# SeaDrive vs Hip Charts

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SeaDrive at 89% against Hip Charts's 25%. SeaDrive also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.3) and ratings volume (248 vs 7). Hip Charts's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.1). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SeaDrive sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Hip Charts asks for nothing beyond the download.

SeaDrive holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SeaDrive has 248 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of SeaDrive's written reviews are positive against 25% of Hip Charts's.

SeaDrive ships an update fortnightly, Hip Charts every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SeaDrive | Hip Charts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (248 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seadrive-boat-navigation/id1497056662/reviews)** | [3.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hip-charts/id6443591337/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **248** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **89.5% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 58 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SeaDrive LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497054442) | [Walk About Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/480229755) |

## What reviewers say

### SeaDrive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seadrive-boat-navigation/id1497056662)

This marine navigation app offers offline charting, route planning, and tide/current predictions. It provides free US charts and integrates weather forecasts and points of interest like marinas. Share your live track with others for enhanced safety and communication on the water.

**Highlights:** Offline charting and navigation, Route building and navigation, Tide and current predictions, 5-day weather forecasts, Live track sharing, Points of Interest (marinas, boat ramps)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sea Drive Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Sea Drive Pro | $34.99 | per year |
| US Charts | Free | one-time |


### Hip Charts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hip-charts/id6443591337)

Access NOAA nautical charts for free on your mobile devices. View charts online and download single areas for offline use. Additional features like multiple offline downloads and custom boundaries require a purchase.

**Highlights:** Unlimited online NOAA chart viewing, Download single chart areas for offline use, Automatic chart loading, Cellular and WiFi chart downloads, Custom download boundaries (paid)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SeaDrive free?

SeaDrive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hip Charts free?

Hip Charts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SeaDrive or Hip Charts?

SeaDrive is rated higher. SeaDrive averages 4.5 out of 5 from 248 ratings, while Hip Charts averages 3.3 from 7 ratings.

### Do SeaDrive or Hip Charts have ads?

Neither SeaDrive nor Hip Charts shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SeaDrive or Hip Charts?

SeaDrive ships an update fortnightly, and Hip Charts every 3 weeks. Most recently, SeaDrive was updated on September 25, 2026 and Hip Charts on September 5, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*