Comparison

XGate vs On

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

On

This tool assists amateur radio operators with managing on-air nets and check-ins. It offers real-time messaging, email integration, and detailed operator information retrieval. The app supports multiple simultaneous sessions and configurable displays for efficient communication and tracking.

Highlights
  • Real-time net check-in tracking
  • Instant messaging (AIM) sessions
  • Integrated email client
  • Configurable information displays
  • QRZ/QRZCQ call sign lookup
  • WebSDR audio streaming
  • QRZ Logbook integration
Read full description

On-Air Net Scraper "Personal" Pro is an iPhone/iPad/MacOS silicon App providing a wide range of features for Amateur Radio operators (Hams). Key features include NetLogger Amateur Radio On-Air Nets, Check-Ins and multiple Almost Instant Message (AIM) sessions in real-time data awareness. AIM pass key automatic email request with single button click resulting in immediate pass key information reply. Full integrated Email client for yet another method for Hams to carry out conversations. Multiple tabbed displays allowing user to track unlimited number of On-Air Net Check-Ins at one time. User configurable information displays to included viewing detailed Ham information within Check-In views. Near real-time AIM client text message send and receive. Searching and viewing Past NetLogger Nets and Check-Ins. Monitor mode so users can be aware of NetLogger Check-In "lurkers". Simultaneous QRZ and QRZCQ login is supported facilitating Call Sign lookup and Ham information retrieval. Easy, click to display NetLogger Nets, Check-Ins Call Sign and operator status information, not requiring QRZ/CQ accounts. Multi-screen displays to included improved 2-way and 3-way split screens provide simultaneous displays of Check-Ins, AIM, AIM and Net Scraper Message Exchange current listing data along with WebSDR viewing and listening. PERSISTENT WebSDR radio LIVE audio listenings while simultaneously viewing multiple Net Check-In views. Seamlessly integrates with On-Air Net Scraper Desktop Server WebSocket Interface supporting private Internet chat sessions between On-Air Net Scraper ME clients. JS8Call/WSJTX full participation in digital radio REAL-TIME texting when using NetBird VPN or when paired with On-Air Net Scraper's Message Exchange (ME) Server. Autoload favorite NetLogger nets. Callsign search both NetLogger Active and Past net listing, including improved automatic continuous search and displaying of matched nets. QRZ Logbook insert/update/delete. Supports On-Device authentication and Two-Factor authentication in addition to encrypted secure storage of sensitive data and app access security. JS8Call dynamic frequency adjustment.

Screenshots

XGate4 screens
On4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: On at 4.4 against XGate's 2.8. On also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 33%) and ratings volume (13 vs 4). XGate's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of XGate's written reviews are positive against 50% of On's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

XGate ships an update every 2 months, On monthly. The most recent releases landed on June 2, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
XGate versus On: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterXGateOn
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (4 ratings)4.4 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings413 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB32 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperGlobal Marine Networks, LLCChristopher Robson

Customer experience

XGate

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

On

All ratings13 ratings
Positive84.6%
Neutral7.7%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative37.5%

In-app purchases

None

XGate

No in-app purchases

None

On

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is XGate free?
XGate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is On free?
On is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, XGate or On?
On is rated higher. XGate averages 2.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while On averages 4.4 from 13 ratings.
Do XGate or On have ads?
Neither XGate nor On shows ads.
Which is updated more often, XGate or On?
XGate ships an update every 2 months, and On monthly. Most recently, XGate was updated on June 2, 2026 and On on September 11, 2026.

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