pocketGPS vs navCenter
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. navCenter sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. pocketGPS asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
pocketGPS ships an update every 2 months, navCenter monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | pocketGPS | navCenter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | 4.4 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 77.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 7 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 10.2 — better | 15.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 58 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bob Ashmore | GUARDIAN DIGITAL LTD |
Customer experience
pocketGPS
navCenter
In-app purchases
pocketGPS
No in-app purchases
navCenter
- Subscribed annually$14.991 Year
- Purchased$34.99









