Comparison

Nearest Light vs Ditch

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

Head to head
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.

About

Ditch

Enhance your boating experience with intelligent routing and accurate arrival time predictions. Visualize historical vessel traffic and customize charts for a personalized view of waterways, ensuring safer and more confident journeys on the water.

Highlights
  • AI-powered smart routing
  • Accurate ETA predictions
  • Historical AIS data visualization
  • Customizable marine charts
  • Live navigation view
  • Up-to-date waterway information
Features
Read full description

Ditch: Boat Navigation Reimagined. Ditch empowers captains with smarter, safer routes and unparalleled confidence on the water. Try it free for two weeks! SMART PATH™ Our unique routing algorithm analyzes billions of data points, including historical AIS data, to create the safest, most efficient path for your boat. It's like having years of local knowledge distilled into every journey. SMART ETA No more guessing arrival times. Ditch factors in the slower no-wake zones, and your cruising speed, to provide more accurate ETAs, taking the guesswork out of your journey. Ditch is not designed to replace your existing navigation tools, but to enhance them. Think of it as your trusted second opinion, providing an extra layer of confidence so you can focus on enjoying your time on the water. Additional Key Features AIS DATA See where other boats have traveled. Visualize historical AIS data directly on your charts to identify popular and safe routes. CUSTOMIZABLE CHARTS Tailor your charts to your needs. Filter data based on local captains, recency, and boat length, to get a personalized view of the waterways. LIVE NAVIGATION VIEW See real-time updates on route distance, time to arrival, and SOG while underway. UP-TO-DATE DATA We prioritize the freshest most recent information. CONSTANTLY EVOLVING Our routing AI algorithm is always learning and improving. UNPARALLELED DETAIL Combining NOAA charts, USACE surveys, and historical AIS. AI POWERED Our cutting-edge technology analyzes millions of miles of real-world boating data. SIMPLE & INTUITIVE Our uncluttered interface puts the focus on your route, making navigation effortless and enjoyable. EFFORTLESS EXPLORATION Focus on the joy of boating, not just navigation. After your free trial, enjoy a full year of Ditch for only $29.99. Download Ditch today and experience the boat navigation reimagined! Terms of Use: https://ditchnavigation.com/ditch-terms-of-use/ Privacy Policy: https://ditchnavigation.com/privacy-policy/

Screenshots

Nearest Light4 screens
Ditch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nearest Light at none against Ditch's 2. Nearest Light also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). Ditch's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (22 vs 6). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Ditch sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per year. Nearest Light asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ditch holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6 and 22 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Nearest Light's written reviews are positive against 64% of Ditch's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nearest Light ships an update every 3 months, Ditch monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Nearest Light versus Ditch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNearest LightDitch
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (6 ratings)3.9 (22 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better64.3% of reviews
Number of ratings622 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB72 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperClint O'ConnorExtent Devices LLC

Customer experience

Nearest Light

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

Ditch

All ratings22 ratings
Positive72.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative27.3%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive64.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative35.7%

In-app purchases

None

Nearest Light

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Ditch

Subscriptions2
  • Ditch Student Subscription14 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Ditch Annual iOS Subscription14 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Nearest Light free?
Nearest Light is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ditch free?
Ditch is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Nearest Light or Ditch?
Ditch is rated higher. Nearest Light averages 3.7 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Ditch averages 3.9 from 22 ratings.
Do Nearest Light or Ditch have ads?
Neither Nearest Light nor Ditch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nearest Light or Ditch?
Nearest Light ships an update every 3 months, and Ditch monthly. Most recently, Nearest Light was updated on September 28, 2026 and Ditch on October 5, 2026.

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