# Coastal Explorer vs Bristol Maps

The clearest difference is rating: Bristol Maps at 4.0 against Coastal Explorer's 2.8. Bristol Maps also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 11%) and chart position (#199 vs unranked). Coastal Explorer's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Coastal Explorer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and Bristol Maps sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $200.00 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Bristol Maps holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of Coastal Explorer's written reviews are positive against 50% of Bristol Maps's.

Coastal Explorer ships an update every 2 weeks, Bristol Maps every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Coastal Explorer | Bristol Maps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coastal-explorer/id1452017231/reviews) | **[4.0 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bristol-maps/id1608263684/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 11.1% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#199** |
| Size | 54 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rose Point Navigation Systems, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1078421951) | [Chris Hager](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449874913) |

## 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 |


### Bristol Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bristol-maps/id1608263684)

**Currently charting:** #199 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

Navigate commercial fishing grounds with up-to-date satellite imagery and tide data. Plan routes, log catches, and share information with private groups. Enhances fishing efficiency and safety.

**Highlights:** Latest satellite imagery overlays, Tide and weather forecasts, Digital logbook for catches, Private groups for sharing, Customizable boundary alarms, Waypoint and route creation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bristol Maps | $200.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Coastal Explorer free?

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

### Is Bristol Maps free?

Bristol Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Coastal Explorer or Bristol Maps?

Bristol Maps is rated higher. Coastal Explorer averages 2.8 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Bristol Maps averages 4.0 from 14 ratings.

### Do Coastal Explorer or Bristol Maps have ads?

Neither Coastal Explorer nor Bristol Maps shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Coastal Explorer or Bristol Maps?

Coastal Explorer ships an update every 2 weeks, and Bristol Maps every 5 days. Most recently, Coastal Explorer was updated on September 21, 2026 and Bristol Maps on October 18, 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.*