# Nearest Light vs Ditch

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Nearest Light | Ditch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nearest-light/id1393531030/reviews) | **[3.9 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ditch-boat-navigation/id1667064532/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **22** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 64.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Clint O'Connor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1381484045) | [Extent Devices LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1665685027) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Ditch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ditch-boat-navigation/id1667064532)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ditch Student Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Ditch Annual iOS Subscription | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*