OpenSeaMap vs Seapilot
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
OpenSeaMap
This app provides a free, worldwide nautical chart with detailed sea information, including lights, weather data, and harbor details. It offers chartplotting, waypoint management, and offline map caching for navigation. Users can mark locations, enter coordinates, and adjust chart zoom for optimal viewing.
- Free worldwide sea chart
- Chartplotting with tracking
- Waypoint creation and export
- Offline map caching
- Mark and search locations
- Adjustable chart zoom
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OpenSeaMap is a worldwide Opensource-project for creating a free nautical chart. Founded in 2009 the project gained a lot of attention lately adding more and more nautical information for free. Not even lights and other nautical infos are provided, but also more and more info layers like weather data, information about harbours and so on. As an add on to the OpenStreetMap this provides all missing info for nautical activities. OpenSeaMap is part of OpenStreetMap and uses the same database. FEATURES: - Free worldwide sea chart (incl. HD chart graphics) - Search for geolocations worldwide - Chartplotting with continuous tracking - Waypoints can easily be created, edited, deleted & exported - Mark locations in the chart - Zoom chart optically to fit your preferred reading size - Enter coordinates directly to be displayed in the chart - Offline caching of up to 1 million map tiles - Cleanup of chart cache data at any time To ensure future development and support of the OpenSeaMap app we encourage you to buy the In-App-Product "PRO". This will help keeping new updates and features coming. DISCLAIMER: OpenSeaMap is part of the OpenStreetMap and uses the same database. As an experienced navigator you should NEVER rely your descisions on one source of information alone. Please keep in mind that the OpenSeaMap can not replace official sea charts on bord of your boat. Please use the OpenSeaMap app only in conjunction with official sea charts and conforming to national and international regulations. Please recognize that no depth information is provided by this product. IMPORTANT: The continued use of the GPS can significantly decrease the battery level.
Seapilot
Navigate like a professional with this marine navigation app. It offers vectorized chart data, AIS, and weather forecasts, bringing merchant shipping technology to your mobile device. Plan trips, track your vessel, and access advanced navigation tools.
- Vectorized S-57 chart data
- Automatic Identification System (AIS)
- Built-in weather forecasts
- Positioning and background positioning via GPS
- Man Overboard function
- Premium features like Weather Routing
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Professional marine navigation used to require an expensive GPS plotter. Now, same technology used in merchant shipping is available for the iPad and iPhone. Seapilot lets you navigate like a pro with vectorized S-57 chart data from National Maritime Administrations. This is the first navigation app to feature Automatic Identification System (AIS) and built in weather forecasts, when within a mobile network. Charts and features available as In-App Purchase. Use it to navigate, to plan tomorrow’s boat trip or reminisce about yesterday’s. (PS. Even works in your sofa at home.) Seapilot features: • Free trial period of included functionallity • Professional navigation based on merchant shipping standards for ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) • S-57 chart data (In-App Purchase) and AIS data from National Maritime Administrations • Developed by True Heading, leaders in marine navigation and communication at sea, with cutting-edge AIS and VHF know-how Functions: Δ Positioning and background positioning via GPS (Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life) Δ Visualization of S-57 chart data from National Maritime Administrations Δ Autonomous navigation - charts (In-App-purchase) downloaded to the device Δ Option of tracking your own boat on the chart Δ Displays position, course and speed Δ Adjustable own speed and course vector Δ Man Overboard function Δ Display settings for day, dawn/dusk and night Δ Past track Δ Plotting/marking objects Δ Electronic bearing and range marker from own vessel Δ True Motion and adjustable North Up / Head Up chart orientation Δ Chart object search Δ AIS target search Δ Setting of safety contour (2, 3, 6, 10 and 15 meters) Δ World chart for rough overview/orientation Δ Facebook integration; share position with friends or all users, list friends, show friends or all users on chart, post on was Premium: Δ Routes Δ Weather Routing Δ Weather Forecast, High quality 5-day Coastal Weather Forecasts. Δ AIS data from National Maritime Administrations via Internet (3G or WLAN) Δ Course and speed vector for AIS targets Δ NMEA-0183 interface for connecting external GPS/AIS via WIFI Δ Import/Export to GPX-file == Auto-renewable subscriptions in Seapilot == • Seapilot Premium, Annual Subscription: $39.99 • Swedish Charts with automatic updates, Annual Subscription: $8.99 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 No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period Privacy Policy https://seapilot.com/privacy End User License Agreement https://seapilot.com/eula/ ==== Requirements: iOS 7.0 or later, iPad or iPhone with GPS. (External GPS unit can be used for other models.) Based on 140 years of experience, Seapilot has been developed by True Heading (www.trueheading.se/us) – experts at AIS, VHF, marine navigation and communication at sea. • True Heading is a leader in AIS products with over 40 years of navigation experience. – An authority on professional navigation. Contact: Your input is essential in helping us further develop Seapilot. Feel free to contact us at info@seapilot.com. For the latest info, like Seapilot on www.facebook.com/seapilot.se
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Seapilot at 2.9 against OpenSeaMap's 1.0. Seapilot also leads on ratings volume (15 vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 18.6). On price, review sentiment, 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
Both are free to download. OpenSeaMap sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Seapilot sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Seapilot holds the better App Store score, 2.9 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Seapilot has 15 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 38% and 38% positive.
OpenSeaMap ships an update every 2 months, Seapilot every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OpenSeaMap | Seapilot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.0 (1 ratings) | 2.9 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 38.3% of reviews — better | 38.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 15 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 9.3 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 107 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | appdoctors UG | Seapilot |
Customer experience
OpenSeaMap
Seapilot
In-app purchases
OpenSeaMap
- OpenSeaMap Professional$1.99
Seapilot
- Swedish charts with automatic updates$8.991 Year
- East Canadian charts$14.491 Year
- West Canadian$14.491 Year
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- Spanish charts with automatic updates$17.491 Year
- Finnish charts$19.491 Year
- Dutch charts$19.491 Year
- Irish charts$19.491 Year
- British charts$19.491 Year
- German charts$23.491 Year
- Croatian charts with automatic updates$26.491 Year
- Portuguese charts with automatic updates$26.491 Year
- Greek charts with automatic updates$34.991 Year
- Premium$39.991 Year
- French charts$50.991 Year
- US EastFree
- US WestFree
- US-Great Lakes. One year subscription.$11.99
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- US-West. One year subscription.$13.99
Questions
Is OpenSeaMap free?
Is Seapilot free?
Which has better reviews, OpenSeaMap or Seapilot?
Do OpenSeaMap or Seapilot have ads?
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