Comparison

Ocean Signal vs navCenter

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

Head to head
About

Ocean Signal

Access critical information for emergency beacons and live data from Class B AIS devices. Utilize NFC for PLB, EPIRB, and MOB details, including battery status and test results. Configure settings and view live AIS targets via WiFi connection.

Highlights
  • Emergency beacon information access
  • Live Class B AIS data
  • NFC for PLB/EPIRB/MOB details
  • Battery condition and test results
  • Change MOB settings
  • WiFi connection for ATB1 AIS
  • Vessel detail configuration
Features
Read full description

The Ocean Signal App allows easy access to Emergency PLB/EPIRB/MOB information as well as live information from your Class B AIS. NFC (Near Field Communication) allows access to PLB, EPIRB and MOB details where operation time, Battery condition and test results can be easily checked and displayed on a mobile device. You can even change settings for your MOB's like adding a MMSI without turning the product on! The use of NFC ensures that maximum battery capacity can be ensured giving you confidence that a Beacon will give maximum performance when required in an emergency situation. WiFi connection to the Ocean Signal ATB1 gives access to live AIS target data along with status and performance details, as well as test and Ownership details for Distress Beacons. Initial configuration with vessel details for the ATB1 Class B AIS is also carried out via the WiFi connection.

About

navCenter

This app transforms your Apple devices into a multifunctional display for marine navigation data, including NMEA and AIS. It also provides autopilot remote control capabilities for compatible systems, connecting via a WiFi gateway.

Highlights
  • NMEA and AIS data display
  • Autopilot remote control
  • SeaTalk1™ and SeaTalkNG™ compatibility
  • WiFi gateway connection
  • NMEA2000 and NMEA0183 format support
  • Multifunctional display for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Watch
Features
Read full description

navCenter (nC) enables your iPhone/iPad/Mac/Watch to operate as a multifunctional display (MFD) for NMEA data (including AIS) and as an autopilot remote control for SeaTalk1™ and SeaTalkNG™ autopilots. navCenter connects to your boats instruments via a WiFi gateway and can handle both NMEA2000 and NMEA0183 formats simultaneously. Information on WiFi gateways can be found here: https://www.guardiandigital.tech/navCenterGatewaysMultiplexers.html navCenter is able to control SeaTalkNG™ and SeaTalk1™ autopilots when partnered with a compatible WiFi multiplexer or Gateway. More information on the autopilot remote control can be found here: https://www.guardiandigital.tech/navCenterAutopilotRemote.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ privacy policy: https://www.guardiandigital.tech/html/privacyPolicy.html

Screenshots

Ocean Signal4 screens
navCenter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Ocean Signal at 5.0 against navCenter's 4.4. Ocean Signal also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2). navCenter's advantage is review sentiment (78% vs 40%) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support 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. navCenter sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. Ocean Signal asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ocean Signal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: navCenter has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 40% of Ocean Signal's written reviews are positive against 78% of navCenter's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ocean Signal ships an update every 2 months, navCenter monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Ocean Signal versus navCenter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOcean SignalnavCenter
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.4 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews77.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings17 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.4
Further details — not scored
Size116 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOcean Signal LimitedGUARDIAN DIGITAL LTD

Customer experience

Ocean Signal

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

navCenter

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral28.6%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%

In-app purchases

None

Ocean Signal

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

navCenter

Subscriptions1
  • Subscribed annually$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Purchased$34.99

Questions

Is Ocean Signal free?
Ocean Signal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is navCenter free?
navCenter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ocean Signal or navCenter?
Ocean Signal is rated higher. Ocean Signal averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while navCenter averages 4.4 from 7 ratings.
Do Ocean Signal or navCenter have ads?
Neither Ocean Signal nor navCenter shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ocean Signal or navCenter?
Ocean Signal ships an update every 2 months, and navCenter monthly. Most recently, Ocean Signal was updated on September 10, 2026 and navCenter on September 9, 2026.

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