Comparison

Maritime Academy vs Master

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

Head to head
About

Maritime Academy

Learn maritime signal flags and the International Code of Signals through engaging levels and challenges. This app offers a structured approach to mastering flag meanings, abbreviations, and communication methods used at sea. It's designed for efficient memorization and progress, suitable for various maritime enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • 104 levels and 35 challenges
  • Covers Letters, Numbers, Words, Substitutes, Single Flag Meanings, Abbreviations
  • Progressive learning and focused repetition
  • Explore screen for self-paced learning
  • Works completely offline
  • No ads
Features
Read full description

Features: - designed for mariners, travellers, yachtsmen, pleasure cruisers and anyone who enjoys spending time around the waterfront. - 104 levels and 35 challenges teaching and training maritime flag signalling and the International Code of Signals (ICS). - 6 chapters including Letters, Numbers, Words, Substitutes, Single Flag Meanings and Abbreviations. - effective and fun teaching and training strategy: learn and train first with ease and then challenge yourself with pressure. - calculated amount of repetition for smooth and efficient memorization and progress. - explore all the letters, numbers, substitutes and abbreviations at your own pace on the Explore screen. - info screen offering detailed explanation of how to make the most of the app. - absolutely no ads. - works completely offline. -------- About Maritime Academy The app teaches maritime flag signalling (generally flaghoist signalling), which is the principal means other than radio by which ships communicate to each other or to shore. Virtually all signalling by non-naval vessels is now organized under the International Code of Signals (whether by flaghoist, semaphore, signal lamp, or other means), which specifies a standard set of flags and codes and is the most recent evolution of a wide variety of maritime flag signalling systems. Naval vessels generally use an extended set of flags and their own codes. -------- Teaching method The two key teaching and training concepts are progressive introduction and focused repetition. The learning material is categorized into chapters and then broken down into manageable units (levels) to ensure efficient learning and training. -------- Learning material In general, the learning progresses from single-flag content to multi-flag content. That is to say, from letters & numbers to words & substitutes, and then to single flag meanings & abbreviations. The content is arranged for optimal efficiency and we strongly recommend you to go through the levels in this order. - Letters (8 levels + 4 challenges) - Numbers (3 levels + 1 challenge) - Words (30 levels) - Substitutes (1 level) - Single Flag Meanings (8 levels + 4 challenges) - Abbreviations (54 levels + 26 challenges) -------- Levels and challenges In short, a level focuses on introducing and training new letters/numbers/abbreviations, while a challenge tests what you’ve learnt. In the learning screen, the knowledge you should focus on is highlighted and in the training screen, you will practice by answering a few questions (like a quiz game). In a challenge, you must make less than 3 mistakes to pass it. -------- Training types There are three training types, that is to say, key, typing and button. - In Letters & Numbers levels, you need to press the keys of the keyboard on the screen to answer the questions. - In Words & Substitutes levels, you need to type whole words to answer the questions. - In Single Flag Meanings & Abbreviations levels, you need to choose the correct meaning by clicking on a button. -------- The Explore screen The Explore screen allows users to check out the International Flags and Pennants of the 26 letters of the English Alphabet, numbers (0-9), substitutes (3), as well as the International Code of Signals including 25 single flag meanings and 201 most frequently used abbreviations. Simply click on the blocks to start exploring. -------- Download Maritime Academy now and start learning the signal flags! Privacy Policy: https://www.dong.digital/maritimeacademy/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://www.dong.digital/maritimeacademy/tos/

About

Master

Learn maritime navigation rules with an interactive system designed for effective retention. This app breaks down complex regulations into manageable sections with visual aids and mnemonics. It revisits incorrect answers and provides instant graphical feedback, making the learning process intuitive and efficient.

Highlights
  • Interactive learning system
  • Step-by-step rule guidance
  • Mnemonics and memory aids
  • Interactive visuals
  • Graphical feedback on answers
  • Practice section with progress tracking
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Master-Nav is a progressive COLREGS learning system developed by a Master Mariner. The COLREGS are notoriously difficult to learn and retain — Master-Nav makes it significantly easier through an interactive system built around how your brain actually works. Instead of guessing through random question banks, Master-Nav guides you step by step through every rule from start to finish. Wrong answers are revisited until the rules stick — properly. Complex regulations are broken down into learnable chunks — bite-sized sections supported by mnemonics, memory aids and interactive visuals designed around how the brain actually retains information. Every incorrect answer is shown graphically alongside the correct one — immediately clear, no confusion. And with a single tap, the relevant COLREGS rule is accessible from any question at any time. Master-Nav covers COLREGS Parts A to D — General, Steering & Sailing, Lights & Shapes and Sound & Light Signals — plus Annex IV Distress Signals. Over 1000 questions in multiple formats, with a dedicated Practice Section that tracks right, wrong and unanswered so you always know where to focus. COLREGS — the easy way.

Screenshots

Maritime Academy4 screens
Master4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Maritime Academy at Free against Master's $1.99. Maritime Academy also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.7) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Master's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 42 months). On review sentiment, ratings volume, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Maritime Academy is free to download; Master costs $1.99 up front. Maritime Academy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Master asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Maritime Academy holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 189 and 94 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Maritime Academy's written reviews are positive against 97% of Master's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Maritime Academy ships an update every 42 months, Master fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Maritime Academy versus Master: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMaritime AcademyMaster
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.9 (189 ratings) — better4.7 (94 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better96.9% of reviews
Number of ratings189 — better94
Update frequencyEvery 42 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#119 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB117 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperXiang DongPeterjohn Chisholm

Customer experience

Maritime Academy

All ratings189 ratings
Positive97.9%
Neutral1.6%
Negative0.5%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Master

All ratings94 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral2.1%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive96.9%
Neutral3.1%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Maritime Academy

One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$2.99
None

Master

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Maritime Academy free?
Maritime Academy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Master free?
Master costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Maritime Academy or Master?
Maritime Academy is rated higher. Maritime Academy averages 4.9 out of 5 from 189 ratings, while Master averages 4.7 from 94 ratings.
Do Maritime Academy or Master have ads?
Neither Maritime Academy nor Master shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Maritime Academy or Master?
Maritime Academy ships an update every 42 months, and Master fortnightly. Most recently, Maritime Academy was updated on September 21, 2026 and Master on September 22, 2026.

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