Comparison

Explore with Imray vs Ocean Signal

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

Head to head
About

Explore with Imray

Access Imray's renowned cruising guides and pilot books on your mobile device. This app provides verified sailing directions, marina data, and points of interest for over 17,000 locations, all available offline. Enhance your passage planning and sailing experience with trusted, first-hand researched content.

Highlights
  • Offline cruising guides
  • Verified pilotage information
  • Marina and anchorage data
  • Bookmark and filter locations
  • Satellite map view
  • User feedback submission
Features
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**Explore with Imray** Cruising guides in your pocket! Carry the content from Imray’s world-renowned library of cruising guides and pilot books in your pocket. Designed for sailors and boaters, the content in Explore with Imray is researched first hand by experienced sailors and verified by Imray. It also includes information from extensive networks of trusted local contacts and data from official hydrographic offices, organisations and institutions. Verified and trusted cruising data - Content created by leading sailing authors and clubs including the Cruising Association, Rod and Lu Heikell, the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation, Clyde Cruising Club and much more - Invaluable pilotage information and sailing directions for over 17,000 locations - Marina, harbour and anchorage descriptions and data - Contact, mooring and facilities information - Images and chartlets from the extensive Imray collection Key Features: - Offline Content: Download and access essential pilotage information and sailing directions to access whilst at sea - Verified Points of Interest: Explore trusted cruising data and discover verified points of interest along your journey - Add your Feedback: Send your updates and feedback directly from the app to the editors, for review and potential inclusion in Explore with Imray and Imray’s printed books - Bookmark and Filter Locations: Easily bookmark locations and filter them by facilities to find what you need quickly. - Satellite View: Gain a comprehensive view of your surroundings on the satellite map background. - Access to Desktop version: Your membership allows you to also access the online desktop version. Explore with Imray offers a free trial and annual membership. Get full access with the Explore with Imray annual subscription for just £69.99. This 12-month auto-renewing plan ensures you stay connected to premium features all year long. Your Apple account will be charged upon confirmation of purchase. Membership subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renewal is turned off 24 hours before the current period ends in your account settings. Cancelling auto-renewal ensures access until the current payment period concludes. By using this app, you agree to the standard Apple End User License Agreement (EULA), which can be found here: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/. For more information on how we handle your data, please review our Privacy Policy (https://www.imray.com/about/privacy/). We aim to guide your passage planning and sailing. Got feedback? Let us know how we can better serve you!

About

Ocean Signal

Access critical information for emergency beacons and live data from Class B AIS devices. Utilize NFC for PLB, EPIRB, and MOB details, including battery status and test results. Configure settings and view live AIS targets via WiFi connection.

Highlights
  • Emergency beacon information access
  • Live Class B AIS data
  • NFC for PLB/EPIRB/MOB details
  • Battery condition and test results
  • Change MOB settings
  • WiFi connection for ATB1 AIS
  • Vessel detail configuration
Features
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The Ocean Signal App allows easy access to Emergency PLB/EPIRB/MOB information as well as live information from your Class B AIS. NFC (Near Field Communication) allows access to PLB, EPIRB and MOB details where operation time, Battery condition and test results can be easily checked and displayed on a mobile device. You can even change settings for your MOB's like adding a MMSI without turning the product on! The use of NFC ensures that maximum battery capacity can be ensured giving you confidence that a Beacon will give maximum performance when required in an emergency situation. WiFi connection to the Ocean Signal ATB1 gives access to live AIS target data along with status and performance details, as well as test and Ownership details for Distress Beacons. Initial configuration with vessel details for the ATB1 Class B AIS is also carried out via the WiFi connection.

Screenshots

Explore with Imray4 screens
Ocean Signal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ocean Signal at none against Explore with Imray's 1. Ocean Signal also leads on review sentiment (40% vs 25%). On price, update cadence, ads 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

Both are free to download. Explore with Imray sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $79.99 per year. Ocean Signal asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Explore with Imray versus Ocean Signal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExplore with ImrayOcean Signal
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews40.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size94 MB116 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperFB Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson GmbHOcean Signal Limited

Customer experience

Explore with Imray

Written reviews68 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral10.3%
Negative64.7%

Ocean Signal

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Explore with Imray

Subscriptions1
  • Explore Annual Membership$79.991 Year
None

Ocean Signal

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Explore with Imray free?
Explore with Imray is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ocean Signal free?
Ocean Signal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Explore with Imray or Ocean Signal have ads?
Neither Explore with Imray nor Ocean Signal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Explore with Imray or Ocean Signal?
Explore with Imray ships an update every 2 months, and Ocean Signal every 2 months. Most recently, Explore with Imray was updated on September 21, 2026 and Ocean Signal on September 10, 2026.

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