# Cortex Onboard vs Lock Status

The clearest difference is rating: Lock Status at 4.4 against Cortex Onboard's 3.8. Cortex Onboard's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Lock Status holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 7 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of Cortex Onboard's written reviews are positive against 50% of Lock Status's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Cortex Onboard ships an update every 2 months, Lock Status every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cortex Onboard | Lock Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-onboard/id1483406085/reviews) | **[4.4 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-status/id1575387855/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **12** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **55.6% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 376 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin New Zealand Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/557485484) | [Andrew Thom](https://appshunter.io/developer/1231883383) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Lock Status

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lock-status/id1575387855)

Provides real-time information on U.S. river locks and dams. Get contact details and see upcoming locks for your waterway journey. Essential for boaters and canoeists navigating rivers.

**Highlights:** Up-to-date lock information, Contact methods for locks, Upcoming lock identification, Supports waterway journeys, River and dam status

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cortex Onboard free?

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

### Is Lock Status free?

Lock Status is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Cortex Onboard or Lock Status?

Lock Status is rated higher. Cortex Onboard averages 3.8 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Lock Status averages 4.4 from 7 ratings.

### Do Cortex Onboard or Lock Status have ads?

Neither Cortex Onboard nor Lock Status shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cortex Onboard or Lock Status?

Cortex Onboard ships an update every 2 months, and Lock Status every 4 months. Most recently, Cortex Onboard was updated on October 13, 2026 and Lock Status on October 5, 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.*