Comparison

AirmarCAST™ vs BilgeBuddy

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

BilgeBuddy

This app allows you to remotely monitor your boat's bilge system, battery health, and location. Receive instant notifications for potential issues like flooding, system malfunctions, or unexpected movement, ensuring peace of mind and proactive problem-solving.

Highlights
  • Remote bilge system monitoring
  • Flooding detection and sinking prevention
  • Battery system health monitoring
  • Break-away alerts and location services
  • Impact detection
  • Easy installation with common pumps
Read full description

Remotely Monitor Your Boat - Connect your boat with the BilgeBuddy device, making it a smart boat that can be monitored remotely on the app. - Have peace-of-mind in the palm of your hand, where ever you are. - Notifications let you fix problems before they arise. Easy Installation - BilgeBuddy pairs with all common 12V bilge pumps & floats. - Our patent pending technology allows for an easy installation with a few simple connections. - Our instructions get most DIYers & all professionals up and running in minutes. All you need are wire strippers and a lighter. We provide the rest. How BilgeBuddy keeps your boat safe: Flooding Detection & Sinking Prevention - Detect moderate & extreme water levels. - Automatically purge high water when auto-float fails. - Analyze frequency & reason for bilge cycles. Bilge System Health Monitoring - Ensure functioning bilge pump. - Proactive pump electronic health monitoring. - Detect Auto-float malfunction. - Alert of helm switch accidentally left on. Battery System Health Monitoring - Remotely check if enough voltage to start engines. - Battery discharge & charging trends. - Detect alternator & shore power system malfunction. Break-away Alerts & Location Services - Alert when your boat leaves its home base unexpectedly. - Remotely monitor when others use your boat. - Cloud backup of trips and usage. - Back-up navigation system. Impact Detection & Damage Prevention - Detect impacts with dock. - Detect major collisions. Freeze Damage Prevention & Storm Monitoring - Prevent damage during quick freezes. - Storm warnings & monitoring. (coming soon)

Screenshots

AirmarCAST™4 screens
BilgeBuddy3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BilgeBuddy at 100% against AirmarCAST™'s 25%. BilgeBuddy also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.6) and ratings volume (15 vs 5). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BilgeBuddy holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of AirmarCAST™'s written reviews are positive against 100% of BilgeBuddy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AirmarCAST™ ships an update every 3 months, BilgeBuddy every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
AirmarCAST™ versus BilgeBuddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAirmarCAST™BilgeBuddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (5 ratings)4.9 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings515 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size112 MB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAirmar Technology Inc.BilgeBuddy

Customer experience

AirmarCAST™

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

BilgeBuddy

All ratings14 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

AirmarCAST™

No in-app purchases

None

BilgeBuddy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AirmarCAST™ free?
AirmarCAST™ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BilgeBuddy free?
BilgeBuddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AirmarCAST™ or BilgeBuddy?
BilgeBuddy is rated higher. AirmarCAST™ averages 2.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while BilgeBuddy averages 4.9 from 15 ratings.
Do AirmarCAST™ or BilgeBuddy have ads?
Neither AirmarCAST™ nor BilgeBuddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AirmarCAST™ or BilgeBuddy?
AirmarCAST™ ships an update every 3 months, and BilgeBuddy every 6 weeks. Most recently, AirmarCAST™ was updated on November 3, 2026 and BilgeBuddy on October 30, 2026.

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