Comparison

NMEAremote vs OpenWind

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

Head to head
About

NMEAremote

This app provides real-time marine data from your ship's navigation system directly to your mobile device. Monitor navigation, wind, and depth information at a glance for enhanced safety and performance on the water.

Highlights
  • Real-time marine data display
  • Supports NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000, SignalK
  • Customizable dashboard
  • Alarms and logging
  • Apple Watch integration
  • Server/Repeater functionality
Features
Read full description

Your boat's instruments, right in your hand. NMEAremote connects your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch to your vessel's network and navigation system and brings all critical marine data to a bold, easy-to-read dashboard — wherever you are on deck. Whether you're racing offshore or cruising coastal waters, NMEAremote delivers real-time wind, speed, depth, GPS, AIS, engine data, and more in a single, fully customizable display. The first NMEA app ever on the App Store, now a trusted Swiss Army knife for sailors worldwide. Broad Compatibility Supports NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000, Signal K, and MQTT from virtually any device. Compatible with Expedition, B&G H5000, A&T, and a wide range of preconfigured sources including Actisense, Digital Yacht, Yacht Devices, B&G, and many more — over WiFi or Bluetooth. Your Data, Your Way All values are organized into intuitive Modules — AIS, GPS, Wind, Navigation, Sounder, Heading, Environment, Performance, Racing, Engine, and more. Customizable Dashboards Create personalized displays tailored to your needs. Focus on the data that matters most to you. Build the dashboard you need: choose layouts, add pages, set favorites or just use the comprehensive default dashboard. Every numeric value can be individually smoothed for clean, stable readings. Set a custom color for each instrument title and value — match your cockpit aesthetics, improve readability in sunlight or at night, or color-code data by category at a glance. Your dashboard, your palette. Built for iPad — Side by Side with Your Charts NMEAremote supports iPad Split View, so you can run your favourite charting app on one side while NMEAremote displays clean, live instrument values on the other. No more switching back and forth. Your chart and your data, together on one screen. User-Friendly Interface Clean, intuitive design makes it easy for both experienced sailors and beginners to navigate. Performance Sailing Import your polar diagram and unlock full performance analytics — Polar Speed, Target Speed, VMG, Beat & Gybe angles, and more. Ideal for racers who want that extra tenth of a knot. Stay Aware Configurable alarms alert you visually and audibly when any value crosses a threshold. Keep a full NMEA log for review and diagnostics. Forward data to other devices with the built-in server/repeater. On Your Wrist & Glasses Native Apple Watch app runs independently from your iPhone. Supports ActiveLook® smartglass integration for hands-free, heads-up sailing data. Accessible to All Sailors NMEAremote supports VoiceOver, Apple's built-in screen reader. Instrument titles and live values are fully accessible — so every sailor can stay informed, eyes-free, at any time. One Purchase. No Subscriptions. No Registration required Buy once for the full feature set. No recurring fees, no hidden costs, no adds. No charts — just clean, reliable instrument data done right. For any details, supported values, devices and messages visit: www.zapfware.de/nmearemote/ If you have any questions, suggestions or need support please send an e-mail to ios@zapfware.de

About

OpenWind

This application connects to a specialized instrument to display real-time sailing data, including vessel pitch and roll, compass readings, and wind speed and direction. It also provides insights into the instrument's battery level and Bluetooth connection strength. The app requires a connection to the OW instrument to function.

Highlights
  • Real-time sailing data display
  • Vessel pitch and roll monitoring
  • True and apparent wind data
  • Compass and course over ground
  • Instrument battery level
  • Bluetooth connection strength
Features
Read full description

OpenWind bringt Wind-, Lage- und Bootsdaten vom Masttopp auf iPhone, iPad und Apple Watch – drahtlos, ohne Kabel durch den Mast. INSTRUMENTE • Scheinbarer und wahrer Wind: AWA, AWS, TWA, TWS, TWD, VMG, SOG und COG • Krängung und Trimm, Kurs, Startuhr mit Countdown, Sync und Startlinie • Alle Werte auf einer Seite, große Ziffern auch in der Sonne lesbar, dunkler und heller Modus DIAGRAMME • Wind, wahrer Wind, Windrichtung, Boot, VMG und Krängung über bis zu 2 Stunden • Diagramm berühren und alle Werte zu diesem Zeitpunkt ablesen • Wenden und Halsen markiert, Dreher (Lift/Header) auf der Windrichtung • Polardiagramm mit % vom Ziel: eigene Polare beim Segeln lernen oder eine von über 280 Bootspolaren wählen KARTE • Dein Boot mit scheinbarem und wahrem Wind, Kurslinie und Laylines zur Tonne • Seezeichen (OpenSeaMap), Tiefenlinien für Europa (EMODnet) und kostenlose amtliche Seekarten für USA, Kanada, Finnland, Norwegen und Neuseeland • Track aufzeichnen und als GPX teilen GERÄTE • OpenWind Windsensor, NMEAkit / NMEAString (NMEA-2000-Gateway mit Tiefe, Fahrt durchs Wasser und Wassertemperatur) und DisplayKit (Cockpit-Display) • Automatische Quellenwahl: OpenWind zuerst, NMEAkit oder DisplayKit übernehmen • Kalibrierung, Drehmast-Kompensation mit Kalibrierung per Finger, Offsets und Firmware-Updates über Bluetooth • DisplayKit: Dashboards, Anzeige-Einstellungen, Wegpunkte und Track-Download AUSSERDEM • Alarme für Windstärke, Anker, Winddreher und Tiefe • Live-Aktivität auf dem Sperrbildschirm und in der Dynamic Island, Widgets • Apple-Watch-App mit Wind, Werten, Tiefe und Startuhr • NMEA 0183 ($WIMWV) per UDP für Navigations-Apps • Deutsch, Englisch, Dänisch, Spanisch, Französisch, Norwegisch, Niederländisch, Portugiesisch und Schwedisch Karten und Tiefendaten dienen nur zur Information und nicht zur Navigation.

Screenshots

NMEAremote4 screens
OpenWind4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: OpenWind at Free against NMEAremote's $23.99. OpenWind also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (100% vs 66%). NMEAremote's advantage is ratings volume (8 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On 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

OpenWind is free to download; NMEAremote costs $23.99 up front. NMEAremote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. OpenWind asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OpenWind holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of NMEAremote's written reviews are positive against 100% of OpenWind's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NMEAremote ships an update every 3 months, OpenWind every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
NMEAremote versus OpenWind: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNMEAremoteOpenWind
Price$23.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (8 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings8 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB41 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperzapfwareMichael Liesenberg

Customer experience

NMEAremote

All ratings8 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive65.7%
Neutral2.9%
Negative31.4%

OpenWind

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

NMEAremote

One-time1
  • ExpeditionFree
None

OpenWind

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NMEAremote free?
NMEAremote costs $23.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is OpenWind free?
OpenWind is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NMEAremote or OpenWind?
OpenWind is rated higher. NMEAremote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while OpenWind averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do NMEAremote or OpenWind have ads?
Neither NMEAremote nor OpenWind shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NMEAremote or OpenWind?
NMEAremote ships an update every 3 months, and OpenWind every 2 weeks. Most recently, NMEAremote was updated on October 28, 2026 and OpenWind on October 24, 2026.

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