Comparison

Engine RPM vs AirmarCAST™

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

Head to head
About

Engine RPM

Analyze engine sound to calculate RPM using advanced signal processing. Ideal for engine setup and diagnostics, it supports various engine types and provides real-time feedback for accurate readings.

Highlights
  • Acoustic RPM measurement
  • Engine sound analysis
  • Supports 2-stroke/4-stroke engines
  • Configurable cylinder count
  • Real-time autocorrelation graph
  • Adjustable update periods
  • Low-pass filtering
Features
Read full description

Measure the RPM of an engine by analyzing the sound it makes. Engine RPM listens to the sound of a running engine and uses advanced signal processing algorithms to extract the frequency of that sound and calculate the RPM. This app is primarily for setup and diagnostics of engines. After setting the the number of cylinders and whether the engine is a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine, the app can work with any internal combustion engine, from diesel tractors to aircraft engines to motorcycles to chainsaws. To use the app you must set an expected RPM range to guide the analysis algorithms to the correct RPM. A real-time graph of the autocorrelation graph is displayed to help in troubleshooting and adjusting the expected RPM range. The analysis requires a clear sound from the engine without excessive interference from extraneous sounds. Do not expect to read the RPM of an engine while other things are making too much noise at the same time. The analysis also requires that the RPM be stable. It cannot read the RPM of an engine that is rapidly accelerating. For this reason, and because of the need for adjusting the expected RPM range, this app should not be considered a drop-in replacement for an operational tachometer. Setup options include update periods from 93 milliseconds to 1.5 seconds, one to 12 cylinders, 2-stroke or 4-stroke, low-pass filtering, and signal clipping. The overall RPM range is 400 to 90,000 RPM (although at any one time, the operational range is typically +/- 30% around a nominal expected RPM). Precision is usually about +/- 10 RPM.

About

AirmarCAST™

Configure and calibrate your boat's Bluetooth-enabled multisensors and modules directly from your mobile device. View real-time data on detailed gauges and perform advanced calibrations for speed, temperature, and attitude without extra hardware.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth sensor connection
  • Real-time data display
  • Intuitive navigation
  • Speed, temperature, attitude calibration
  • On-board GPS speed comparison
  • Advanced speed calibration wizards
Features
Read full description

Airmar® CAST™ connects to the Bluetooth®-enabled DST810, DX900+, WX300 multisensors and SmartBoat® modules on your boat, making sensor configuration and calibration easy with intuitive app navigation and real-time data from your multisensor. View data on detailed gauges and digital data screens, and perform speed, temperature, and attitude calibrations without the need for additional converters or cables. With CAST, you can configure your multisensor directly, regardless of the other displays and gauges on board. All data configurations and calibrations are stored in the multisensor and delivered on the NMEA2000® network. When used with DST810, you can calibrate basic or heel-compensated speed through water using your on-board GPS speed for comparison. Intuitive wizards guide you through multiple runs to correct for current. Or take it a step further to advanced speed calibration, with up to five heel angles and ten reference speeds. Until now, advanced speed calibration was only possible through expensive PC based software. With Airmar’s SmartBoat® modules, the CAST app delivers the fastest connection to the SmartView software for system configuration.

Screenshots

Engine RPM3 screens
AirmarCAST™4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: AirmarCAST™ at Free against Engine RPM's $8.99. AirmarCAST™ also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 16 months). Engine RPM's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 2.6) and review sentiment (48% vs 25%). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

AirmarCAST™ is free to download; Engine RPM costs $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Engine RPM holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Engine RPM has 35 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Engine RPM's written reviews are positive against 25% of AirmarCAST™'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Engine RPM ships an update every 16 months, AirmarCAST™ every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Engine RPM versus AirmarCAST™: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEngine RPMAirmarCAST™
Price$8.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (35 ratings) — better2.6 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews47.7% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings35 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.0 — better16
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB112 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperReal-Time SpecialtiesAirmar Technology Inc.

Customer experience

Engine RPM

All ratings35 ratings
Positive74.3%
Neutral2.9%
Negative22.9%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive47.7%
Neutral7.7%
Negative44.6%

AirmarCAST™

All ratings5 ratings
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Bugs and requests

Engine RPM

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Does not register live RPM readings
  • Displays incorrect or random numbers
  • App opens then closes immediately
  • Blank display or flashes incorrect data intermittently
  • Cannot get consistent readings
Show 7 more
  • Does not work on specific devices (e.g., iPhone 6)
  • E-motor measurement not possible
  • Readings are not accurate
  • Cannot get a reliable reading
  • Randomly skips between significantly different numbers
  • Generates random numbers
  • Does not recognize sound correctly

Requested features

5 requests
  • Save configuration settings
  • Option to display cycle/cylinder count on home screen
  • Improved response time for transient surges
  • Simplified or automated setup process
  • Auto-scaling graphical display for easier harmonic matching

AirmarCAST™

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Engine RPM

No in-app purchases

None

AirmarCAST™

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Engine RPM free?
Engine RPM costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is AirmarCAST™ free?
AirmarCAST™ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Engine RPM or AirmarCAST™?
Engine RPM is rated higher. Engine RPM averages 4.0 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while AirmarCAST™ averages 2.6 from 5 ratings.
Do Engine RPM or AirmarCAST™ have ads?
Neither Engine RPM nor AirmarCAST™ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Engine RPM or AirmarCAST™?
Engine RPM ships an update every 16 months, and AirmarCAST™ every 3 months. Most recently, Engine RPM was updated on October 27, 2026 and AirmarCAST™ on October 11, 2026.

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