LZ North vs SailControl
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
LZ North
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This Application is made by the National Air Ambulance Services of Norway for operators and partners in order to find and maintain Landing Zone information while operating off base. The App includes high resolution maps over Norway with display of aviation obstacles such as power lines, towers and masts in addition to detailed description and pictures of Landing Zones. The application is open for public use, landing zones layer is restricted to user groups and companies/operators which are approved by the National Air Ambulance Services of Norway. LZ North Civilian + is an optional subscription that gives access to aviation obstacles and archives with map data for offline use. LZ North Civilian + will be charged to your App Store Account at confirmation of purchase. Your account will be charged at the same price for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the subscription period. Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renewal is turned off (at least 24 hours before the end of the current period). You can manage your subscriptions or cancel auto-renewal at any time either from the Library menu or via your Account Settings in the App Store. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
SailControl
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SailControl transforms your device into a professional-grade navigation and performance assistant. Seamlessly connecting with your vessel’s AIS and NMEA chartplotter, it brings your full instrument panel to your iPhone and Apple Watch. By combining real-time AIS target tracking, wind metrics, speed insights, GPS positioning, and onboard sensor data, SailControl gives you an all-in-one situational awareness solution - right in your pocket. Whether you’re a competitive sailing athlete striving for performance gains, a recreational sailor seeking safety and confidence offshore, or a professional mariner managing critical navigation tasks, SailControl adapts to your needs: - Sailing Races: Gain a competitive edge by tracking rivals in real time, analyzing their speed and course, and adjusting your sails or maneuvers with precision to outpace the fleet. - Recreational Sailors: Sail with confidence using clear visualizations of vessel traffic, wind conditions, and speed insights for safer, more enjoyable cruising. - Mariners & Captains: Enhance safety with precise motion telemetry, and situational awareness in challenging waters. - Vessel Spotters & Enthusiasts: Identify ships, monitor movement patterns, and log encounters with professional accuracy. - Marine Researchers & Surveyors: Collect reliable positional and telemetry data for studies, inspections, or field operations. - Coast Guards & Rescue Teams: Benefit from fast, portable vessel identification tools that complement onboard systems during operations. Built with SwiftUI and a modular real-time architecture, SailControl ensures seamless performance, high reliability, and a modern, customizable interface. From improving racing strategies to increasing safety at sea, it is the go-to digital cockpit for anyone passionate about the maritime world. To receive AIS and NMEA data, you need to configure the IP of your vessel’s AIS and NMEA chartplotter, SailControl Pro requires a subscription. A 7-day trial period is offered so that you can explore the PRO features. SailControl Pro includes: - Advanced vessel filters: search by name, MMSI, and more - Advanced NMEA instruments: Apparent Wind, True Wind, ARPA radar, Motion Sensors, GPS status - Unlimited “My Vessels” tracking: Add more than two(2) vessels to your tracking list - Map recording and Race data export: save and share your tracks, export time/laps as images or to Apple Health - Personalised settings: sort by distance, set max-distance filters - AIS/NMEA parsing controls: choose exactly which messages to process - Underway-only view: display vessels currently underway, to reduce lag in crowded areas - AI Bow Sentry (Experimental): Use artificial intelligence to analyze a live camera feed from your iPhone or an RTSP camera installed near the bow of your vessel. AI Bow Sentry assists in detecting potential obstacles and collision risks by identifying objects ahead of the boat and improving forward awareness. - AI Sail Trim Assistant (Experimental): Receive AI-powered sail trimming insights using your iPhone camera or an RTSP camera positioned near the steering area. SailControl analyzes sail shape and provides experimental recommendations to help optimize trimming decisions and sailing efficiency. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.defendcyberspace.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
LZ North and SailControl are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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. LZ North sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $18.49 per year and SailControl sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
LZ North ships an update every 3 months, SailControl every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | LZ North | SailControl |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.5 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 49 MB | 63 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Luftambulansetjenesten HF | Defend Cyberspace |
In-app purchases
LZ North
- LZ North Civilian + (1 year)$18.491 Year
SailControl
- Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- Annual7 Days trial$14.991 Year









