Mapster vs Savvy Navvy
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Mapster
Explore the Earth with detailed offline maps featuring topographical hillshading and contour lines. Discover hiking trails, ski runs, and geographical features, even without an internet connection. Access up-to-date information from OpenStreetMap for navigation and exploration.
- Detailed topographical maps
- Offline map access
- Hillshading and contour lines
- OpenStreetMap data integration
- Real-time location tracking
- Monthly map updates
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With Mapster, you can view, download, and store incredibly detailed maps (which include stunning topographical hillshading and contour lines) for any part of the Earth. Whether you're interested in finding new hiking trails, ski runs, back streets, freeways, or just want to explore the physical geography of our planet, you will never run out of things to discover. Now, you can have maps available even in places where you have no Internet service - when you need them the most! There is more involved to providing accurate, practical, and visually appealing maps than just drawing lines where roads are. Our Earth isn't flat, so the way it appears on your screen shouldn't be either. To this end, we have spent a lot of time collecting topographical information for the entire planet, and presenting it in an intuitive and practical way. If there is a small hill or valley in the area you are interested in looking at, it will likely be obvious in Mapster. This provides all kinds of practical benefits for the outdoor enthusiast - if you're the type of person who enjoys hiking or cycling, you'll know ahead of time what to expect. Of course, there is a lot more to Mapster than just a visualization of the terrain in an area. We use data from the OpenStreetMap project to be able to show you where roads, trails, stores, coffee shops, and hundreds of different types of features can be located. Approximately a billion points make up the current OpenStreetMap data set, and the collection is continuing to grow at an astounding rate. Mapster doesn't rely on mapping data that quickly becomes outdated. Approximately once per month, our servers update the map information with the latest changes submitted by hundreds of thousands of users around the world, and keep your iPhone, iPod, or iPad current automatically. As a Mapster user, you obtain privileged access to incredible maps of our entire planet, at a level of detail never before seen. By using your device's built-in ability to determine its location (through a combination of GPS, cell phone triangulation, and WiFi site analysis technologies), you'll always know what's "around the next corner". And if you're the sort of person who likes to explore areas where there is no cell phone or Internet service, that's no problem. Unlike some other map software that requires a live Internet connection to provide you with information, the map details you download to your device are cached, so they stick around and are available even when you're in the middle of nowhere (perhaps not so surprisingly, some of the most interesting places on the planet are "in the middle of nowhere"). If you are planning on exploring an area, all you need to do is tell Mapster to download the details of that location before you leave. There's quite literally an entire planet out there waiting to be explored, whether you're looking for new restauraunts in your community, or kayaking down a river surrounded by a tropical rainforest (though for the latter, we'd suggest also bringing along a waterproof bag to keep your iPhone/iPod/iPad in). With Mapster along for the ride, you'll see the Earth as you never have before. NOTE: To prevent excessive bandwidth on our servers providing the map data, the free version of this app is restricted to downloading a fixed amount of map data per day, roughly equivalent to around 5 or 10 minutes of panning around and zooming in interactively (and obviously much less if you decide to batch download maps). To remove this restriction, inexpensive monthly and yearly subscriptions are available as in-app purchases which give you access to obtaining as much map data as you'd like.
Savvy Navvy
This app provides comprehensive marine navigation, integrating charts, weather, tides, and GPS tracking. It simplifies route planning and offers real-time safety data to ensure confident and enjoyable time on the water for various boating activities.
- Clutter-free nautical charts
- Smart route planning with weather and tide integration
- Real-time GPS tracking
- Departure scheduler
- AIS data for vessel tracking
- Marine weather forecasts
- Tide and current information
- Marina and anchorage finder
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Savvy Navvy: Your All-in-One Marine Navigation App Savvy Navvy is the ultimate marine navigation tool that simplifies charts, weather forecasts, tides, GPS tracking, and route planning—right in the palm of your hand. Whether you're out sailing, fishing, or cruising, we take the stress out of navigation, so you can enjoy your time on the water. From smart routing to real-time GPS positioning and marine weather forecasts, savvy navvy helps you make safer, smarter decisions on the go. Navigate confidently, with up-to-date weather, tide information, and AIS data that keeps you clear of other vessels. Why Choose Savvy Navvy? Clutter-Free Charts: No more messy, hard-to-read charts. Our clean, intuitive design helps you map your route with ease, making every journey more enjoyable. Smart Route Planning: Plot your course effortlessly. Savvy Navvy calculates the best route, factoring in weather, tides, and depth. Plus, you get accurate ETAs so you can plan every detail of your trip. Real-Time GPS Tracking: Keep track of your location on the water with built-in GPS, so you always know where you are—and where you're heading. Departure Scheduler: Pick the perfect departure time by considering weather, tides, and daylight. Avoid rough seas and ensure a smoother ride. AIS Data for Safety: Stay safe with real-time AIS (Automatic Identification System) data that shows nearby vessels, helping you avoid collisions. Marine Weather Forecasts: Get ahead of the weather with detailed forecasts, including wind speed, swell, and visibility. Navigate safely, no matter the conditions. Tides and Currents: Access real-time tide and current data for safer passage, integrated directly into your charts. Marina and Anchorage Info: Find marinas and anchorages with ease. Whether you need fuel, supplies, or a safe place to dock, we’ve got you covered. Who’s Savvy Navvy For? Sailors: Plan routes with tools that account for wind, tides, and depth. Powerboaters: Navigate confidently with GPS and AIS tracking, plus estimate fuel needs for any trip. Fishermen: Get precise marine weather forecasts, schedule your trips, and mark your favorite fishing spots. Jetskiers, Kayakers, and Paddleboarders: Enjoy your adventures with reliable charts and GPS tracking. Why Trust Savvy Navvy? With over 2 million downloads and multiple marine innovation awards, Savvy Navvy is trusted by boaters around the world. We use official, regularly updated hydrographic data and live weather from top sources, ensuring you’re always equipped with the most accurate information. We listen to our users, constantly improving the app based on their feedback. Each update reflects real boater needs, making sure your experience on the water gets better with every trip. Why We're Different Unlike other navigation apps, savvy navvy lets you sync routes across up to five devices, making it easy to stay connected. Try our free version and explore all features before upgrading. Download Savvy Navvy today and explore the waters with confidence! Read our terms of service here: https://www.savvy-navvy.com/terms-of-service
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Savvy Navvy at weekly against Mapster's every 14 months. Savvy Navvy also leads on ratings volume (8.4K vs 15) and chart position (#61 vs unranked). Mapster's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.7) and review sentiment (62% vs 53%). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Mapster sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Savvy Navvy sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $99.00 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Mapster holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Savvy Navvy has 8.4K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Mapster's written reviews are positive against 53% of Savvy Navvy's.
Mapster ships an update every 14 months, Savvy Navvy weekly. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.
| Parameter | Mapster | Savvy Navvy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (15 ratings) — better | 4.7 (8.4K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 62.1% of reviews — better | 53.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 15 | 8.4K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 14 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #61 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 156 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Syzygy Research & Technology Ltd. | savvy navvy |
Customer experience
Mapster
Savvy Navvy
User reviews
Mapster
From 15 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🌍 Works offline without cell service
- 🗺️ Highly detailed maps for remote areas
- 📍 Accurate location tracking
- 🌲 Excellent for off-road and bush navigation
- 👍 Easy to use and simple interface
Room to improve
- 📉 Data can be old
- 😵 Text hard to read at highest detail
- ❓ No key for map symbols
- 🔵 Cannot turn off location circle
- 😩 Too many nag screens
Savvy Navvy
From 8.4K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for navigation
- 🌊 Accurate charts and data
- 💡 Useful features like weather and tide info
- 👍 Great for planning routes
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and crashes
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🗺️ Missing chart data for some areas
- 🤔 Confusing to set up
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
Bugs and requests
Mapster
Reported bugs
9 issues- Crashes continuously
- Cannot search for locations
- Crashes a lot more with latest iOS 6
- Doesn't allow a dropped pin to read an elevation
- Map shifts to wrong layout when zooming
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- Daily download limit not honored
- Slow refresh rate
- App crashes frequently
- Map data is inaccurate
Requested features
16 requests- Street view
- 3D aspect on buildings
- Team up with Google maps for details
- More contour readings
- Searchable placemarks
Show 11 moreShow fewer
- Add new roads
- Follow location and save path
- More visible location mark
- Dark mode
- Better readability of text at high detail
- Legend for map symbols
- Ability to turn off location circle
- More flexible tile download system
- Route planning
- Improved marine and lake data
- Show old roads as reference
Savvy Navvy
Reported bugs
4 issues- App freezes or becomes unresponsive
- Inaccurate weather and tide information
- Issues with syncing data across devices
- Problems with downloading charts and maps
Requested features
5 requests- Add more chart coverage for different regions
- Improve route planning and navigation features
- Allow offline use without internet connection
- Integrate with other boating apps and devices
- Provide more customization options
In-app purchases
Mapster
- Unlimited downloads for 30 days$1.99
- Unlimited downloads for 1 Year$9.99
Savvy Navvy
- Premium1 Year trial$99.001 Year
- Premium$99.001 Year
- Premium (US-only charts)3 Days trial$99.001 Year
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- Premium3 Days trial7 variants$99.001 Year
- Premium (US-only charts)3 Days trial2 variants$129.001 Year
- Premium (US-only charts)14 Days trial$129.001 Year
- Elite (with Denmark)3 Days trial$129.001 Year
- Premium Plus (global charts)14 Days trial$129.001 Year
- Premium Plus (global charts)3 Days trial2 variants$169.001 Year
- Premium Plus (global charts)14 Days trial$169.001 Year









