# TZ iBoat vs Nearest Light

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | TZ iBoat | Nearest Light |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (887 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tz-iboat-marine-navigation/id1312769833/reviews)** | [3.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nearest-light/id1393531030/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **887** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **79.4% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#82** | — |
| Size | 428 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.2 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nobeltec, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1312769832) | [Clint O'Connor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1381484045) |

## What reviewers say

### TZ iBoat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tz-iboat-marine-navigation/id1312769833)

**Currently charting:** #82 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Essential Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Great Lakes | $19.99 | per year |
| Canada West | $19.99 | per year |
| USA | $19.99 | per year |
| Bahamas | $30.99 | per year |
| Central America & Caribbean | $30.99 | per year |
| Elite Subscription | $39.99 | per month |
| AIS module | $8.99 | one-time |
| Radar module | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Accurate charts
- 🚀 Useful features (weather, tides, currents, etc.)
- 🚀 Good integration with Furuno radar and AIS
- 🚀 Seamless cloud sync between devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezing
- 🐛 Inaccurate or outdated charts in some areas
- 🐛 Anchor alarm not loud enough
- 🐛 Difficulty importing/managing routes and waypoints
- 🔋 Battery drain on mobile devices

**Reported bugs**

- GPS position not updating reliably while moving
- Radar overlay not functioning properly
- Compatibility issues with older devices or iOS versions

**Requested features**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nearest-light/id1393531030)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

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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.*