# Waterway Guide vs PalmPass

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PalmPass at none against Waterway Guide's 10. PalmPass also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). Waterway Guide's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Waterway Guide sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. PalmPass asks for nothing beyond the download.

Waterway Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Waterway Guide has 2.9K ratings behind it against 87, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Waterway Guide ships an update every 2 weeks, PalmPass every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Waterway Guide | PalmPass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waterway-guide/id1551794976/reviews)** | [4.3 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palmpass/id1591235623/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.9K** | 87 |
| Positive reviews | 52.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 52 MB | 81 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Waterway Guide](https://appshunter.io/developer/958617198) | [FAAC SpA](https://appshunter.io/developer/992773580) |

## What reviewers say

### Waterway Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waterway-guide/id1551794976)

This app provides a comprehensive boating resource with a verified database of marinas, anchorages, and navigation alerts. Users can access real-time hazard information, plan trips with a digital handbook, and utilize detailed content optimized for mobile devices. Engage with a community of boaters through comments and reviews.

**Highlights:** Verified points of interest database, Real-time navigation alerts, Community comments and reviews, Skipper's Handbook for trip planning, Offline content access, Marina filtering by amenities

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Great Lakes Vol.2 Ch.8 | $14.99 | per year |
| Anchorages Along the ICW | $20.99 | per year |
| ICW Cruising Guide by Bob423 | $29.99 | per year |
| Northern Edition | $49.99 | per year |
| 1st Ed. Bahamas Land and Sea | $49.99 | per year |
| Chesapeake Bay Edition | $54.99 | per year |
| Atlantic ICW Edition | $54.99 | per year |
| Southern Edition | $54.99 | per year |
| Western Gulf Coast Edition | $54.99 | per year |
| Florida Keys Edition | $54.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent integration with Aqua Map
- 👍 Useful resource for boating
- 👍 Great information and details
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 👍 Invaluable for planning trips

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🐛 Inconsistent and unreliable
- 🐛 Difficult to navigate and use
- 🐛 Outdated information and images
- 🐛 Subscription and access issues

**Reported bugs**

- App not working with latest iOS version
- Subscription purchases not working properly
- Unable to access purchased content
- Frequent crashes and errors

**Requested features**

- Provide vertical bridge clearances
- Improve offline functionality
- Enhance search and filtering options
- Implement dark mode


### PalmPass

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/palmpass/id1591235623)

Easily find and pay for parking with digital tickets directly from your smartphone. Get all the parking information you need before your trip, ensuring a quick and stress-free experience.

**Highlights:** Find parking easily, Pay for parking, Digital parking tickets, Parking information access, Smartphone convenience

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Waterway Guide free?

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

### Is PalmPass free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Waterway Guide or PalmPass?

Waterway Guide is rated higher. Waterway Guide averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.9K ratings, while PalmPass averages 4.3 from 87 ratings.

### Do Waterway Guide or PalmPass have ads?

Neither Waterway Guide nor PalmPass shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Waterway Guide or PalmPass?

Waterway Guide ships an update every 2 weeks, and PalmPass every 3 months. Most recently, Waterway Guide was updated on November 3, 2026 and PalmPass on November 3, 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.*