Wärtsilä iSailor vs Seapilot
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Wärtsilä iSailor
This marine navigation app offers clear presentation of navigational information and electronic charts for amateur seafarers. It supports accurate TX-97 vector charts and provides various optional services like weather and AIS data.
- Electronic chart display
- GPS and AIS integration
- Route creation and monitoring
- Weather and tide information
- Chart correction service
- User object sharing
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Wärtsilä iSailor is an easy-to-use marine and river navigation application for amateur seafarers. iSailor provides a clear presentation of navigational information, electronic charts and additional content. TX-97 vector charts supported by iSailor are recognized worldwide as one of the most accurate and reliable sources of navigational information. Chart folios can be purchased and downloaded in the iSailor Chart Store utilizing the standard iTunes Store payment/purchasing procedure. Chart correction service is provided on annual basis via the auto-renewable subscription service. iTunes will charge payment after confirmation of the chart correction purchase. You may manage your subscriptions and turn off the auto-renewal service in the Account Settings. Your subscription will automatically renew unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the subscription period. You can cancel your subscription in the Chart Store any time. All previously purchased chart folios will remain available for you and can be restored from the service via the Chart Restore function. To receive subsequent chart corrections for your purchased charts, you will need to subscribe to the annual updates in the Chart Store. The application works on iPhone and iPad using built-in GPS, NMEA Wi-Fi GPS or an external Bluetooth GPS. Supported devices (iOS version 11 and higher): • iPhone 5S or higher • iPad 5 generation or higher iSailor features: • Positioning system: iOS (Built-In GPS), NMEA GPS or AIS Class B (Option) • AIS Class A NavData interface (Option) • NMEA Heading and Rate-Of-Turn sensors (Option) • NMEA Echo Sounder with a graphical 2D echogram and water temperature sensor (Option) • NMEA Wind Sensor, including True & Relative wind calculation (Option) • NMEA Autopilot interface (Option) • Display of charts, routes, track(s) and user objects • AIS target presentation. Target contours and dimensions (Option) • Internet AIS service (Optional subscription) • Weather service (Optional subscription) • Tides and tidal currents (Optional subscription) • Sailing guides, regional marinas (Optional subscription) • North Up, COG Up, Head Up and Route Up chart orientations • Information on any vector chart objects • Free cursor, Point-To-Point and Own ship referenced ERBL functionality • Monitoring of navigational data: Position, Course (COG) and Speed Over Ground (SOG) • Route creation by the graphic and tabular methods. “Go To” routes. • 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 • Multi-language support • Multi-unit support • Custom track colors • Day and night chart palettes • Alarm monitoring functionality • Route, track and user object: export/import via GPX, KML and KMZ formats • Advanced Logging and Playback function (Option) • User object sharing via Facebook, Twitter, iMessenger, eMail NOTE: Continuous use of the GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease the battery life. Wärtsilä iSailor application may use your location even when it’s not open, which can decrease battery life of the device iSailor EULA: https://www.wartsila.com/docs/default-source/marine-documents/transas/WVL-EULA.pdf iSailor Privacy Notice: https://www.wartsila.com/legal-privacy/privacy Questions? Please contact us at isailor.support@wartsila.com Sincerely yours, iSailor Team
Seapilot
Navigate like a professional with this marine navigation app. It offers vectorized chart data, AIS, and weather forecasts, bringing merchant shipping technology to your mobile device. Plan trips, track your vessel, and access advanced navigation tools.
- Vectorized S-57 chart data
- Automatic Identification System (AIS)
- Built-in weather forecasts
- Positioning and background positioning via GPS
- Man Overboard function
- Premium features like Weather Routing
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Professional marine navigation used to require an expensive GPS plotter. Now, same technology used in merchant shipping is available for the iPad and iPhone. Seapilot lets you navigate like a pro with vectorized S-57 chart data from National Maritime Administrations. This is the first navigation app to feature Automatic Identification System (AIS) and built in weather forecasts, when within a mobile network. Charts and features available as In-App Purchase. Use it to navigate, to plan tomorrow’s boat trip or reminisce about yesterday’s. (PS. Even works in your sofa at home.) Seapilot features: • Free trial period of included functionallity • Professional navigation based on merchant shipping standards for ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) • S-57 chart data (In-App Purchase) and AIS data from National Maritime Administrations • Developed by True Heading, leaders in marine navigation and communication at sea, with cutting-edge AIS and VHF know-how Functions: Δ Positioning and background positioning via GPS (Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life) Δ Visualization of S-57 chart data from National Maritime Administrations Δ Autonomous navigation - charts (In-App-purchase) downloaded to the device Δ Option of tracking your own boat on the chart Δ Displays position, course and speed Δ Adjustable own speed and course vector Δ Man Overboard function Δ Display settings for day, dawn/dusk and night Δ Past track Δ Plotting/marking objects Δ Electronic bearing and range marker from own vessel Δ True Motion and adjustable North Up / Head Up chart orientation Δ Chart object search Δ AIS target search Δ Setting of safety contour (2, 3, 6, 10 and 15 meters) Δ World chart for rough overview/orientation Δ Facebook integration; share position with friends or all users, list friends, show friends or all users on chart, post on was Premium: Δ Routes Δ Weather Routing Δ Weather Forecast, High quality 5-day Coastal Weather Forecasts. Δ AIS data from National Maritime Administrations via Internet (3G or WLAN) Δ Course and speed vector for AIS targets Δ NMEA-0183 interface for connecting external GPS/AIS via WIFI Δ Import/Export to GPX-file == Auto-renewable subscriptions in Seapilot == • Seapilot Premium, Annual Subscription: $39.99 • Swedish Charts with automatic updates, Annual Subscription: $8.99 Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period Privacy Policy https://seapilot.com/privacy End User License Agreement https://seapilot.com/eula/ ==== Requirements: iOS 7.0 or later, iPad or iPhone with GPS. (External GPS unit can be used for other models.) Based on 140 years of experience, Seapilot has been developed by True Heading (www.trueheading.se/us) – experts at AIS, VHF, marine navigation and communication at sea. • True Heading is a leader in AIS products with over 40 years of navigation experience. – An authority on professional navigation. Contact: Your input is essential in helping us further develop Seapilot. Feel free to contact us at info@seapilot.com. For the latest info, like Seapilot on www.facebook.com/seapilot.se
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Wärtsilä iSailor at every 3 weeks against Seapilot's every 3 months. Wärtsilä iSailor also leads on rating (3.1 vs 2.9) and chart position (#153 vs unranked). Seapilot's advantage is iOS requirement (9.3 vs 13). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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
Both are free to download. Wärtsilä iSailor sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year and Seapilot sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Wärtsilä iSailor holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 11 and 15 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of Wärtsilä iSailor's written reviews are positive against 38% of Seapilot's.
Wärtsilä iSailor ships an update every 3 weeks, Seapilot every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Wärtsilä iSailor | Seapilot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.1 (11 ratings) — better | 2.9 (15 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 44.8% of reviews — better | 38.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 11 | 15 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #153 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13 | 9.3 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 55 MB | 107 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Wartsila Voyage Sweden AB | Seapilot |
Customer experience
Wärtsilä iSailor
Seapilot
Bugs and requests
Wärtsilä iSailor
Reported bugs
4 issues- GPS position issues on iOS devices
- NMEA data not working after updates
- Inability to scroll past the date line
- Purchased charts not downloading properly
Requested features
5 requests- Automatic route planning
- Integration with boat's autopilot
- Improved weather and tidal data
- Cross-platform sync for user data
- Better AIS target display and management
Seapilot
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Wärtsilä iSailor
- USA. Pacific Coast. CA$4.991 Year
- USA. Ri to the Canadian border$4.991 Year
- USA. Nantucket to Cap May, NJ$4.991 Year
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- USA.Chesapeake & Delaware bays$4.991 Year
- USA. Norfolk to Jacksonville$4.991 Year
- USA. Atlantic Coast. Florida$4.991 Year
- USA. Gulf Coast. Florida$4.991 Year
- USA. Pacific Coast. WA$4.991 Year
- The Bahamas$10.491 Year
- Caribbean Sea. Lesser Antilles$10.991 Year
- AIS Receiver Support$11.99
- Tides & Currents subscription$11.99
- Internet AIS Service 1 year subscription$19.49
Seapilot
- Swedish charts with automatic updates$8.991 Year
- East Canadian charts$14.491 Year
- West Canadian$14.491 Year
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- Spanish charts with automatic updates$17.491 Year
- Finnish charts$19.491 Year
- Dutch charts$19.491 Year
- Irish charts$19.491 Year
- British charts$19.491 Year
- German charts$23.491 Year
- Croatian charts with automatic updates$26.491 Year
- Portuguese charts with automatic updates$26.491 Year
- Greek charts with automatic updates$34.991 Year
- Premium$39.991 Year
- French charts$50.991 Year
- US EastFree
- US WestFree
- US-Great Lakes. One year subscription.$11.99
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- US-West. One year subscription.$13.99









