Comparison

NMEAremote vs RayControl

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

RayControl

View and remotely control your Raymarine e, c, ES, and Axiom Multi-Functional Displays from your iPad. Access electronic charting, sonar, radar, and thermal night vision with touch screen interaction and a virtual keypad.

Highlights
  • Remote viewing of MFDs
  • Touch screen control
  • Virtual slide-out keypad
  • Control charting, sonar, radar, and thermal vision
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
Features
Read full description

About RayControl RayControl allows you to remotely view and control your Raymarine e,c,ES and Axiom Multi-Functional Display from your iPad. iOS Devices = Best performance achieved on iPad 2 or better. Multi-Functional Display software requirement – v 3.15 or later. Compatible displays (MFDs) – e,c,ES and Axiom range of WiFi enabled MFDs Remotely control and view electronic charting, sonar, radar, and even thermal night vision, right from your tablet. RayControl emulates Raymarine MFDs with touch screen interaction and a virtual slide-out MFD keypad. The slide out keypad gives you control of all MFD functions and the virtual uni-controller allows you to rotate through menus and adjustments effortlessly. To use this app please upgrade your Raymarine c-Series or e-Series Multi-Functional Display to software version 3.15 or later. Software upgrades are available for free at www.raymarine.com/support. Getting Started Download the RayControl app, and install it on your device. Next, connect to your Multifunction Display via Wi-Fi (see MFD operators manual for Wi-Fi setup details). When the Wi-Fi connection is established, launch the app. You should now see the same image on your mobile device as you do on your Raymarine c-Series or e-Series multifunction display. Note - autopilot activation/deactivation is not possible via a mobile device.

Screenshots

NMEAremote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RayControl at Free against NMEAremote's $23.99. RayControl also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). NMEAremote's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 16 months). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NMEAremote holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of NMEAremote's written reviews are positive against 42% of RayControl's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NMEAremote ships an update every 3 months, RayControl every 16 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
NMEAremote versus RayControl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNMEAremoteRayControl
Price$23.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (8 ratings) — better3.3 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews65.7% of reviews — better41.7% of reviews
Number of ratings8 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 16 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPad
Requires iOS12.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperzapfwareRaymarine UK Limited

Customer experience

NMEAremote

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

RayControl

All ratings7 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive41.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative41.7%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

NMEAremote

One-time1
  • ExpeditionFree
None

RayControl

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NMEAremote free?
NMEAremote costs $23.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is RayControl free?
RayControl is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NMEAremote or RayControl?
NMEAremote is rated higher. NMEAremote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while RayControl averages 3.3 from 7 ratings.
Do NMEAremote or RayControl have ads?
Neither NMEAremote nor RayControl shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NMEAremote or RayControl?
NMEAremote ships an update every 3 months, and RayControl every 16 months. Most recently, NMEAremote was updated on October 26, 2026 and RayControl on October 24, 2026.

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