Comparison

XGate vs Status Tool

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

Head to head
About

XGate

This app provides essential communication and data services for satellite phone users in remote locations. It optimizes email, web browsing, and social media, while also offering weather forecasts and integration with navigation tools.

Highlights
  • Optimized email service
  • Accelerated web browsing
  • Photo compression and sending
  • Social media posting
  • Point weather forecasts
  • GRIB file handling
  • Integration with navigation apps
Features
Read full description

XGate is a suite of email, weather and social media services for satellite phone users. XGate is simply the fastest, easiest and most reliable satellite phone email available, saving you time, money and frustration when using your satellite phone. XGate encompasses all the services a sailor, adventurer or other remote traveler needs including optimized email, web compression, social media, pinpoint weather forecasts, GRIB file handling via PredictWind Offshore, and a robust ecosystem of compatible apps including: Expedition and SailGRIB for navigation; WeatherTrack; Weather 4D; iNavX; and Xaxero GribPlot for weather. More about XGate can be found at http://www.globalmarinenet.com XGate’s seamless integration with the world’s leading navigation and weather apps makes it simple to download critical data from many apps all within the highly optimized XGate system. With features such as mid file restart for dropped transmissions and Big Mail filters to choose what is downloaded, XGate greatly eases frustration and adds significant airtime savings. XGate services include: • Accelerated Email – Email service offers up to 20 times acceleration versus uncompressed speeds, saving up to 85% on satellite airtime. Works with a dedicated email address or third-party services such as Gmail, iCloud, Yahoo! Mail or your corporate mail address. Or, use a dedicated XGate email address for maximum security and performance. • Accelerated Web Browsing – Compression uses a web proxy service to provide users with 3-5 times average web acceleration, while also blocking ads, checking for malicious sites and compressing images. • Send photo – Compresses, resizes and sends photos over satellite. 2MB iPhone photos can be compressed to usable 25Kb images. User selectable size and quality. • Social media – Users can post text and photos to Facebook and Twitter over satellite. • Point Weather– Local and global weather forecasts including temperature, pressure, wind speed, wind direction, and precipitation. • PredictWind Offshore – XGate includes the PredictWind Offshore app with GRIB weather file requestor and viewer. XGate also works with a wide range of other weather and navigation applications from leading providers. • Sailblogs – Users get free access to a Sailblogs Premium Basic account to help them share their adventures while travelling with their satphone. This App is available for FREE to XGate users meeting one of the following requirements. 1. Iridium AxcessPoint WiFi router, Redport Optimizer routers, Sattrans and Satstation docks, or the Globalstar GSP-9600 router. 2. One of the following devices and associated services - Inmarsat FleetBroadband - Inmarsat Isatphone - Inmarsat BGAN - Iridium Open Port - Iridium GO! - Iridium 9555 or 9575 - Iridium Legacy 9500, 9505, or 9505a - Iridium fixed phone based on 9522 such as the eurocom or beam rst100 - Aurora Iridium satellite terminal - MCG-101 Iridium satellite terminal - Thuraya and Thuraya IP - Globalstar 1600, 1700, 2900, Sat-Fi - VSAT service - Internet connection via WiFi 3. An XGate and/or XWeb username and password Standard network usage fees for airtime may apply when using this software. Please check with your satellite airtime provider for details. About Global Marine Networks, LLC Global Marine Networks (GMN), offers the industry’s fastest, most reliable and easy-to-use services including email, web, hardware and software. The company’s products include XGate high-speed satellite email, satellite terminals, airtime and vessel tracking systems. GMN has numerous awards and certifications for technical innovation. For more information on how GMN is Making Airtime Count™ visit http://www.globalmarinenet.com.

About

Status Tool

This utility app displays detailed status information from specific Dual Electronics GPS and ADS-B receivers. It confirms connection, signal reception, battery level, and GPS satellite data. It is intended for reference and not for critical flight decisions.

Highlights
  • Confirms receiver connection
  • Shows ADS-B signal status
  • Displays GPS satellite data
  • Reports battery level and charging status
  • Provides receiver communication details
Features
Read full description

The ADS-B Status Tool is a simple utility application for use with the “XGPS190 GPS + ADS-B Weather and Traffic Receiver with AHRS” and "The XGPS170(D) GPS + ADS-B Weather & Traffic Receiver" from Dual Electronics Corp. This app shows detailed information from the XGPS170(D) and XGPS190 including: - confirmation that the receiver is connected and communicating with your iOS device - whether or not the device is actively receiving an ADS-B signal - what kind of ADS-B information is being received - the number of GPS satellites in view and their signal strength - your location, or whether the receiver is still waiting for satellite information - the battery level - the charging status Installation of this app is optional. The XGPS does not require this app to be installed on your iPhone/iPad in order to work. Please note: 1) This app is not designed to replace the EFB app on your iPhone/iPad. 2) The information provided by this app if for reference only, and should not be used for making critical flight decisions. Languages: English Requirements: - Compatible with iPhone/iPad - Requires iOS 10.0 or later - For use only with the XGPS170 / XGPS170D / XGPS190 receiver from Dual Electronics Corp. Support e-mail: cs@dualav.com Dual ADS-B Receiver web site: https://www.dualav.com/

Screenshots

XGate4 screens
Status Tool4 screens

Verdict

The call

XGate and Status Tool both sit at 2.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 33% of XGate's written reviews are positive against 14% of Status Tool's. Status Tool's advantage is ratings volume (14 vs 4) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 12.0). On price, rating, update cadence 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 2.8 for XGate against 2.8 for Status Tool. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 14 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 33% of XGate's written reviews are positive against 14% of Status Tool's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 2, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
XGate versus Status Tool: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterXGateStatus Tool
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (4 ratings)2.8 (14 ratings)
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews — better14.3% of reviews
Number of ratings414 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGlobal Marine Networks, LLCNAMSUNG AMERICA, INC.

Customer experience

XGate

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

Status Tool

All ratings14 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral7.1%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative85.7%

In-app purchases

None

XGate

No in-app purchases

None

Status Tool

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is XGate free?
XGate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Status Tool free?
Status Tool is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, XGate or Status Tool?
XGate and Status Tool are both rated 2.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 14 ratings respectively.
Do XGate or Status Tool have ads?
Neither XGate nor Status Tool shows ads.
Which is updated more often, XGate or Status Tool?
XGate ships an update every 2 months, and Status Tool every 2 months. Most recently, XGate was updated on June 2, 2026 and Status Tool on September 20, 2026.

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