Comparison

Boat Lights vs C

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

Head to head
About

Boat Lights

This app helps boat operators understand navigation lights, shapes, and sounds. It features a unique drawing-based search and a visual browser for quick reference. Offline access to a comprehensive database makes it ideal for on-water use and classroom instruction.

Highlights
  • Draw-What-You-See search engine
  • Visual browser
  • Flash cards for self-testing
  • Boat navigation lights, shapes, and sounds
  • Navigation rules and regulations
  • Offline data storage
  • Support for multiple rule sets
Features
Read full description

Boat Lights: intuitive, useful and simple to use boat mobile app for boat operators to determine the meaning of navigation lights, shapes and sounds used on the water. Boat Lights uses "Draw-What-You-See" search engine to quickly and easily search the comprehensive database for exact and possible matches. **** A perfect tool for a maritime instructor to project the app in the classroom. **** Boat Lights is now being used in over 50 countries world wide as both a reference guide and a learning aid. **** On-Water Reference Guide - Intuitive & quick to use - "Draw-What-You-See" search engine - Visual browser - Flash cards for self testing - Boat navigation lights - Boat navigation shapes - Boat sounds and signals - Navigation rules / regulations - Navigation marks - Easily configured for different rule sets - All data is stored in the app - no network connection required when using the app Supported Rule Sets - International (COLREGS) - USA Inland - Australian - IALA Region A - IALA Region B

About

C

Access up-to-date nautical charts for global exploration and planning. Save points of interest and routes, record tracks, and view marine weather. Upgrade for offline maps, GPS, and advanced features like shaded relief and AIS.

Highlights
  • Free chart viewer
  • Autorouting
  • Personal waypoints
  • Track recording
  • Marine weather forecasts
  • Offline map downloads
  • High-resolution bathymetry
Features
Read full description

The C-MAP® App is the perfect companion for recreational boaters and water-lovers. Available on Mobile, Tablet or PC, you’ll always be able to access the most up to date C-MAP charts, wherever in the world you are. With full features, allowing you to explore, plan and save Points of Interest and Routes from wherever you are, the C-MAP App is the perfect aid to navigation for savvy boaters. The C-MAP App Includes: - FREE Chart Viewer - Autorouting™ – find the best route to your favourite places - Personal Waypoints - Track Recording - Thousands of pre-loaded Points of Interest - Marine Weather Forecast - Weather Along the Route - Weather Overlay - Chart Personalisation - Import & Export GPX Files – share your Routes, Tracks or Waypoints with friends - Measure Distance Tool Upgrade to Premium to unlock additional features, including: - Full GPS Functionality - Offline Map Downloads - REVEAL Shaded Relief - High-Resolution Bathymetry - Custom Depth Shading - AIS & C-MAP Traffic Try before you buy… Experience C-MAP App Premium for yourself, with a free 14-day trial (3-day trial in Denmark and Sweden). The C-MAP App updates on a continual basis, ensuring the latest, most up-to-date maps are always at your fingertips. Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. Links to Your Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable Privacy Policy: https://www.brunswick.com/dsar Terms of Service https://appchart.c-map.com/tos.html

Screenshots

Boat Lights4 screens
C4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Boat Lights at 89% against C's 51%. Boat Lights also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 11) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). C's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (2.3K vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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

Both are free to download. C sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Boat Lights asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

C holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: C has 2.3K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 89% of Boat Lights's written reviews are positive against 51% of C's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Boat Lights ships an update every 2 months, C every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Boat Lights versus C: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBoat LightsC
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (1 ratings)4.5 (2.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews — better51.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12.3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#109 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB169 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGlenn LudlowNavico Norway AS

Customer experience

Boat Lights

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral5.6%
Negative5.6%

C

All ratings2,347 ratings
Positive89.3%
Neutral3.1%
Negative7.6%
Written reviews512 reviews
Positive51.0%
Neutral8.6%
Negative40.4%

Bugs and requests

Boat Lights

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

C

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes when trying to save tracks or routes
  • Offline maps fail to download or disappear
  • Depth/contour data inaccurate or not displaying properly
  • Login and authentication issues preventing access

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add mast height/clearance feature
  • Improve AIS integration and functionality
  • Allow more customization of map views and data
  • Provide better customer support and communication

In-app purchases

None

Boat Lights

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

C

Subscriptions10
  • Embark Advanced Weather$1.991 Month
  • Embark Offline Maps USA$2.491 Month
  • Annual Subscription14 Days trial$14.991 Year
Show 7 more
  • Annual subscription14 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Region14 Days trial2 variants$18.991 Year
  • North America14 Days trial$23.491 Year
  • Maps Lakes South East USA14 Days trial$25.991 Year
  • Annual Subscription14 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Caribbean14 Days trial$32.991 Year
  • Maps USA East Coast & Bahamas14 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Boat Lights free?
Boat Lights is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is C free?
C is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Boat Lights or C?
C is rated higher. Boat Lights averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while C averages 4.5 from 2.3K ratings.
Do Boat Lights or C have ads?
Neither Boat Lights nor C shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Boat Lights or C?
Boat Lights ships an update every 2 months, and C every 6 weeks. Most recently, Boat Lights was updated on September 21, 2026 and C on October 15, 2026.

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