Comparison

GPS vs Wärtsilä Pilot PRO

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

Head to head
About

GPS

This app provides detailed location data including speed, altitude, and coordinates. It offers various map views and tracks your journey statistics. Customize settings for units, display, and background operation.

Highlights
  • Current heading, course, speed, coordinates, altitude
  • Street, topographic, and satellite maps
  • Cached maps for offline viewing
  • Trace statistics (time, distance, altitude, speed)
  • Customizable coordinate and unit formats
  • Background tracing and automatic pausing
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

"GPS" gives you access to your iPhone's GPS functionality and more. The simple display shows your current: - Heading (where a compass is available). - Course - Speed or Speed Average - Coordinates - Altitude Street and Topographic maps are available along with aerial or satellite photos. Once viewed maps will also be held cached for a day. And trace statistics including: - Time and Distance - Minimum and Maximum Altitude - Average and Maximum speed. Via the settings you can: - Choose between Latitude & Longitude formats and UTM coordinates. - Choose between meters or feet and formats. - Choosing Speed or Average Speed. - Keep your iPhone awake. - Trace while GPS is in the background. - Automatically pause when you stop. - Shutdown when the battery started getting low. more features are on the way... www.onwhat.net/gps

About

Wärtsilä Pilot PRO

This application provides advanced navigational tools for maritime professionals, including deep sea, channel, river, and harbor pilots. It supports various chart formats and integrates with GPS and AIS sensors for precise positioning and data logging.

Highlights
  • AIS Class A and NMEA sensor integration
  • TX-97, S-63, and S-57 chart support
  • Docking Mode and Conning Display
  • Fore & Aft Speed and COG vectors
  • Extended Data Logging and Playback
  • Route and Track creation/monitoring
  • AIS Target presentation and calculations
Features
Read full description

Wärtsilä Pilot PRO is the application intended for everyday needs of deep sea, channel, river and harbour pilots and other maritime professionals. The Pilot PRO operates on iPad utilizing the AIS Class A or 3rd party NMEA sensors via Wi-Fi, built-in or external Bluetooth GPS for backup positioning purposes. The application runs on Transas TX-97 vector chart format recognised worldwide as one of the most accurate and reliable sources of navigational information and also supports S-63 / S-57 ENC formats. • OS and HW requirements: - OS Apple iOS 10.3.x and higher - Recommended iPad devices: iPad mini 2 and higher, iPad Air 9,7" and higher, All iPad PRO models • Positioning systems, NMEA Heading and Rate-Of-Turn sensors: - iOS (iPad built-in GPS) - AIS Class A transponder - 3rd Party NMEA sensors over Wi-Fi • Pilot Specific Features: - Docking Mode - Conning Display - Fore & Aft Speed and Resulting COG vectors - Own Ship Predictor - Automatic Distance Lines for berthing and mooring - Fender Lines - Virtual Boarding - Extended Data Logging and Playback - AIS Target Meeting Points & Rendezvous Points (RDV) on a selected route - CPA-TCPA and BCR-BCT calculations - Secured AIS Data option, integration with the Wärtsilä Ship Traffic Control solutions - ROT beeper and Vessel Parking System audiovisual signals • Chart Data: - TX97 chart folios and monthly chart updates. Direct online installation of charts and updates from the server - S-63 AVCS and S-57 ENC Chart support • General Functionality: - Display of Charts, Routes, Track(s), Fender Lines and User Objects - North Up, COG Up, Head Up and Route Up chart orientations - Monitoring of navigational data: Position, HDG, ROT, Course (COG) and Speed (SOG) - Route creation by the graphic and tabular methods - Waypoint monitoring: Bearing to WP, Distance to WP, XTD, Time-To-Go and ETA - Schedule information: Time-To-Go and ETA to any selected waypoint ahead - AIS Target presentation on charts: Target contours, dimensions and information - Multi Units and Multi Language support - Alarm monitoring functionality - Route, Track, Fender Line and User Object: Export/Import via GPX, KML, KMZ and RTZ formats - Day and Night chart palettes • Extra Modules: - Advanced Data Module option: Weather Service, Tides and Tidal Currents, Internet AIS Service - E-Nav Module option: Secured AIS Feed from VTS, AIS Meteo Data, IHO S-124 NW areas support - Advanced NAV Module option: Echo-Sounder and Wind Sensor support for onboard connections Wärtsilä Pilot PRO app is only available through the App Store to the registered users. NOTE: Continued use of the GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease the battery life. Wärtsilä Pilot PRO app may use your location even when it isn’t open, which can decrease device battery life. Any questions? Feel free to contact us at pilotpro.support@wartsila.com Sincerely Yours, Pilot PRO team

Screenshots

GPS2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Wärtsilä Pilot PRO at Free against GPS's $0.99. Wärtsilä Pilot PRO also leads on rating (4.3 vs 2.4) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 11 months). GPS's advantage is chart position (#193 vs unranked) and device support (3 vs 1). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Wärtsilä Pilot PRO is free to download; GPS costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Wärtsilä Pilot PRO holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of GPS's written reviews are positive against 36% of Wärtsilä Pilot PRO's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GPS ships an update every 11 months, Wärtsilä Pilot PRO every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
GPS versus Wärtsilä Pilot PRO: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGPSWärtsilä Pilot PRO
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating2.4 (7 ratings)4.3 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.6% of reviews36.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#193 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.8
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB73 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVoid Stop Pty LtdWartsila Voyage Sweden AB

Customer experience

GPS

All ratings7 ratings
Positive28.6%
Neutral14.3%
Negative57.1%
Written reviews78 reviews
Positive25.6%
Neutral9.0%
Negative65.4%

Wärtsilä Pilot PRO

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive36.4%
Neutral18.2%
Negative45.5%

Bugs and requests

GPS

Reported bugs

15 issues
  • Phone screen goes black with waterproof case
  • Maps blank/unavailable
  • OpenCycle maps no longer loading
  • MPH does not work
  • Speed takes long to update and jumps around
Show 10 more
  • Average speed greater than max speed
  • Update in standby only works briefly
  • Coordinates aren't close
  • Elevation inaccurate
  • Map is horrible
  • Gray lines instead of map
  • Location doesn't change when moving
  • Screen refresh incomplete
  • Version not developed for iPhone message
  • Crashes phone

Requested features

20 requests
  • Ability to choose projection (e.g., UTM)
  • Substitute other maps
  • Facility for feedback/contributions
  • Type notes with GPS coordinates
  • Save location details as a picture
Show 15 more
  • Retina graphics
  • More recent SDK technologies
  • Red display for night vision
  • Trail line follow on map
  • Tracking function on map
  • Coordinate format selector
  • Optional history recording
  • More descriptive 'Sleeping' preference name
  • Display 'Satellite Signal Not Received' instead of inaccurate coordinates
  • Lose the serif typeface
  • Integrate compass headings
  • Type in GPS coordinates and find a location
  • Compass or similar for direction
  • Waypoints and other typical outdoors use
  • Access to better maps

Wärtsilä Pilot PRO

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

GPS

No in-app purchases

None

Wärtsilä Pilot PRO

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is GPS free?
GPS costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Wärtsilä Pilot PRO free?
Wärtsilä Pilot PRO is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, GPS or Wärtsilä Pilot PRO?
Wärtsilä Pilot PRO is rated higher. GPS averages 2.4 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Wärtsilä Pilot PRO averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.
Do GPS or Wärtsilä Pilot PRO have ads?
Neither GPS nor Wärtsilä Pilot PRO shows ads.
Which is updated more often, GPS or Wärtsilä Pilot PRO?
GPS ships an update every 11 months, and Wärtsilä Pilot PRO every 2 months. Most recently, GPS was updated on October 29, 2026 and Wärtsilä Pilot PRO on October 23, 2026.

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