Comparison

SailboatData 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

SailboatData

Access a comprehensive database of production sailboat specifications offline. Compare models, search by detailed criteria, and save favorites with personal remarks. Ideal for buyers and marine professionals alike.

Highlights
  • Offline sailboat database access
  • Side-by-side model comparison
  • Search by detailed specifications
  • Save favorite sailboats and designers
  • Add personal remarks to models
  • Sync favorites and remarks via iCloud
Features
Read full description

The world’s most recognized database for production sailboat specifications. This is the must-have app for those looking to purchase a sailboat as well as for DIYers, sailmakers, yacht brokers, marinas, riggers, and all other marine professionals. Unlike our website, the app allows access to our database without the need for an internet connection. After downloading, you can experience the full app functionality for the first 2 hours. After that, continue on with the free basic version or subscribe to keep full access. This costs as little as a good coffee (for a yearly subscription, our cheapest option) and supports us adding more useful features and extend the database. The current features include: • Scrollable list containing over 9,200 sailboat models. • Side-by-side sailboat model compare. • Scrollable lists with all designers, builders, and associations. • The scrollable lists have an alphabetic index for quick access. • Each list has a name search bar which updates the list as you type. • Ability to select sailboats, designers, builders, and associations as your favorite. • Toggle button to quickly switch between showing all or only your favorites. • Ability to add your personal remarks for each sailboat model. • Favorites and remarks are shared between all your devices using Apple iCloud. • Refined search by LOA, LWL, Hull type, Keel type, Displacement, Beam, Draft, Rig type, Years Built and all our Ratios. • Ability to sort the refined search results on any of the search parameters. • Settings to personalize displayed units and other features. As you scroll through the sailboat list and look at sailboat and designer details, the corresponding images are downloaded via internet. Once an image has been downloaded it is stored on your device; the maximum storage used is about 500MB.

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

SailboatData4 screens
AIS Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: SailboatData at none against AIS Explorer's shown. SailboatData also leads on ratings volume (284 vs 3). AIS Explorer's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. SailboatData sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and AIS Explorer sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $49.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AIS Explorer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SailboatData has 284 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SailboatData versus AIS Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSailboatDataAIS Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (284 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings284 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksEvery 4 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.5 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size20 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVMG Media, LLCPredictWind Limited

Customer experience

SailboatData

All ratings284 ratings
Positive95.8%
Neutral2.5%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%

AIS Explorer

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

In-app purchases

4 purchases

SailboatData

Subscriptions4
  • 1 Monthly Access$0.991 Month
  • 3 Monthly Access$1.993 Months
  • 6 Monthly Access$2.996 Months
Show 1 more
  • 12 Monthly Access$3.991 Year
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 SailboatData free?
SailboatData is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AIS Explorer free?
AIS Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SailboatData or AIS Explorer?
AIS Explorer is rated higher. SailboatData averages 4.8 out of 5 from 284 ratings, while AIS Explorer averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do SailboatData or AIS Explorer have ads?
AIS Explorer shows ads; SailboatData does not.
Which is updated more often, SailboatData or AIS Explorer?
SailboatData ships an update every 4 weeks, and AIS Explorer every 4 weeks. Most recently, SailboatData was updated on September 20, 2026 and AIS Explorer on September 10, 2026.

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