TZ First Mate vs Ditch
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TZ First Mate
Easily log fishing catches and photos directly from your phone while on the water. Data syncs wirelessly to your compatible Furuno MFD and backs up to the cloud. Access MFD system details and report issues.
- Create catches and photos
- Wireless synchronization to MFDs
- Cloud backup of user objects
- View MFD system details
- Report issues via log
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The Furuno TZ First Mate mobile App allows you to quickly create Catches and Photos while you are boating or fishing. These objects are then automatically synchronized with your NavNet TZtouch2 and NavNet TZtouch3 when your phone is connected to the MFD’s Wireless Hotspot. As soon as your phone has access to the internet the TZ First Mate App will also synchronize and backup all contents of the user objects database (Catches, Photos, Marks, Routes and Boundaries) to the TZ Cloud (cloud.mytimezero.com). Lastly, TZ First Mate can be used to get MFD details such as System ID, Software Versions, and report issues via a Report Log.
Ditch
Enhance your boating experience with intelligent routing and accurate arrival time predictions. Visualize historical vessel traffic and customize charts for a personalized view of waterways, ensuring safer and more confident journeys on the water.
- AI-powered smart routing
- Accurate ETA predictions
- Historical AIS data visualization
- Customizable marine charts
- Live navigation view
- Up-to-date waterway information
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Ditch: Boat Navigation Reimagined. Ditch empowers captains with smarter, safer routes and unparalleled confidence on the water. Try it free for two weeks! SMART PATH™ Our unique routing algorithm analyzes billions of data points, including historical AIS data, to create the safest, most efficient path for your boat. It's like having years of local knowledge distilled into every journey. SMART ETA No more guessing arrival times. Ditch factors in the slower no-wake zones, and your cruising speed, to provide more accurate ETAs, taking the guesswork out of your journey. Ditch is not designed to replace your existing navigation tools, but to enhance them. Think of it as your trusted second opinion, providing an extra layer of confidence so you can focus on enjoying your time on the water. Additional Key Features AIS DATA See where other boats have traveled. Visualize historical AIS data directly on your charts to identify popular and safe routes. CUSTOMIZABLE CHARTS Tailor your charts to your needs. Filter data based on local captains, recency, and boat length, to get a personalized view of the waterways. LIVE NAVIGATION VIEW See real-time updates on route distance, time to arrival, and SOG while underway. UP-TO-DATE DATA We prioritize the freshest most recent information. CONSTANTLY EVOLVING Our routing AI algorithm is always learning and improving. UNPARALLELED DETAIL Combining NOAA charts, USACE surveys, and historical AIS. AI POWERED Our cutting-edge technology analyzes millions of miles of real-world boating data. SIMPLE & INTUITIVE Our uncluttered interface puts the focus on your route, making navigation effortless and enjoyable. EFFORTLESS EXPLORATION Focus on the joy of boating, not just navigation. After your free trial, enjoy a full year of Ditch for only $29.99. Download Ditch today and experience the boat navigation reimagined! Terms of Use: https://ditchnavigation.com/ditch-terms-of-use/ Privacy Policy: https://ditchnavigation.com/privacy-policy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: TZ First Mate at 5.0 against Ditch's 4.0. TZ First Mate also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 64%) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Ditch's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (23 vs 3). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. Ditch sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per year. TZ First Mate asks for nothing beyond the download.
TZ First Mate holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ditch has 23 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of TZ First Mate's written reviews are positive against 64% of Ditch's.
TZ First Mate ships an update every 3 months, Ditch monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TZ First Mate | Ditch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | 4.0 (23 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 64.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 23 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 70 MB | 72 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 株式会社フルノソフテック | Extent Devices LLC |
Customer experience
TZ First Mate
Ditch
In-app purchases
TZ First Mate
No in-app purchases
Ditch
- Ditch Student Subscription14 Days trial$24.991 Year
- Ditch Annual iOS Subscription14 Days trial$29.991 Year









