Comparison

Master vs Skipper IQ

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
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.

About

Skipper IQ

Enhance your boating safety and confidence with practical knowledge and real-world tools. Train with incident scenarios, test your navigation skills, and utilize on-water aids like GPS anchor watch and G-force measurement.

Highlights
  • Real-world incident scenario trainer
  • Navigation and safety knowledge quizzes
  • Daily practical boating tips
  • GPS anchor watch with drift alerts
  • G-force meter for ride quality
  • Compass and waypoint navigation
Features
Read full description

Most boating accidents aren’t bad luck. They’re preventable. Skipper IQ gives you the knowledge, training and real-world tools serious powerboat captains actually need on the water. Built from real search and rescue experience, this app combines practical boating knowledge, accident investigations and on-water tools designed to improve decision making, confidence and safety. No fluff. No textbook filler. Just the stuff that matters when things go wrong. Features include: • Real World Incident Scenario Trainer Train using real boating accidents and incidents. Make decisions under pressure and see how your choices could change the outcome. • Captain’s Call Quiz Test your knowledge across navigation, safety, seamanship, weather, rules of the road and more. • Daily Tips (Captain Andrew’s Tips) Short, practical boating insights based on real incidents and years on the water. • Anchor Guardian GPS anchor watch with drift alerts to help detect anchor drag before it becomes dangerous. • Breakback Boating (G-Force Meter) Measure impacts and G-forces to improve ride quality, understand sea conditions and drive smarter. Optionally share runs to the community map. • Compass & Waypoints Drop waypoints instantly and navigate back to your launch spot, fishing location or key marks with ease. Skipper IQ is designed for: • Recreational boaters • New and experienced skippers • Anyone wanting to improve boating safety and confidence If you own a boat, this is knowledge worth having onboard. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Master4 screens
Skipper IQ4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Skipper IQ at Free against Master's $1.99. Skipper IQ also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Master's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ratings volume (94 vs 1). On review sentiment, 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

Skipper IQ is free to download; Master costs $1.99 up front. Skipper IQ sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Master asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Skipper IQ holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Master has 94 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 97% of Master's written reviews are positive against 100% of Skipper IQ's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Master ships an update fortnightly, Skipper IQ every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Master versus Skipper IQ: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMasterSkipper IQ
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (94 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews96.9% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings94 — better1
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
Best chart rank#196 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB42 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperPeterjohn ChisholmPowerboat.Training Ltd

Customer experience

Master

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

Skipper IQ

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Master

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Skipper IQ

Subscriptions2
  • Captain’s Club Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Captain’s Club Annual$19.991 Year
One-time7
  • Safety & Emergency$3.99
  • Seamanship & Ropework2 variants$3.99
  • Weather & Tides$3.99
Show 4 more
  • Navigating Captain$3.99
  • Engine & Mechanical$3.99
  • Launchmaster Captain$3.99
  • Full Fleet Access$14.99

Questions

Is Master free?
Master costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Skipper IQ free?
Skipper IQ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Master or Skipper IQ?
Skipper IQ is rated higher. Master averages 4.7 out of 5 from 94 ratings, while Skipper IQ averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Master or Skipper IQ have ads?
Neither Master nor Skipper IQ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Master or Skipper IQ?
Master ships an update fortnightly, and Skipper IQ every 2 days. Most recently, Master was updated on October 13, 2026 and Skipper IQ on October 7, 2026.

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