# Cortex Onboard vs Doyle Guides

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cortex Onboard at none against Doyle Guides's 18. Doyle Guides's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 3.8) and ratings volume (50 vs 12). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Doyle Guides sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Cortex Onboard asks for nothing beyond the download.

Doyle Guides holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 50 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Cortex Onboard's written reviews are positive against 60% of Doyle Guides's.

Cortex Onboard ships an update every 2 months, Doyle Guides monthly. The most recent releases landed on June 7, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cortex Onboard | Doyle Guides |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-onboard/id1483406085/reviews) | **[4.3 (50 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doyle-guides/id6466621237/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **50** |
| Positive reviews | 55.6% of reviews | **60.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 376 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin New Zealand Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/557485484) | [Chris Doyle Publishing Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1707528206) |

## 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


### Doyle Guides

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doyle-guides/id6466621237)

Access comprehensive sailing guides for the southern Caribbean, featuring nautical charts, regulations, services, and points of interest. The app offers an interactive map with user-generated comments and corrections, all free to use. In-app purchases provide access to detailed guide book content.

**Highlights:** Comprehensive sailing guides, Nautical charts and navigation, Interactive satellite map, 3000+ points of interest database, User comments and corrections, Island-specific content bundles

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

**In-app purchases (18)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Trinidad & Tobago - 1 month | $9.99 | per month |
| Martinique Sailing Guide | $19.99 | per month |
| St. Lucia Sailing Guide | $19.99 | per month |
| St. Vincent Sailing Guide | $19.99 | per month |
| Grenada Package - 1 month | $19.99 | per month |
| Trinidad Tobago Sailing Guide | $19.99 | per year |
| Martinique Sailing Guide | $24.99 | per year |
| St. Lucia Sailing Guide | $24.99 | per year |
| St. Vincent Sailing Guide | $24.99 | per year |
| Grenada Package - 12 months | $24.99 | per year |
| Southern Leeward Sailing Guide | $24.99 | per month |
| Northern Leeward Sailing Guide | $24.99 | per month |
| Windward Islands Guide | $29.99 | per month |
| BVI Cruising Guide | $29.99 | per year |
| Windward Islands Guide | $39.99 | per year |
| Virgin Islands Cruising Guide | $39.99 | per year |
| Leeward Islands Sailing Guide | $39.99 | per month |
| Leeward Islands Sailing Guide | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cortex Onboard free?

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

### Is Doyle Guides free?

Doyle Guides is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Cortex Onboard or Doyle Guides?

Doyle Guides is rated higher. Cortex Onboard averages 3.8 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Doyle Guides averages 4.3 from 50 ratings.

### Do Cortex Onboard or Doyle Guides have ads?

Neither Cortex Onboard nor Doyle Guides shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cortex Onboard or Doyle Guides?

Cortex Onboard ships an update every 2 months, and Doyle Guides monthly. Most recently, Cortex Onboard was updated on June 7, 2026 and Doyle Guides on September 8, 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.*