Comparison

MagVar vs Apparent Wind Calculator

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

Head to head
About

MagVar

This navigation tool calculates magnetic variation, the difference between true and magnetic north, essential for plotting courses on maps. It's designed for pilots, sailors, cartographers, and anyone using maps and a compass.

Highlights
  • Magnetic variation calculation
  • True vs. magnetic north difference
  • Map overlay display
  • Accurate for 2025-2029
  • Declination and inclination calculation
Features
Read full description

MagVar is targeted towards anyone interested in navigation. This includes, pilots of aircraft, captains of sea going vessels, cartographers, engineers and surveyors. Anyone who uses maps and a compass will find the declination calculation (also referred to magnetic variation) very useful. (Declination is the difference between true and magnetic north and used when plotting a course on a map.) MagVar calculates the magnetic flux density for any location on the Earth and then uses this data to calculate magnetic variation. The model is accurate for dates ranging from January 1, 2025 up through December 31, 2029. Using the model, the app calculates declination and inclination. As the user pans the map, the magnetic variation is calculated and graphically shown as a map overlay.

About

Apparent Wind Calculator

Features
Read full description

Apparent Wind Calculator takes the maths out of one of sailing's most important concepts. Feed in your true wind angle, true wind speed, and boat speed — and instantly see your apparent wind angle and speed, visualised as a live vector diagram. Whether passage planning, under sail or just getting your head around why the wind always seems to come from forward when you bear away, this app makes it immediately clear. BOAT POLAR Load a polar table and the app sets your boat speed automatically based on your true wind angle and wind speed. Built-in presets cover small, medium, and large monohulls and catamarans — or enter your own target speeds for a custom polar. With auto-fill enabled, every diagram you see reflects realistic performance numbers for your boat, not a guess. FEATURES • Live vector diagram showing true wind, apparent wind, and boat velocity as scaled arrows — updates in real time as you move the sliders • Monohull and catamaran boat graphics that respond to your apparent wind angle • Boat polar table with presets for monohulls and catamarans, fully editable • Auto-fill boat speed from your polar for realistic results • Point of sail readout — from Close Hauled to Deep Run • Port and starboard tack display • Works entirely offline, no account required WHO IT'S FOR Sailing students learning the theory, racers checking their VMG angles, cruisers planning passages, and coaches explaining wind shifts to crew. The apparent wind is what your sails actually feel. This app helps you understand it.

Screenshots

MagVar4 screens
Apparent Wind Calculator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Apparent Wind Calculator at every 2 months against MagVar's every 23 months. Apparent Wind Calculator also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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

MagVar costs $0.99 and Apparent Wind Calculator $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MagVar ships an update every 23 months, Apparent Wind Calculator every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
MagVar versus Apparent Wind Calculator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMagVarApparent Wind Calculator
Price$0.99$0.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 23 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRobert WalkerAdam Harvey

In-app purchases

None

MagVar

No in-app purchases

None

Apparent Wind Calculator

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MagVar free?
MagVar costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Apparent Wind Calculator free?
Apparent Wind Calculator costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do MagVar or Apparent Wind Calculator have ads?
Neither MagVar nor Apparent Wind Calculator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MagVar or Apparent Wind Calculator?
MagVar ships an update every 23 months, and Apparent Wind Calculator every 2 months. Most recently, MagVar was updated on September 19, 2026 and Apparent Wind Calculator on September 24, 2026.

Other comparisons