Comparison

AngelNav vs NightPilot

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

AngelNav

This app allows sailors to perform traditional navigation directly on their device, offering a digital alternative to paper charts and instruments. It supports various chart types and integrates with GNSS data for real-time navigation, with options for advanced features and chart subscriptions.

Highlights
  • Traditional navigation techniques on screen
  • Full chart plotter with raster chart support
  • GNSS data integration (GPS, NMEA, SignalK)
  • AIS target display
  • Waypoint and route management
  • Track recording and display
  • Simulation mode
Features
Read full description

AngelNav is a new app for iOS developed in collaboration with Tom Cunliffe. Primarily it is a full chart plotter currently favouring raster charts, but it has many additional features including the ability to carry out traditional navigation directly on the screen. The capacity to generate classical chart work is vitally important in the event of a GPS failure, but hitherto has required pencil, plotters, and paper charts. AngelNav allows traditional techniques to be carried out using an iPad or iPhone screen instead of a paper chart. An estimated position can be plotted, position lines drawn from sighted bearings and fixes recorded. Course-to-steer diagrams are readily constructed. AngelNav can read most types of raster chart including the UKHO subscription charts, as well as KAP/BSB files and GeoTIFF files. It can easily create georeferenced satellite charts for offline use. AngelNav can take GNSS navigation data from a variety of sources, including the device's stand-alone GPS, the boat's NMEA over WiFi, and SignalK. It will also display AIS information if available. Annual subscriptions are available as in-app purchases for UKHO, SHOM, and Imray charts covering the whole of the UK, France, Spain, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. These are divided into folios so that you can subscribe only to the charts that you need. The app is free to use in its basic form, with additional functions and charts available as in-app purchases. This allows a user to fully evaluate the app without charge, and then to purchase the features and charts required. Free features: Chart plotter (Demo chart included) Traditional navigation techniques Waypoints and Routes Track recording and display Reads navigational data Simulation mode Paid for features (in-app purchases): Open KAP/BSB files Open GeoTIFF files Open Satellite charts Display AIS targets (if AIS information is available) Tidal information for the British Isles Subscription Charts: Charts derived from UKHO data covering the coastal waters of the British isles, the Atlantic coast of Spain and Portugal including the Atlantic islands. SHOM charts of the coasts of France Imray charts of of the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and others Key features: Brand new app written from the ground up Carry out traditional navigation techniques on screen Free to download to for evaluation, with in-app purchases to add only the features required Frequent updates of subscription charts including handling of notice to mariners Custom keyboard for entry of waypoint latitude and longitude Open KPA/BSB and GeoTIFF files (in-app purchase required) Create Satellite charts for off line use (in-app purchase required) Display AIS targets on the chart (in-app purchase required) NOTE: The continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life

About

NightPilot

Features
Read full description

A night pilotage training aid for sailors. 1 month or 1 year non-renewing subscriptions are available. A subscription will full access to a database of most lit buoys in the Solent and its main channels and ports. including:- Ashlett Creek, Beaulieu, Cowes, Fareham Lake, Fishbourne, Hamble, Itchen, Lymington, Port Solent, Portsmouth, Yarmouth Buoys or marks can be identified from their light phase and bearings can be taken. With this information, and by reference to the log and your pilotage chart, you are able to practise entries into unfamilier ports at night Directional lights (WRG), leading lights and lighthouses are included. Can also be used to practise finding an unlit mark at night. (a yachmaster exam favourite) Facility to specify a tidal stream (set and rate) to add the drift that would affect your course over the ground Track made good is recorded and shown on the chart Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

AngelNav4 screens
NightPilot1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: AngelNav at 15.5 against NightPilot's 18.4. 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. AngelNav sells 22 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per year and NightPilot sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AngelNav ships an update every 5 weeks, NightPilot every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
AngelNav versus NightPilot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAngelNavNightPilot
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.5 — better18.4
Further details — not scored
Size120 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSailTrack LimitedNavtech Software

In-app purchases

22 purchases

AngelNav

Subscriptions14
  • UKHO BF1$24.991 Year
  • UKHO BF3$24.991 Year
  • UKHO BF8$24.991 Year
Show 11 more
  • UKHO AO2$24.991 Year
  • UKHO MS2$24.991 Year
  • UKHO MS1$24.991 Year
  • UKHO MS3$24.991 Year
  • UKHO BF7$24.991 Year
  • UKHO.BN1$24.991 Year
  • SHOM FF4$24.991 Year
  • Imray ID100$69.991 Year
  • Imray ID40$69.991 Year
  • Imray ID70$69.991 Year
  • Imray ID60$69.991 Year
One-time8
  • UKTides 24$1.99
  • KAP files$4.99
  • Satellite charts$4.99
Show 5 more
  • AIS$4.99
  • Instruments$4.99
  • GeoPDF files$4.99
  • GeoTIFF files$4.99
  • BITides 25$6.99
2 purchases

NightPilot

One-time2
  • Solent 1 Month$2.99
  • Solent 1 Year$6.99

Questions

Is AngelNav free?
AngelNav is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NightPilot free?
NightPilot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do AngelNav or NightPilot have ads?
Neither AngelNav nor NightPilot shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AngelNav or NightPilot?
AngelNav ships an update every 5 weeks, and NightPilot every 3 weeks. Most recently, AngelNav was updated on September 21, 2026 and NightPilot on September 15, 2026.

Other comparisons