AirmarCAST™ vs BilgeBuddy
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Bluetooth sensor connection
- Real-time data display
- Intuitive navigation
- Speed, temperature, attitude calibration
- On-board GPS speed comparison
- Advanced speed calibration wizards
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
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.
| Parameter | AirmarCAST™ | BilgeBuddy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.6 (5 ratings) | 4.9 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 15 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 6 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 112 MB | 36 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Airmar Technology Inc. | BilgeBuddy |
Customer experience
AirmarCAST™
BilgeBuddy
In-app purchases
AirmarCAST™
No in-app purchases
BilgeBuddy
No in-app purchases








