multifunctional display for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Watch
Features
Read full description

navCenter (nC) enables your iPhone/iPad/Mac/Watch to operate as a multifunctional display (MFD) for NMEA data (including AIS) and as an autopilot remote control for SeaTalk1™ and SeaTalkNG™ autopilots. navCenter connects to your boats instruments via a WiFi gateway and can handle both NMEA2000 and NMEA0183 formats simultaneously. Information on WiFi gateways can be found here: https://www.guardiandigital.tech/navCenterGatewaysMultiplexers.html navCenter is able to control SeaTalkNG™ and SeaTalk1™ autopilots when partnered with a compatible WiFi multiplexer or Gateway. More information on the autopilot remote control can be found here: https://www.guardiandigital.tech/navCenterAutopilotRemote.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ privacy policy: https://www.guardiandigital.tech/html/privacyPolicy.html

Screenshots

pocketGPS4 screens
navCenter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: pocketGPS at 5.0 against navCenter's 4.4. pocketGPS also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (100% vs 78%). navCenter's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. navCenter sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. pocketGPS asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

pocketGPS holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of pocketGPS's written reviews are positive against 78% of navCenter's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

pocketGPS ships an update every 2 months, navCenter monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
pocketGPS versus navCenter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterpocketGPSnavCenter
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better4.4 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better77.8% of reviews
Number of ratings37 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS10.2 — better15.4
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBob AshmoreGUARDIAN DIGITAL LTD

Customer experience

pocketGPS

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

navCenter

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral28.6%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%

In-app purchases

None

pocketGPS

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

navCenter

Subscriptions1
  • Subscribed annually$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Purchased$34.99

Questions

Is pocketGPS free?
pocketGPS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is navCenter free?
navCenter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, pocketGPS or navCenter?
pocketGPS is rated higher. pocketGPS averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while navCenter averages 4.4 from 7 ratings.
Do pocketGPS or navCenter have ads?
Neither pocketGPS nor navCenter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, pocketGPS or navCenter?
pocketGPS ships an update every 2 months, and navCenter monthly. Most recently, pocketGPS was updated on October 7, 2026 and navCenter on October 5, 2026.

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