Comparison

1st vs Ditch

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

Head to head
About

1st

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
Read full description

The 1st Mate app puts you in control of your vessel by interacting seamlessly with the 1st Mate system installed. You can easily control Theft Deterrent features, see Man Over Board alerts and give time limited access to your loved ones, or even the service guy. 1st Mate from Mercury and Quicksilver is the world's first engine-integrated man overboard and proximity-based theft deterrent system. Utilizing a highly styled wearable for up to 8 people, 1st Mate turns the engine off or sounds an alarm during a man overboard event (MOB), and optionally sends notifications to emergency contacts. If the proximity of the fob is not in range, the system disables or puts engine in guardian mode. All these functions are covering boaters most important needs, namely safety and security.

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

1st4 screens
Ditch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: 1st at 5.0 against Ditch's 3.9. 1st also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 64%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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. 1st asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

1st holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 22 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of 1st's written reviews are positive against 64% of Ditch's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
1st versus Ditch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter1stDitch
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (10 ratings) — better3.9 (22 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better64.3% of reviews
Number of ratings1022 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size124 MB72 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMercury Marine LLCExtent Devices LLC

Customer experience

1st

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Ditch

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

In-app purchases

None

1st

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 1st free?
1st 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, 1st or Ditch?
1st is rated higher. 1st averages 5.0 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Ditch averages 3.9 from 22 ratings.
Do 1st or Ditch have ads?
Neither 1st nor Ditch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, 1st or Ditch?
1st ships an update monthly, and Ditch monthly. Most recently, 1st was updated on October 6, 2026 and Ditch on October 5, 2026.

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