# PRO CHARTS vs Coastal Explorer

The clearest difference is rating: PRO CHARTS at 4.5 against Coastal Explorer's 2.8. PRO CHARTS also leads on ratings volume (8.5K vs 16) and review sentiment (27% vs 11%). Coastal Explorer's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PRO CHARTS sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Coastal Explorer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PRO CHARTS holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PRO CHARTS has 8.5K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 27% of PRO CHARTS's written reviews are positive against 11% of Coastal Explorer's.

PRO CHARTS ships an update every 2 months, Coastal Explorer every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PRO CHARTS | Coastal Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (8.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pro-charts-marine-navigation/id451093694/reviews)** | [2.8 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coastal-explorer/id1452017231/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.5K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | **27.1% of reviews** | 11.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#190** | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MiraTrex, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/814855898) | [Rose Point Navigation Systems, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1078421951) |

## What reviewers say

### PRO CHARTS

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

**Currently charting:** #190 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


### Coastal Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coastal-explorer/id1452017231)

Plan and log your cruises with detailed nautical charts and weather forecasts. Enhance your experience with a subscription for offline access, real-time navigation, and integration with marine electronics.

**Highlights:** View NOAA and USACE nautical charts, Create routes and waypoints, Cloud synchronization, ActiveCaptain points of interest, US Coast Pilot information, Marine weather forecasts, Tide and current predictions

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PRO CHARTS free?

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

### Is Coastal Explorer free?

Coastal Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PRO CHARTS or Coastal Explorer?

PRO CHARTS is rated higher. PRO CHARTS averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8.5K ratings, while Coastal Explorer averages 2.8 from 16 ratings.

### Do PRO CHARTS or Coastal Explorer have ads?

Neither PRO CHARTS nor Coastal Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PRO CHARTS or Coastal Explorer?

PRO CHARTS ships an update every 2 months, and Coastal Explorer every 2 weeks. Most recently, PRO CHARTS was updated on November 2, 2026 and Coastal Explorer on November 2, 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.*