SkunkTracker vs vmsTRACK
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SkunkTracker
This app provides live, updating maps of ships and boats using AIS data. It connects to your AIS receivers or public network feeds to display vessel locations. Requires an AIS radio or access to an AIS data feed to function.
- Live AIS data display
- Map visualization of vessels
- Supports WiFi AIS receivers
- Integrates with public AIS feeds
- Real-time vessel location updates
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SkunkTracker displays live, updating maps of ships and boats. It uses AIS data streams received over WiFi, either from your own dedicated AIS receivers or from public network feeds such as AISHub.net and MarineTraffic.com. AIS (Automatic Identification System) transponders are carried by all large ships, all passenger vessels, and many recreational boats. Note: you need an AIS radio, or access to a public or private AIS feed, to use SkunkTracker. Your boat's AIS transponder may have a network interface already, and if you can connect to the same network you can use that radio. Your radio can be connected via WiFi or via cellular data. If your radio doesn't have a network connection, we recommend a WiFi-RS232 converter, such as the Global Cache WF2SL or the Grid Connect RN370.
vmsTRACK
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With this app you are able to read-out the vmsTRACK-PRO transmitter. You can check the battery status and static data. vmsTRACK-PRO is an AIS transmitter used for small vessel tracking (e.g. fishing vessels). The GPS track is transmitted and additionally stored in its internal flash memory. With this app you can read-out this track via Bluetooth and the track is shown on the map view of your iPhone or iPad.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: SkunkTracker at every 3 months against vmsTRACK's every 41 months. vmsTRACK's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SkunkTracker ships an update every 3 months, vmsTRACK every 41 months. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SkunkTracker | vmsTRACK |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (6 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 41 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 21 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mobile Geographics | Weatherdock AG |
In-app purchases
SkunkTracker
No in-app purchases
vmsTRACK
No in-app purchases









