Ocean Signal vs navCenter
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide 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.
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide 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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
Ocean Signal ships an update every 2 months, navCenter monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Ocean Signal | navCenter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | 4.4 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | 77.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 7 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 116 MB | 26 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ocean Signal Limited | GUARDIAN DIGITAL LTD |
Customer experience
Ocean Signal
navCenter
In-app purchases
Ocean Signal
No in-app purchases
navCenter
- Subscribed annually$14.991 Year
- Purchased$34.99






