# Sail Buddy vs Navtactiq

The clearest difference is rating: Navtactiq at 5.0 against Sail Buddy's 4.4. Navtactiq also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months). Sail Buddy's advantage is price ($4.99 vs $9.99). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Sail Buddy costs $4.99 and Navtactiq $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Navtactiq holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 6 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Sail Buddy ships an update every 6 months, Navtactiq monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sail Buddy | Navtactiq |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$4.99** | $9.99 |
| Rating | [4.4 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sail-buddy/id1100095207/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/navtactiq/id6743174726/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 3 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tim Herzog](https://appshunter.io/developer/1100095206) | [Andrew Sorensen](https://appshunter.io/developer/1801782249) |

## What reviewers say

### Sail Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sail-buddy/id1100095207)

This app provides a clean, easy-to-read display for course, speed, and NMEA data, complementing other navigation tools. It supports various devices, including iPads in split-screen mode and Apple Watches for hands-free data access. Route tracking and export are also available.

**Highlights:** Large, readable course and speed display, NMEA data reception via WiFi, Route tracking and export (CSV, KML, GPX, GeoJSON), Apple Watch integration for hands-free data, Split View support on iPads, Alarms for data loss and grounding

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Navtactiq

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/navtactiq/id6743174726)

This sailing and navigation tool offers a race-optimized countdown timer and a highly readable compass display. Designed by a competitive sailor, it provides a tactical advantage on the water with features like always-on mode and efficient battery performance.

**Highlights:** Race-optimized countdown timer, Super-readable compass display, Always-on mode, Night mode and color themes, Ultra-efficient battery performance, One-time purchase with lifetime updates

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sail Buddy free?

Sail Buddy costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Navtactiq free?

Navtactiq costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Sail Buddy or Navtactiq?

Navtactiq is rated higher. Sail Buddy averages 4.4 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Navtactiq averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do Sail Buddy or Navtactiq have ads?

Neither Sail Buddy nor Navtactiq shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sail Buddy or Navtactiq?

Sail Buddy ships an update every 6 months, and Navtactiq monthly. Most recently, Sail Buddy was updated on October 24, 2026 and Navtactiq on October 28, 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.*