Master vs Skipper IQ
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Interactive learning system
- Step-by-step rule guidance
- Mnemonics and memory aids
- Interactive visuals
- Graphical feedback on answers
- Practice section with progress tracking
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
Master ships an update fortnightly, Skipper IQ every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Master | Skipper IQ |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (94 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 96.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 94 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Freemium — better |
| Best chart rank | #196 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 117 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Peterjohn Chisholm | Powerboat.Training Ltd |
Customer experience
Master
Skipper IQ
In-app purchases
Master
No in-app purchases
Skipper IQ
- Captain’s Club Monthly$2.991 Month
- Captain’s Club Annual$19.991 Year
- Safety & Emergency$3.99
- Seamanship & Ropework2 variants$3.99
- Weather & Tides$3.99
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- Navigating Captain$3.99
- Engine & Mechanical$3.99
- Launchmaster Captain$3.99
- Full Fleet Access$14.99
Questions
Is Master free?
Is Skipper IQ free?
Which has better reviews, Master or Skipper IQ?
Do Master or Skipper IQ have ads?
Which is updated more often, Master or Skipper IQ?
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