TZ iBoat vs Nearest Light
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TZ iBoat
Navigate the seas with advanced marine charts, GPS, and AIS data, even offline. This app offers detailed bathymetry, community-contributed map data, and dynamic features for safe boating, sailing, and fishing.
- Offline marine charts
- GPS and route planning
- AIS Online tracking
- Community map contributions
- Dynamic mooring and lighting
- Advanced fishing tools
- Tides and tidal currents
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Your next-generation chartplotter. Navigate with the world’s #1 marine charts app for coastal boating, sailing, and fishing. Marine GPS, nautical charts, AIS Online, tides & tidal currents, anchoring, marine weather, radar, sounder, and NMEA data — everything you need for safer navigation at sea. Built for sailors, boaters, and fishermen who need reliable navigation anywhere, online or offline. THE SMARTEST AND CLEAREST NAVIGATION INTERFACE AT SEA A cutting-edge interface makes navigation clearer and faster: • TZ Bar: quick access to key features • Dedicated screens: Weather, Fishing, NavData, Logbook, Mooring, Tides, Sounder • Cleaner chart view, easier to read • Customizable interface for faster access • Modern design focused on readability WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH TZ iBoat • Navigate with marine GPS and nautical charts • Monitor AIS targets locally and globally • Plan routes and anchor safely • Access tides, currents, and weather forecasts • Fish smarter using oceanographic data FOR SAILORS & BOATERS – Navigate safely • TZ MAPS: vector, raster, satellite, and bathymetry charts • SMART SEARCH: find marinas, buoys, tide stations, routes • DYNAMIC LIGHTS: real-time light sectors • DYNAMIC MOORINGS: wind-aware anchorage • Precise GPS for coastal navigation AIS & SAFETY – Stay aware beyond your horizon • AIS ONLINE: global AIS targets via internet (Essential plan) • Share AIS data with the community • Radar and onboard instrument integration • Real-time traffic awareness for safer navigation FOR FISHERMEN – Gain the edge Turn ocean data into real fishing results: • Identify productive zones using SST, chlorophyll, currents, altimetry (Elite plan) • Spot fish-holding conditions faster • BATHYVISION: high-resolution bathymetry with contour lines • Target high-potential areas with precision • EVENT & CATCH: log and analyze catches on nautical charts WEATHER – Clearer and more useful • Dedicated Weather screen • Real-time forecasts and offline access • Rain Radar with lightning data • High-resolution models available in Premium plan • Iridium GO! compatibility CONNECTIVITY & PRECISION • NMEA connectivity: manage and prioritize data sources • Connect AIS, radar, autopilot, and instruments • Latitude/longitude keyboard optimized for use at sea • Easy coordinate entry with multiple formats COMMUNITY & ECOSYSTEM • COMMUNITY MAPS: share local knowledge (hazards, POIs, marinas) • Contribute and improve charts • Trusted by 500,000+ boaters worldwide SUBSCRIPTION PLANS Choose the plan that fits your needs: • Essential: AIS Online, onboard instruments, autopilot integration via Wi-Fi NMEA • Premium: Essential + high-resolution forecasts, Rain Radar, multiple models, comparison • Elite: Premium + ocean layers (SST, Chlorophyll, SSH, Currents). Monthly and annual plans available, with savings on yearly options. Core features remain available for free. CHARTS AND DATA PLANS SUBSCRIPTIONS: The payment will be debited from the Apple account once the purchase is confirmed. The subscriptions and automatic renewals can be managed by entering the account settings after making the purchase. Any unused part of a free trial period, if offered, will be lost when a subscription is purchased. Terms of use: https://mytimezero.com/eula/ Privacy policy: https://mytimezero.com/privacy-statement/
Nearest Light
This app provides U.S. water navigation information, displaying your location and details on nearby aids like buoys and lights. It downloads weekly U.S. Coast Guard Light List data and includes relevant Local Notice for Mariners information.
- Displays user location
- Shows surrounding aids to navigation
- Downloads weekly U.S. Coast Guard Light List
- Includes Local Notice for Mariners
- Supports multiple U.S. Coast Guard districts
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Nearest Light is a informational aid for U.S. waters that shows your location and details on all surrounding aids to navigation (buoys, lights, etc) within your Area of Interest. The app downloads the weekly U.S. Coast Guard Light List for your district, and then shows the aids within your Area of Interest and their details. Any applicable Local Notice for Mariners information is also shown with the light data. Refer to the User Manual (url in Settings) for additional information. Districts: D1, D5, D7, D8, D8WR, D9, D11, D13, D14, D17 (ref: https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=lightLists) Warning: Nearest Light, which provides Light List data, is not intended to be used in place of charts or Coast Pilots. Charts should be consulted for the location of all aids to navigation. It may be dangerous to use aids to navigation without reference to charts.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: TZ iBoat at 4.6 against Nearest Light's 3.9. TZ iBoat also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (887 vs 7). Nearest Light's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price, ads, device support 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
Both are free to download. TZ iBoat sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Nearest Light asks for nothing beyond the download.
TZ iBoat holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: TZ iBoat has 887 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of TZ iBoat's written reviews are positive against 67% of Nearest Light's.
TZ iBoat ships an update every 8 days, Nearest Light every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TZ iBoat | Nearest Light |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (887 ratings) — better | 3.9 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 79.4% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 887 — better | 7 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #82 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.2 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 428 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nobeltec, Inc. | Clint O'Connor |
Customer experience
TZ iBoat
Nearest Light
Bugs and requests
TZ iBoat
Reported bugs
3 issues- GPS position not updating reliably while moving
- Radar overlay not functioning properly
- Compatibility issues with older devices or iOS versions
Requested features
5 requests- Automatic routing and trip planning
- Improved satellite imagery and overlays
- Better integration with other marine electronics
- More customization options for data displays
- Ability to mirror camera feeds as a rear-view
Nearest Light
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
TZ iBoat
- Essential Subscription$2.991 Month
- Premium Subscription$9.991 Month
- Great Lakes7 Days trial$19.991 Year
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- Canada West7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- USA7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Bahamas7 Days trial$30.991 Year
- Central America & Caribbean7 Days trial$30.991 Year
- Elite Subscription$39.991 Month
- AIS module$8.99
- Radar module$49.99
Nearest Light
No in-app purchases








