# PRO CHARTS vs Nearest Light

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Nearest Light at 67% against PRO CHARTS's 17%. Nearest Light also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). PRO CHARTS's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 3.9) and ratings volume (8.5K vs 7). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PRO CHARTS sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Nearest Light asks for nothing beyond the download.

PRO CHARTS holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PRO CHARTS has 8.5K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 17% of PRO CHARTS's written reviews are positive against 67% of Nearest Light's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PRO CHARTS ships an update every 2 months, Nearest Light every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PRO CHARTS | Nearest Light |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (8.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pro-charts-marine-navigation/id451093694/reviews)** | [3.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nearest-light/id1393531030/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.5K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 17.2% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#152** | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MiraTrex, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/814855898) | [Clint O'Connor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1381484045) |

## What reviewers say

### PRO CHARTS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pro-charts-marine-navigation/id451093694)

**Currently charting:** #152 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

Navigate marine environments with detailed nautical charts and route planning. Track your location, find friends on the water, and share your trip details for safety. Offline chart access ensures reliable navigation even without an internet connection.

**Highlights:** High-resolution NOAA nautical charts, Offline chart access, Waypoint and route creation, Buddy tracking, Float plan sharing, Point-and-steer navigation, Track recording

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Year Auto Renewing Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| 1 Year Auto Renewing Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Brazil - Nautical Charts | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1 Year Subscription | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for navigation
- 🗺️ Helpful for coastal areas
- 👍 Useful app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- ⚠️ Subscription issues and hidden costs
- 🌐 Lacks coverage for non-US regions
- 🔒 Poor account management and support

**Reported bugs**

- Charts not loading or disappearing
- Subscription not recognized
- Login/account issues

**Requested features**

- Offline map downloads
- Depth and hazard data
- Better route planning tools


### Nearest Light

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nearest-light/id1393531030)

This app provides U.S. water navigation information, displaying your location and details on nearby aids like buoys and lights. It downloads weekly U.S. Coast Guard Light List data and includes relevant Local Notice for Mariners information.

**Highlights:** Displays user location, Shows surrounding aids to navigation, Downloads weekly U.S. Coast Guard Light List, Includes Local Notice for Mariners, Supports multiple U.S. Coast Guard districts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PRO CHARTS free?

PRO CHARTS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Nearest Light free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PRO CHARTS or Nearest Light?

PRO CHARTS is rated higher. PRO CHARTS averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8.5K ratings, while Nearest Light averages 3.9 from 7 ratings.

### Do PRO CHARTS or Nearest Light have ads?

Neither PRO CHARTS nor Nearest Light shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PRO CHARTS or Nearest Light?

PRO CHARTS ships an update every 2 months, and Nearest Light every 3 months. Most recently, PRO CHARTS was updated on October 26, 2026 and Nearest Light on October 24, 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.*