# Coastal Explorer vs Cortex Onboard

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cortex Onboard at 56% against Coastal Explorer's 11%. Cortex Onboard also leads on rating (3.8 vs 2.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Coastal Explorer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Coastal Explorer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Cortex Onboard asks for nothing beyond the download.

Cortex Onboard holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of Coastal Explorer's written reviews are positive against 56% of Cortex Onboard's.

Coastal Explorer ships an update every 2 weeks, Cortex Onboard every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 6, 2026 and June 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Coastal Explorer | Cortex Onboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coastal-explorer/id1452017231/reviews) | **[3.8 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-onboard/id1483406085/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 12 |
| Positive reviews | 11.1% of reviews | **55.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 54 MB | 376 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rose Point Navigation Systems, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1078421951) | [Garmin New Zealand Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/557485484) |

## What reviewers say

### Coastal Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coastal-explorer/id1452017231)

Plan and log your cruises with detailed nautical charts and weather forecasts. Enhance your experience with a subscription for offline access, real-time navigation, and integration with marine electronics.

**Highlights:** View NOAA and USACE nautical charts, Create routes and waypoints, Cloud synchronization, ActiveCaptain points of interest, US Coast Pilot information, Marine weather forecasts, Tide and current predictions

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $49.99 | per year |


### 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 Coastal Explorer free?

Coastal Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Cortex Onboard free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Coastal Explorer or Cortex Onboard?

Cortex Onboard is rated higher. Coastal Explorer averages 2.8 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Cortex Onboard averages 3.8 from 12 ratings.

### Do Coastal Explorer or Cortex Onboard have ads?

Neither Coastal Explorer nor Cortex Onboard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Coastal Explorer or Cortex Onboard?

Coastal Explorer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Cortex Onboard every 2 months. Most recently, Coastal Explorer was updated on September 6, 2026 and Cortex Onboard on June 7, 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.*