Comparison

Helmsman's Kit vs OceanPilot

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

Head to head
About

Helmsman's Kit

This navigation app provides essential yacht cockpit features, including a spherical compass, man-over-board alerts, and anchor watch. It offers offline charts, weather overlays, and marine instrument displays for a comprehensive sailing experience.

Highlights
  • Spherical compass display
  • Man-over-board button with direction/distance
  • Anchor watch with forwarding
  • Offline chart caching
  • Weather overlay (wind, waves, temp, pressure)
  • Marine instruments display (position, heading, speed)
  • Track export in GPX format
Features
Read full description

This app combines the essential features you need in the cockpit of your yacht, optimized for easy and fast usage. • Display of a spherical compass as you are used to. • Man-over-board button, display direction/distance with compass. • Anchor watch with forwarding to a second device. • Bearing compass. • Charts with sea signs. • Offline charts by caching of all chart access. • Weather overlay: wind, waves, temperature, pressure. • Tracking optimized for boats. • Full access to and export of the tracks in standard format (GPX). • Post images of your tracks on social media. • Marine instruments display with the standard values: Position, Heading, Speed over ground, Course over Ground, Heel, Log, Average speed, Time. No account or registration required, even not for forwarding the anchor watch alarm to a second iPhone or iPad!

About

OceanPilot

Features
Read full description

Leinen los – und alles im Griff. OceanPilot verwandelt dein Smartphone in ein vollwertiges Bord-Cockpit: navigieren, planen, Wetter checken und Logbuch führen – alles in einer App, von Seglern für Segler. Schluss mit Zettel-Chaos und fünf verschiedenen Apps. OceanPilot bringt Seekarte, Routenplanung, Wetter und Logbuch zusammen – aufgeräumt, schnell und auch offline einsatzbereit. WAS DICH AN BORD ERWARTET - Navigation & Seekarte – Position, Tiefen und Seezeichen immer im Blick - Routenplanung mit Wind-Routing – der optimale Schlag für dein Segelboot, automatisch berechnet - Wetter & Wind an Bord – Vorhersage und Windfeld auf einen Tipp - Törn-Aufzeichnung – Track, Distanz und Geschwindigkeit laufen automatisch mit - Digitales Logbuch & Meilenlog – jede Seemeile sauber dokumentiert - AIS in der Nähe – andere Schiffe rechtzeitig erkennen - Offline-Seekarten – navigieren auch ohne Empfang - Community-Spots – Ankerplätze, Häfen und Geheimtipps anderer Segler entdecken und selbst teilen - Reisebuch – deine schönsten Törn-Momente als Erinnerung FÜR JEDEN AN BORD Ob entspannter Tagestörn, Flottille oder lange Blauwasser-Etappe – OceanPilot wächst mit deinen Ansprüchen und hält dir den Rücken frei, damit du dich aufs Segeln konzentrieren kannst. Lade OceanPilot und mach dein nächstes Ablegen entspannter. Fair winds!

Screenshots

Helmsman's Kit4 screens
OceanPilot4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: OceanPilot at Free against Helmsman's Kit's $1.99. OceanPilot also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 7 months). Helmsman's Kit's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

OceanPilot is free to download; Helmsman's Kit costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Helmsman's Kit ships an update every 7 months, OceanPilot every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Helmsman's Kit versus OceanPilot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHelmsman's KitOceanPilot
Price$1.99Free — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB144 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperDr. Harald Merkelsli.communication ltd liab. co

In-app purchases

None

Helmsman's Kit

No in-app purchases

None

OceanPilot

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Helmsman's Kit free?
Helmsman's Kit costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is OceanPilot free?
OceanPilot is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Helmsman's Kit or OceanPilot have ads?
Neither Helmsman's Kit nor OceanPilot shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Helmsman's Kit or OceanPilot?
Helmsman's Kit ships an update every 7 months, and OceanPilot every 3 days. Most recently, Helmsman's Kit was updated on October 13, 2026 and OceanPilot on October 4, 2026.

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