# Anchor Pro vs BilgeBuddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BilgeBuddy at none against Anchor Pro's 1. BilgeBuddy also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 79%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.2). Anchor Pro's advantage is ratings volume (3.5K vs 14). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Anchor Pro sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $6.99 per year. BilgeBuddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Anchor Pro against 4.9 for BilgeBuddy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Anchor Pro has 3.5K ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of Anchor Pro's written reviews are positive against 100% of BilgeBuddy's.

Anchor Pro ships an update every 2 months, BilgeBuddy every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Anchor Pro | BilgeBuddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (3.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anchor-pro/id1445476850/reviews) | **[4.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bilgebuddy/id6468819407/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.5K** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 78.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 23 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [IdeaBoys GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1578331665) | [BilgeBuddy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1710603189) |

## What reviewers say

### Anchor Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/anchor-pro/id1445476850)

This app helps boaters set and monitor their anchor position in real-time. It allows for defining safe zones, tracking boat movement, and receiving alerts for critical changes. Remote notifications and Apple Watch integration enhance its utility for secure anchoring.

**Highlights:** Set anchor location in real-time or manually, Define custom safe swing zones, Monitor boat movement and track history, Receive real-time alerts for position, GPS, and battery, Remote notifications via Telegram or email, Apple Watch companion app for key metrics

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Anchor Premium | $6.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Reliable anchor alarm
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 🔒 Works without cell/WiFi
- 💤 Helps user sleep soundly
- 🗺️ Detailed anchor tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 GPS accuracy issues
- 🔋 Drains device battery
- 🔍 Remote monitoring unreliable
- 💰 Subscription required for full features

**Reported bugs**

- App randomly shuts off
- Anchor position tracking glitches

**Requested features**

- Customizable anchor icon/color
- Integration with marine GPS/chartplotter
- Ability to adjust alarm parameters remotely


### BilgeBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bilgebuddy/id6468819407)

This app allows you to remotely monitor your boat's bilge system, battery health, and location. Receive instant notifications for potential issues like flooding, system malfunctions, or unexpected movement, ensuring peace of mind and proactive problem-solving.

**Highlights:** Remote bilge system monitoring, Flooding detection and sinking prevention, Battery system health monitoring, Break-away alerts and location services, Impact detection, Easy installation with common pumps

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Anchor Pro free?

Anchor Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BilgeBuddy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Anchor Pro or BilgeBuddy?

BilgeBuddy is rated higher. Anchor Pro averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.5K ratings, while BilgeBuddy averages 4.9 from 14 ratings.

### Do Anchor Pro or BilgeBuddy have ads?

Neither Anchor Pro nor BilgeBuddy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Anchor Pro or BilgeBuddy?

Anchor Pro ships an update every 2 months, and BilgeBuddy every 6 weeks. Most recently, Anchor Pro was updated on September 23, 2026 and BilgeBuddy on August 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.*