Comparison

OpenWind vs Anchor Alarm

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

OpenWind bringt Wind-, Lage- und Bootsdaten vom Masttopp auf iPhone, iPad und Apple Watch – drahtlos, ohne Kabel durch den Mast. INSTRUMENTE • Scheinbarer und wahrer Wind: AWA, AWS, TWA, TWS, TWD, VMG, SOG und COG • Krängung und Trimm, Kurs, Startuhr mit Countdown, Sync und Startlinie • Alle Werte auf einer Seite, große Ziffern auch in der Sonne lesbar, dunkler und heller Modus DIAGRAMME • Wind, wahrer Wind, Windrichtung, Boot, VMG und Krängung über bis zu 2 Stunden • Diagramm berühren und alle Werte zu diesem Zeitpunkt ablesen • Wenden und Halsen markiert, Dreher (Lift/Header) auf der Windrichtung • Polardiagramm mit % vom Ziel: eigene Polare beim Segeln lernen oder eine von über 280 Bootspolaren wählen KARTE • Dein Boot mit scheinbarem und wahrem Wind, Kurslinie und Laylines zur Tonne • Seezeichen (OpenSeaMap), Tiefenlinien für Europa (EMODnet) und kostenlose amtliche Seekarten für USA, Kanada, Finnland, Norwegen und Neuseeland • Track aufzeichnen und als GPX teilen GERÄTE • OpenWind Windsensor, NMEAkit / NMEAString (NMEA-2000-Gateway mit Tiefe, Fahrt durchs Wasser und Wassertemperatur) und DisplayKit (Cockpit-Display) • Automatische Quellenwahl: OpenWind zuerst, NMEAkit oder DisplayKit übernehmen • Kalibrierung, Drehmast-Kompensation mit Kalibrierung per Finger, Offsets und Firmware-Updates über Bluetooth • DisplayKit: Dashboards, Anzeige-Einstellungen, Wegpunkte und Track-Download AUSSERDEM • Alarme für Windstärke, Anker, Winddreher und Tiefe • Live-Aktivität auf dem Sperrbildschirm und in der Dynamic Island, Widgets • Apple-Watch-App mit Wind, Werten, Tiefe und Startuhr • NMEA 0183 ($WIMWV) per UDP für Navigations-Apps • Deutsch, Englisch, Dänisch, Spanisch, Französisch, Norwegisch, Niederländisch, Portugiesisch und Schwedisch Karten und Tiefendaten dienen nur zur Information und nicht zur Navigation.

About

Anchor Alarm

This app monitors your boat's position when anchored, alerting you if it drifts outside a set radius. It provides real-time distance, speed, and direction from your anchor point, with voice notifications and background tracking. View your drift history on standard or satellite maps.

Highlights
  • One-tap anchor set
  • Real-time drift tracking
  • Customizable alert radius
  • Background location tracking
  • Voice notifications
  • Drift history visualization
Features
Read full description

Dropped anchor for the night? VirtualAnchor watches your position and warns you the moment your boat drags outside the radius you set — so you find out from an alert, not from waking up somewhere else. Set your anchor point with one tap. VirtualAnchor tracks your live distance, drift speed and direction from that point, on a map that updates in real time. BUILT FOR STAYING AT ANCHOR - One-tap anchor set from wherever you are right now - Live distance, drift speed and direction, always visible - Alert radius you choose, in meters, kilometers or nautical miles - Background location tracking keeps watching even while the app is closed or your phone is asleep - Voice notifications call out your distance at the interval you pick — useful when you are not looking at the screen - Auto Anchor can detect when your boat has actually stopped and set the anchor point for you SEE WHAT HAPPENED, NOT JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING - Standard or satellite map, switch anytime - Past anchor points stay marked on the map so you can see where you have anchored before - Drift track drawn as you go, so a dragging anchor is visible at a glance HONEST AND OFFLINE-FIRST - No account, no ads, no subscription - One-time purchase, use it every trip - iPhone and iPad VirtualAnchor is a watch aid, not a substitute for standing anchor watch, proper scope, or your vessel's anchor alarm equipment. Always follow safe seamanship practice. Whether you are anchoring for a lunch stop or settling in for the night, VirtualAnchor tells you the moment things start to drift. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

OpenWind4 screens
Anchor Alarm4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: OpenWind at Free against Anchor Alarm's $2.19. OpenWind also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and device support (4 vs 2). Anchor Alarm's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). On review sentiment, ads and iOS requirement 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

OpenWind is free to download; Anchor Alarm costs $2.19 up front. Anchor Alarm sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. OpenWind asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OpenWind ships an update every 2 weeks, Anchor Alarm weekly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
OpenWind versus Anchor Alarm: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpenWindAnchor Alarm
PriceFree — better$2.19
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size41 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael LiesenbergNetflowers Inc.

Customer experience

OpenWind

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Anchor Alarm

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

OpenWind

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Anchor Alarm

Subscriptions2
  • VirtualAnchor$1.991 Month
  • VirtualAnchor$19.991 Year

Questions

Is OpenWind free?
OpenWind is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Anchor Alarm free?
Anchor Alarm costs $2.19, and also offers in-app purchases.
Do OpenWind or Anchor Alarm have ads?
Neither OpenWind nor Anchor Alarm shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OpenWind or Anchor Alarm?
OpenWind ships an update every 2 weeks, and Anchor Alarm weekly. Most recently, OpenWind was updated on October 24, 2026 and Anchor Alarm on October 24, 2026.

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