# RCR SOS vs Open Canal Map UK

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: RCR SOS at none against Open Canal Map UK's 1. Open Canal Map UK's advantage is review sentiment (59% vs 25%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 32 months). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Open Canal Map UK sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. RCR SOS asks for nothing beyond the download.

RCR SOS ships an update every 32 months, Open Canal Map UK every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RCR SOS | Open Canal Map UK |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.4 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-canal-map-uk/id1380322683/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **11** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **59.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 32 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 2 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [River Canal Rescue](https://appshunter.io/developer/1166619647) | [Tom Sapey](https://appshunter.io/developer/1547266625) |

## What reviewers say

### RCR SOS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rcr-sos/id1306899963)

Instantly request assistance for breakdowns, emergencies, or repairs with a single tap. The app sends your precise GPS location to help engineers find you quickly. It works even without an internet connection, using SMS for requests with a valid signal.

**Highlights:** One-click assistance request, GPS location sharing, SMS request option, Breakdown and emergency alerts, Repair request functionality

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Open Canal Map UK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/open-canal-map-uk/id1380322683)

Navigate the UK's waterways with a comprehensive map of canals and rivers. Discover points of interest like locks, services, and commercial amenities. Contribute to the community by adding new locations and keeping the map up-to-date.

**Highlights:** UK canal and river mapping, Points of interest (locks, bridges, services), User contributions and updates, Boater services (water, pumpouts), Commercial services for cruisers, Automatic map updates

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Adverts Permently | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Very useful for canal navigation
- 🗺️ Great interactive maps
- 💡 Rich with information
- 🆓 Free to use
- 🚀 Works well with GPS

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Ads are intrusive and polluting
- 🐛 Location not found after update
- ⚠️ Static info is outdated
- ❓ No mechanism to report errors
- ⏳ Lacks ETA feature

**Reported bugs**

- Location not found after update
- Tow path closure location incorrect
- Locks have disappeared from the Thames map
- App icon changed, graphics horrid
- Stopped working on iPad

**Requested features**

- Add ETA feature
- Include widths, depths, and air height of canals
- Option to change text size
- Option to switch off blurry Google map overlay
- Add map legends


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RCR SOS free?

RCR SOS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Open Canal Map UK free?

Open Canal Map UK is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do RCR SOS or Open Canal Map UK have ads?

Neither RCR SOS nor Open Canal Map UK shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RCR SOS or Open Canal Map UK?

RCR SOS ships an update every 32 months, and Open Canal Map UK every 2 weeks. Most recently, RCR SOS was updated on November 4, 2026 and Open Canal Map UK on November 6, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*