Comparison

Master vs Onboard Maritime

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

Head to head
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
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.

About

Onboard Maritime

Features
Read full description

Enhance your learning experience and go mobile! • You can easily access your courses on your mobile at your own pace. • Watch your educational videos, read content, and test your knowledge when and where you want to. • Switch between desktop to mobile without losing your course progress.

Screenshots

Master4 screens
Onboard Maritime4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Onboard Maritime at Free against Master's $1.99. Master's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Onboard Maritime is free to download; Master costs $1.99 up front. Onboard Maritime sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Master asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Master ships an update fortnightly, Onboard Maritime every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Master versus Onboard Maritime: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMasterOnboard Maritime
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (100 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews96.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings100 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.2
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB110 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPeterjohn ChisholmOnboard Maritime Limited

In-app purchases

None

Master

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Onboard Maritime

One-time2
  • OOW Group SessionsFree
  • Deck OfficerFree

Questions

Is Master free?
Master costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Onboard Maritime free?
Onboard Maritime is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Master or Onboard Maritime have ads?
Neither Master nor Onboard Maritime shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Master or Onboard Maritime?
Master ships an update fortnightly, and Onboard Maritime every 3 months. Most recently, Master was updated on October 25, 2026 and Onboard Maritime on October 25, 2026.

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