# iNavX vs Helm Boating

The clearest difference is update cadence: Helm Boating at weekly against iNavX's every 5 weeks. iNavX's advantage is chart position (#96 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iNavX sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Helm Boating sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $99.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iNavX ships an update every 5 weeks, Helm Boating weekly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | iNavX | Helm Boating |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inavx-marine-navigation/id286616280/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **22K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 43.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#96** | — |
| Size | 298 MB | 72 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [NavX Studios LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/286616283) | [LOOP MOBILE FZCO](https://appshunter.io/developer/1741140077) |

## What reviewers say

### iNavX

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inavx-marine-navigation/id286616280)

**Currently charting:** #96 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

This app provides comprehensive marine navigation tools, including worldwide chart coverage, weather forecasts, and AIS integration. It allows users to plan routes, track their position, and connect with onboard instruments for a complete boating experience.

**Highlights:** Worldwide marine chart access, Real-time GPS plotting, Waypoint and route management, GRIB weather forecasts, AIS integration, Nautical instrument connectivity

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Theyr Premium - Mobile (Monthly) for iOS | $9.99 | per month |
| iNavX Professional+ USA | $29.99 | per year |
| Navionics+ USA/Canada (iPhone) | $29.99 | per year |
| Navionics+ Caribbean (iPhone) | $44.99 | per year |
| Theyr Premium Weather | $49.99 | per year |
| iNavX Professional+ USA Canada | $59.99 | per year |
| C-MAP World Chart | $59.99 | per year |
| Explorer Chartbooks - Bahamas | $69.99 | per year |
| Navionics+ USA/Canada (iPad) | $79.99 | per year |
| Navionics+ Caribbean (iPad) | $79.99 | per year |
| AIS Live | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate and precise navigation
- 📊 Comprehensive charting and navigation features
- 🛠️ Customizable instrument settings
- 🔄 Redundancy across devices
- 💨 Reliable performance over many years

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Clunky and unintuitive user interface
- 🗺️ Cumbersome chart management and downloading
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 💰 Expensive subscription model for charts
- 🐛 Stability issues and crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to remove waypoints
- Inconsistent behavior when transitioning International Date Line
- Disappearing or missing chart data

**Requested features**

- Seamless chart switching and panning
- Integrated tidal and current data
- Support for more chart types and providers
- Improved route planning and editing tools
- Automatic chart updates and management


### Helm Boating

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helm-boating-gps-chart-and-map/id6803616810)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $99.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iNavX free?

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

### Is Helm Boating free?

Helm Boating is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do iNavX or Helm Boating have ads?

Both iNavX and Helm Boating show ads.

### Which is updated more often, iNavX or Helm Boating?

iNavX ships an update every 5 weeks, and Helm Boating weekly. Most recently, iNavX was updated on October 24, 2026 and Helm Boating 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.*