Cortex Onboard vs AirportData
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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).
AirportData
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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
Verdict
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
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.
Cortex Onboard ships an update every 2 months, AirportData weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cortex Onboard | AirportData |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 3.8 (12 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 55.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 12 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 22 MB | 39 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Garmin New Zealand Ltd | Claude Cannafarina |
In-app purchases
Cortex Onboard
No in-app purchases
AirportData
No in-app purchases






