# SeaHelp vs VesselFinder

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SeaHelp at 100% against VesselFinder's 28%. SeaHelp also leads on ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). VesselFinder's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and chart position (#192 vs unranked). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SeaHelp holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VesselFinder has 232 ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of SeaHelp's written reviews are positive against 28% of VesselFinder's.

SeaHelp ships an update every 2 months, VesselFinder fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SeaHelp | VesselFinder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seahelp/id387967419/reviews)** | [4.1 (232 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vesselfinder/id918080862/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 34 | **232** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 28.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#192** |
| Size | 15 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sea-Help GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/909091275) | [AstraPaging Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/438160792) |

## What reviewers say

### SeaHelp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seahelp/id387967419)

This app provides immediate professional assistance for boaters in distress in specific European coastal areas. It sends your location and contact details to a central operations center, which then contacts you to arrange support. Membership offers priority treatment during emergencies.

**Highlights:** Emergency help button via SMS, Automatic GPS coordinate transfer, Direct contact from operations center, Membership for priority treatment, Access to SeaHelp website, Downloadable SeaMagazine

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


### VesselFinder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vesselfinder/id918080862)

**Currently charting:** #192 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Track ships and monitor maritime traffic globally in real-time. Access detailed vessel information, movement history, and predicted routes. Ideal for maritime professionals and enthusiasts alike.

**Highlights:** Real-time vessel tracking, Vessel movement history, Predicted routes and ETAs, Comprehensive vessel particulars, Port call details, My Fleet for favorite vessels, Weather overlays

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 💰 Free version provides basic functionality
- 🗺️ Clear map display with sea blue and land green
- 📊 Comprehensive vessel information available
- ⚓ Good for casual ship tracking and hobbyists

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Severely outdated vessel position data (days old)
- 🐛 App freezes on startup/splash screen frequently
- 💸 Misleading free version with limited functionality
- 🔄 Inconsistent and unreliable data updates
- ❌ Search functionality requires paid version

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes on splash screen and won't load
- Crashes when attempting to zoom on map
- Black screen display on certain devices
- App won't open or opens after long delays
- Crashes on iOS 11 and newer versions

**Requested features**

- Real-time GPS tracking instead of delayed AIS data
- Distance measurement tool restoration
- German language support
- Destination and departure information display
- Ability to remove ads without expensive pro version


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SeaHelp free?

SeaHelp is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VesselFinder free?

VesselFinder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SeaHelp or VesselFinder?

SeaHelp is rated higher. SeaHelp averages 4.4 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while VesselFinder averages 4.1 from 232 ratings.

### Do SeaHelp or VesselFinder have ads?

VesselFinder shows ads; SeaHelp does not.

### Which is updated more often, SeaHelp or VesselFinder?

SeaHelp ships an update every 2 months, and VesselFinder fortnightly. Most recently, SeaHelp was updated on October 8, 2026 and VesselFinder on October 11, 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.*