Comparison

AirmarCAST™ vs AIS Explorer

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

Head to head
About

AirmarCAST™

Configure and calibrate your boat's Bluetooth-enabled multisensors and modules directly from your mobile device. View real-time data on detailed gauges and perform advanced calibrations for speed, temperature, and attitude without extra hardware.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth sensor connection
  • Real-time data display
  • Intuitive navigation
  • Speed, temperature, attitude calibration
  • On-board GPS speed comparison
  • Advanced speed calibration wizards
Features
Read full description

Airmar® CAST™ connects to the Bluetooth®-enabled DST810, DX900+, WX300 multisensors and SmartBoat® modules on your boat, making sensor configuration and calibration easy with intuitive app navigation and real-time data from your multisensor. View data on detailed gauges and digital data screens, and perform speed, temperature, and attitude calibrations without the need for additional converters or cables. With CAST, you can configure your multisensor directly, regardless of the other displays and gauges on board. All data configurations and calibrations are stored in the multisensor and delivered on the NMEA2000® network. When used with DST810, you can calibrate basic or heel-compensated speed through water using your on-board GPS speed for comparison. Intuitive wizards guide you through multiple runs to correct for current. Or take it a step further to advanced speed calibration, with up to five heel angles and ten reference speeds. Until now, advanced speed calibration was only possible through expensive PC based software. With Airmar’s SmartBoat® modules, the CAST app delivers the fastest connection to the SmartView software for system configuration.

About

AIS Explorer

Track ships and yachts globally in real-time with advanced satellite and terrestrial AIS receivers. Offers vessel search, favorites, port of call details, and integrated weather forecasts with routing for ETAs. Provides comprehensive satellite AIS data.

Highlights
  • Real-time Satellite AIS
  • Real-time Terrestrial AIS
  • Search Vessels
  • Save To Favourites
  • Last Port of Call
  • Advanced Weather Forecasts
  • Weather Routing - ETA
Features
Read full description

AIS Explorer displays real-time positions and movement of Ships and Yachts anywhere in the world, using the most advanced satellite and terrestrial receivers. The best pricing for the most comprehensive Satellite AIS available. Try it Now! - Search Vessels - Save To Favourites - Real-Time Satellite AIS - Real-Time Terrestrial AIS - Vessel Types - Last Port of Call - Advanced Weather Forecasts From PredictWind - Weather Routing - ETA Terms & Conditions: https://www.aisexplorerapp.com/en/terms-and-conditions Privacy Policy: https://www.aisexplorerapp.com/en/privacy-policy

Screenshots

AirmarCAST™4 screens
AIS Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AIS Explorer at 5.0 against AirmarCAST™'s 2.6. AIS Explorer also leads on update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 3 months). AirmarCAST™'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. AIS Explorer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.00 per month. AirmarCAST™ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AIS Explorer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AirmarCAST™ ships an update every 3 months, AIS Explorer every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
AirmarCAST™ versus AIS Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAirmarCAST™AIS Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (5 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1615.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAirmar Technology Inc.PredictWind Limited

Customer experience

AirmarCAST™

All ratings5 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

AIS Explorer

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

AirmarCAST™

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

AIS Explorer

Subscriptions3
  • AIS Pro monthly$49.001 Month
  • AIS Pro 3 monthly14 Days trial$99.003 Months
  • AIS Pro Annual$249.001 Year

Questions

Is AirmarCAST™ free?
AirmarCAST™ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AIS Explorer free?
AIS Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, AirmarCAST™ or AIS Explorer?
AIS Explorer is rated higher. AirmarCAST™ averages 2.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while AIS Explorer averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do AirmarCAST™ or AIS Explorer have ads?
AIS Explorer shows ads; AirmarCAST™ does not.
Which is updated more often, AirmarCAST™ or AIS Explorer?
AirmarCAST™ ships an update every 3 months, and AIS Explorer every 4 weeks. Most recently, AirmarCAST™ was updated on September 8, 2026 and AIS Explorer on September 10, 2026.

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