Comparison

TZ iBoat vs Nearest Light

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Offline marine charts
  • GPS and route planning
  • AIS Online tracking
  • Community map contributions
  • Dynamic mooring and lighting
  • Advanced fishing tools
  • Tides and tidal currents
Features
Read full description

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/

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

TZ iBoat4 screens
Nearest Light4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
TZ iBoat versus Nearest Light: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTZ iBoatNearest Light
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (887 ratings) — better3.9 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews79.4% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings887 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#82 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.213.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size428 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNobeltec, Inc.Clint O'Connor

Customer experience

TZ iBoat

All ratings885 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral3.2%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews394 reviews
Positive79.4%
Neutral7.4%
Negative13.2%

Nearest Light

All ratings6 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

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

10 purchases

TZ iBoat

Subscriptions8
  • Essential Subscription$2.991 Month
  • Premium Subscription$9.991 Month
  • Great Lakes7 Days trial$19.991 Year
Show 5 more
  • 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
One-time2
  • AIS module$8.99
  • Radar module$49.99
None

Nearest Light

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TZ iBoat free?
TZ iBoat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nearest Light free?
Nearest Light is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TZ iBoat or Nearest Light?
TZ iBoat is rated higher. TZ iBoat averages 4.6 out of 5 from 887 ratings, while Nearest Light averages 3.9 from 7 ratings.
Do TZ iBoat or Nearest Light have ads?
Neither TZ iBoat nor Nearest Light shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TZ iBoat or Nearest Light?
TZ iBoat ships an update every 8 days, and Nearest Light every 3 months. Most recently, TZ iBoat was updated on November 6, 2026 and Nearest Light on November 2, 2026.

Other comparisons