# AV Assistant vs Coastal Explorer

The clearest difference is rating: AV Assistant at 5.0 against Coastal Explorer's 2.8. AV Assistant also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 14.0). Coastal Explorer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (16 vs 4). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Coastal Explorer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. AV Assistant asks for nothing beyond the download.

AV Assistant holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 16 respectively.

AV Assistant ships an update every 2 months, Coastal Explorer every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AV Assistant | Coastal Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/av-assistant/id1381484046/reviews)** | [2.8 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coastal-explorer/id1452017231/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **16** |
| Positive reviews | — | 11.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Clint O'Connor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1381484045) | [Rose Point Navigation Systems, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1078421951) |

## What reviewers say

### AV Assistant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/av-assistant/id1381484046)

This app provides U.S. waters navigation information, displaying your location and details of surrounding aids like buoys and lights. It downloads weekly U.S. Coast Guard Light List data and includes relevant Local Notice for Mariners information. It also allows users to report discrepancies in navigation aids to the U.S. Coast Guard.

**Highlights:** Location-based aid display, U.S. Coast Guard Light List data, Local Notice for Mariners integration, Discrepancy reporting to USCG, Informational aid for U.S. waters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Coastal Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coastal-explorer/id1452017231)

Plan and log your cruises with detailed nautical charts and weather forecasts. Enhance your experience with a subscription for offline access, real-time navigation, and integration with marine electronics.

**Highlights:** View NOAA and USACE nautical charts, Create routes and waypoints, Cloud synchronization, ActiveCaptain points of interest, US Coast Pilot information, Marine weather forecasts, Tide and current predictions

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AV Assistant free?

AV Assistant is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Coastal Explorer free?

Coastal Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, AV Assistant or Coastal Explorer?

AV Assistant is rated higher. AV Assistant averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Coastal Explorer averages 2.8 from 16 ratings.

### Do AV Assistant or Coastal Explorer have ads?

Neither AV Assistant nor Coastal Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AV Assistant or Coastal Explorer?

AV Assistant ships an update every 2 months, and Coastal Explorer every 2 weeks. Most recently, AV Assistant was updated on September 23, 2026 and Coastal Explorer on September 21, 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.*