Comparison

OpenWind vs iStreams Dover Strait

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

Head to head
About

OpenWind

This application connects to a specialized instrument to display real-time sailing data, including vessel pitch and roll, compass readings, and wind speed and direction. It also provides insights into the instrument's battery level and Bluetooth connection strength. The app requires a connection to the OW instrument to function.

Highlights
  • Real-time sailing data display
  • Vessel pitch and roll monitoring
  • True and apparent wind data
  • Compass and course over ground
  • Instrument battery level
  • Bluetooth connection strength
Features
Read full description

The OpenWind App is an extension for the OpenWind instrument, designed to receive all the Data measured during sail time, such as: - pitch/roll of the vessel - compass - true wind speed and direction - apparent wind speed and direction - course over ground - speed over ground The App also gives information about the battery level of the instrument and the strength of the bluetooth connection. The App only works after connecting to the OW instrument. UDP NMEA 0183 output sentences for AWA/AWS and TWA/TWS

About

iStreams Dover Strait

Read full description

iStreams gives you instant access to the Dover Strait tidal stream atlas, aligned to the current time using High Water at Dover — even when you're offline. Whether you're sailing, navigating coastal waters, or passage planning, iStreams helps you understand tidal flow quickly and accurately. Key Features: Real-time tidal stream charts Automatically displays the correct hourly chart based on the nearest Dover High Water time. Fully offline functionality (forecast link requires a connection) No signal? No problem. All charts and tools work without internet access. Automatic chart updates As time progresses, the app switches to the next valid tidal period. Swipe forward and backward through tidal hours with ease. Pinch to zoom and drag to explore details. Toggle between Local Time and UTC. Show boat position on the chart Navigation Tools: Interpolated Rate Calculator * Instantly calculate stream rate between neaps and springs. Tidal Set Tool (In-App Purchase) * Measure the true direction of tidal stream arrows with precision. Course to Steer (CTS) (In-App Purchase) * Calculate the correct heading to maintain your intended course. How It Works: iStreams automatically selects the nearest High Water at Dover and displays the corresponding tidal stream chart. Want to plan ahead or review earlier conditions? Simply swipe forward or backward through the tidal hours to view past or future data. Why Choose iStreams? Designed for sailors, navigators, and coastal users Fast, clear, and easy-to-use interface Accurate tidal data when you need it most

Screenshots

OpenWind4 screens
iStreams Dover Strait4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenWind at none against iStreams Dover Strait's 6. OpenWind also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and device support (5 vs 2). On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. iStreams Dover Strait sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. OpenWind asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OpenWind ships an update fortnightly, iStreams Dover Strait every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
OpenWind versus iStreams Dover Strait: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenWindiStreams Dover Strait
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.1 — better18.4
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael LiesenbergNavtech Software

In-app purchases

None

OpenWind

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

iStreams Dover Strait

One-time6
  • Unlock 'Set' tool$1.99
  • Dover Tides 2019$2.99
  • 6 Month Subscription$2.99
Show 3 more
  • 1 Month Subscription$2.99
  • Unlock CTS tool$3.99
  • 1 Year Subscription$5.99

Questions

Is OpenWind free?
OpenWind is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is iStreams Dover Strait free?
iStreams Dover Strait is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do OpenWind or iStreams Dover Strait have ads?
Neither OpenWind nor iStreams Dover Strait shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OpenWind or iStreams Dover Strait?
OpenWind ships an update fortnightly, and iStreams Dover Strait every 3 months. Most recently, OpenWind was updated on October 7, 2026 and iStreams Dover Strait on October 12, 2026.

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