# Bristol Maps vs Hip Charts

The clearest difference is rating: Bristol Maps at 4.0 against Hip Charts's 3.5. Bristol Maps also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 25%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). Hip Charts's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Bristol Maps sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $200.00 per year. Hip Charts asks for nothing beyond the download.

Bristol Maps holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Bristol Maps's written reviews are positive against 25% of Hip Charts's.

Bristol Maps ships an update every 5 days, Hip Charts every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bristol Maps | Hip Charts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bristol-maps/id1608263684/reviews)** | [3.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hip-charts/id6443591337/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#192** | — |
| Size | 75 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chris Hager](https://appshunter.io/developer/1449874913) | [Walk About Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/480229755) |

## What reviewers say

### Bristol Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bristol-maps/id1608263684)

**Currently charting:** #192 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

Navigate commercial fishing grounds with up-to-date satellite imagery and tide data. Plan routes, log catches, and share information with private groups. Enhances fishing efficiency and safety.

**Highlights:** Latest satellite imagery overlays, Tide and weather forecasts, Digital logbook for catches, Private groups for sharing, Customizable boundary alarms, Waypoint and route creation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bristol Maps | $200.00 | per year |


### Hip Charts

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hip-charts/id6443591337)

Access NOAA nautical charts for free on your mobile devices. View charts online and download single areas for offline use. Additional features like multiple offline downloads and custom boundaries require a purchase.

**Highlights:** Unlimited online NOAA chart viewing, Download single chart areas for offline use, Automatic chart loading, Cellular and WiFi chart downloads, Custom download boundaries (paid)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bristol Maps free?

Bristol Maps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hip Charts free?

Hip Charts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Bristol Maps or Hip Charts?

Bristol Maps is rated higher. Bristol Maps averages 4.0 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Hip Charts averages 3.5 from 8 ratings.

### Do Bristol Maps or Hip Charts have ads?

Neither Bristol Maps nor Hip Charts shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bristol Maps or Hip Charts?

Bristol Maps ships an update every 5 days, and Hip Charts every 3 weeks. Most recently, Bristol Maps was updated on October 25, 2026 and Hip Charts on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*