# RayRemote vs WatchMate

The clearest difference is rating: WatchMate at 3.5 against RayRemote's 1.9. WatchMate also leads on review sentiment (44% vs 14%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). RayRemote's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

WatchMate holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 1.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 31 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of RayRemote's written reviews are positive against 44% of WatchMate's.

RayRemote ships an update every 4 months, WatchMate every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RayRemote | WatchMate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.9 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rayremote/id523132500/reviews) | **[3.5 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watchmate/id557485481/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **31** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | **44.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 26 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Raymarine UK Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/456592425) | [Garmin New Zealand Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/557485484) |

## What reviewers say

### RayRemote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rayremote/id523132500)

This app turns your iPhone into a virtual remote keypad for Raymarine multifunction displays. Control MFD functions with a full-screen keypad and a virtual uni-controller for menu navigation. It also offers a viewing mode to mirror your MFD's display.

**Highlights:** Virtual remote keypad, MFD function control, Full-screen keypad, Virtual uni-controller, Display mirroring mode, Wi-Fi connectivity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### WatchMate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/watchmate/id557485481)

This app provides remote control and situational awareness for your Vesper Marine AIS Transponder. View AIS targets, manage alarms, and control transponder settings directly from your mobile device.

**Highlights:** View AIS targets, Manage collision prevention alarms, Control Anchor Watch alarm, View GPS position, course, and speed, Remote control transponder settings, Configure vessel AIS static data, Perform firmware upgrades

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RayRemote free?

RayRemote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is WatchMate free?

WatchMate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, RayRemote or WatchMate?

WatchMate is rated higher. RayRemote averages 1.9 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while WatchMate averages 3.5 from 11 ratings.

### Do RayRemote or WatchMate have ads?

Neither RayRemote nor WatchMate shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RayRemote or WatchMate?

RayRemote ships an update every 4 months, and WatchMate every 2 months. Most recently, RayRemote was updated on September 30, 2026 and WatchMate on June 1, 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.*