Comparison

Cortex Onboard vs AirportData

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

Head to head
About

Cortex Onboard

Configure and update your marine electronics, and monitor vital boat data remotely. Receive alerts, view AIS information, and manage anchor watch from your mobile device.

Highlights
  • Configure and update Cortex devices
  • View AIS information and alerts
  • Manage Anchor Watch remotely
  • Monitor boat sensors and NMEA 2000 instruments
  • View battery, pressure, and position data
Read full description

Cortex Onboard is free with your Cortex. Use it to configure your Cortex Hub and download updates to your Cortex devices with new features and improvements. You can also use Cortex Onboard to receive and manage alerts, view AIS information and instrument data anywhere on board your boat. View out-of-the-box sensors or NMEA 2000 networked instruments. - Setup is easy and free. - Use Cortex Onboard to configure and update your Cortex devices easily. - View AIS information and receive alerts on board direct to your device. - Manage Anchor Watch from the palm of your hand anywhere on board. - Use the Cortex Hub’s built-in sensors for battery level, barometric pressure and boat position. - Connect your Cortex Hub to NMEA 2000, or an external sensor, to add monitoring for wind, depth, bilge high water, temperature, shore power or security. - The Cortex Hub supports up to 10 WiFi devices (includes Handsets).

About

AirportData

Features
Read full description

Look up any airport — frequencies, live weather, runways, and more. AirportData gives pilots, aviation enthusiasts, and travelers instant access to: - Radio frequencies (Tower, Ground, ATIS, Approach, and more) - Live METAR and TAF weather reports with decoded details - Runway information including surface, length, and lighting - Airport search by city, ZIP code, or current GPS location - Nearby airport discovery within a customizable radius - Favorites and personal notes for quick reference All data is sourced from OurAirports (public domain) and NOAA Aviation Weather Center (public domain). No account or subscription required.

Screenshots

Cortex Onboard4 screens
AirportData4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cortex Onboard at Free against AirportData's $0.99. AirportData's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.5). On ads, in-app purchases 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

Cortex Onboard is free to download; AirportData costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cortex Onboard ships an update every 2 months, AirportData weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Cortex Onboard versus AirportData: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCortex OnboardAirportData
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating3.8 (12 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.513.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGarmin New Zealand LtdClaude Cannafarina

In-app purchases

None

Cortex Onboard

No in-app purchases

None

AirportData

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cortex Onboard free?
Cortex Onboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AirportData free?
AirportData costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Cortex Onboard or AirportData have ads?
Neither Cortex Onboard nor AirportData shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cortex Onboard or AirportData?
Cortex Onboard ships an update every 2 months, and AirportData weekly. Most recently, Cortex Onboard was updated on November 3, 2026 and AirportData on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons