Comparison

WilhelmSK vs Cortex Onboard

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

Head to head
About

WilhelmSK

This app provides a customizable dashboard for monitoring and controlling boat systems. It integrates with various marine electronics and offers features like alarm notifications, autopilot control, and chart display.

Highlights
  • Customizable display and monitoring dashboard
  • Integrates with Signal K Server and various marine devices
  • Autopilot control and monitoring
  • Active Captain Points of Interest display
  • Alarms and push notifications
  • Navionics chart display
  • Customizable gauges and layouts
Features
Read full description

WilhelmSK is a highly customizable display, monitoring and control dashboard for your boat. WilhelmSK works best wth Signal K Server . It can also connect directly to some devices: º NMEA 0183 over TCP or UDP. (from for example, Digital Yacht's Smart WLN10) º Any modern Navico (Lowrance, Simnet or B&G) GoFree MFDs º NMEA 2000 via Yacht Device's YDWG-02, YDEN º NMEA 2000 via Actisense W2k-1 or W2K-2 º Victron Venus GX or CCGX º Victron VRM º Chetco SeaSmart Devices º Chetco HelmSmart RayMarine and Simrad/B&G Auto Pilot Support (via node-server or the YDWG only, W2K-1) º View or change current mode º View current target heading or Wind direction º Change target heading or Wind direction Alarms and Notifications º View list of current current alarms º Push notification support * º Setup server side alarms * º Set an anchor alarm with the push of a button * Navionics Maps If you already have the Navionics Boating application with an active subscription, you can now use the same Navionics charts in WilhelmSK. Ensure you are a registered user with Navionics and have a Username and Password. If you have not registered, go to the Navionics Boating App’s Main Menu, click on the top “Me” option and then click Login. In WilhelmSK click the login button on the bottom right of the map and enter your Navionics login information. Features: - Raymarine MFD: display and interact with a RayMarine MFD (discovered via Bonjour) - Fusion stereo (control zone volumes, source input, play, pause etc.) - Create a gauge for any value available via SignalK - Sophisticated anchor alarm (requires node server and signalk-anchoralarm-plugin) - Customize gauge display using SignalK meta.zones - Customize gauge range, min/max, etc. - Save custom gauges to node server or the cloud for use on other devices - Wind Angle gauges can optionaly be rotated so that they always point ot the bow of the boat, regaurless of device positioning - Place gauges by long pressing on a gauge and choosing a differnt one - Make a gauge full screen by double tapping - Multiple layout support. Create a differnt layout for Steaming, Sailing, Home Monitoring, etc. - Customize the nuber of pages and their layout - Manuall connection configuration synced accross devices via iCloud - Automatic connection selection based on current ip (usefull when Bonjour is not available and you have multiple boats) - Two themes, dark and light - Animated gauge needles - iPad Slideover and Split View support (Your gauge configuration can be customized for these views) - Connections can be configured to be refreshed manually or at a specific time interval - Design your own custom gauge templates - Share your custom templates via Air Drop, eMail, Text, etc. - Edit ApplyTV or other device layouts and templates remotely using your iPhone or iPad - Most gauges can be configured to be digital or analog - Enter the SignalK path and title for any gauge to show data not supported by default - Displays AIS targets in the Map views - Configure node server plugins inside of the app - IP and RTSP camera display * Some advanced features require signalk-server-node and special plugins installed. Setup Instructions at https://github.com/sbender9/wilhelmsk-node-server-setup

About

Cortex Onboard

This app allows you to configure and update your marine electronics from your mobile device. Monitor vessel data, receive alerts, and manage features like Anchor Watch from anywhere on board.

Highlights
  • Configure and update Cortex devices
  • View AIS information and alerts
  • Manage Anchor Watch
  • Monitor vessel sensors
  • Connect NMEA 2000 instruments
Read full description

Cortex Onboard is free with your Cortex. Use it to configure your Cortex Hub and download updates to your Cortex devices with new features and improvements. You can also use Cortex Onboard to receive and manage alerts, view AIS information and instrument data anywhere on board your boat. View out-of-the-box sensors or NMEA 2000 networked instruments. - Setup is easy and free. - Use Cortex Onboard to configure and update your Cortex devices easily. - View AIS information and receive alerts on board direct to your device. - Manage Anchor Watch from the palm of your hand anywhere on board. - Use the Cortex Hub’s built-in sensors for battery level, barometric pressure and boat position. - Connect your Cortex Hub to NMEA 2000, or an external sensor, to add monitoring for wind, depth, bilge high water, temperature, shore power or security. - The Cortex Hub supports up to 10 WiFi devices (includes Handsets).

Screenshots

WilhelmSK4 screens
Cortex Onboard4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cortex Onboard at Free against WilhelmSK's $19.99. WilhelmSK's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 3.8) and review sentiment (80% vs 56%). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Cortex Onboard is free to download; WilhelmSK costs $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

WilhelmSK holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of WilhelmSK's written reviews are positive against 56% of Cortex Onboard's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and June 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
WilhelmSK versus Cortex Onboard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWilhelmSKCortex Onboard
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (28 ratings) — better3.8 (12 ratings)
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews — better55.6% of reviews
Number of ratings28 — better12
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size118 MB376 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScott BenderGarmin New Zealand Ltd

Customer experience

WilhelmSK

All ratings28 ratings
Positive89.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.7%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

Cortex Onboard

All ratings12 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral11.1%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

WilhelmSK

No in-app purchases

None

Cortex Onboard

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WilhelmSK free?
WilhelmSK costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cortex Onboard free?
Cortex Onboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, WilhelmSK or Cortex Onboard?
WilhelmSK is rated higher. WilhelmSK averages 4.5 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Cortex Onboard averages 3.8 from 12 ratings.
Do WilhelmSK or Cortex Onboard have ads?
Neither WilhelmSK nor Cortex Onboard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WilhelmSK or Cortex Onboard?
WilhelmSK ships an update every 2 months, and Cortex Onboard every 2 months. Most recently, WilhelmSK was updated on September 11, 2026 and Cortex Onboard on June 7, 2026.

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