# 1st vs Cortex Onboard

The clearest difference is review sentiment: 1st at 100% against Cortex Onboard's 56%. 1st also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

1st holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of 1st's written reviews are positive against 56% of Cortex Onboard's.

1st ships an update monthly, Cortex Onboard every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 1st | Cortex Onboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1st-mate/id1446444330/reviews)** | [3.8 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-onboard/id1483406085/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **12** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 55.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 124 MB | 376 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mercury Marine LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1777822540) | [Garmin New Zealand Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/557485484) |

## What reviewers say

### 1st

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1st-mate/id1446444330)

Control your boat's engine and security features remotely. Receive man overboard alerts and manage access for others. Enhances safety and security for boaters.

**Highlights:** Theft Deterrent control, Man Over Board alerts, Time-limited access granting, Proximity-based engine disabling, Emergency contact notifications

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cortex Onboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-onboard/id1483406085)

This app allows you to configure and update your marine electronics from your mobile device. Monitor vessel data, receive alerts, and manage features like Anchor Watch from anywhere on board.

**Highlights:** Configure and update Cortex devices, View AIS information and alerts, Manage Anchor Watch, Monitor vessel sensors, Connect NMEA 2000 instruments

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 1st free?

1st is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Cortex Onboard free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 1st or Cortex Onboard?

1st is rated higher. 1st averages 5.0 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Cortex Onboard averages 3.8 from 12 ratings.

### Do 1st or Cortex Onboard have ads?

Neither 1st nor Cortex Onboard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 1st or Cortex Onboard?

1st ships an update monthly, and Cortex Onboard every 2 months. Most recently, 1st was updated on October 6, 2026 and Cortex Onboard on October 13, 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.*