# RayControl vs Cortex Onboard

The clearest difference is rating: Cortex Onboard at 3.8 against RayControl's 3.3. Cortex Onboard also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 16 months) and review sentiment (56% vs 42%). RayControl's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). 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.

Cortex Onboard holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of RayControl's written reviews are positive against 56% of Cortex Onboard's.

RayControl ships an update every 16 months, Cortex Onboard every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | RayControl | Cortex Onboard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raycontrol/id523576941/reviews) | **[3.8 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-onboard/id1483406085/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **12** |
| Positive reviews | 41.7% of reviews | **55.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 23 MB | 376 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPad | **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

### RayControl

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raycontrol/id523576941)

View and remotely control your Raymarine e, c, ES, and Axiom Multi-Functional Displays from your iPad. Access electronic charting, sonar, radar, and thermal night vision with touch screen interaction and a virtual keypad.

**Highlights:** Remote viewing of MFDs, Touch screen control, Virtual slide-out keypad, Control charting, sonar, radar, and thermal vision, Wi-Fi connectivity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cortex Onboard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-onboard/id1483406085)

This app allows you to configure and update your marine electronics from your mobile device. Monitor vessel data, receive alerts, and manage features like Anchor Watch from anywhere on board.

**Highlights:** Configure and update Cortex devices, View AIS information and alerts, Manage Anchor Watch, Monitor vessel sensors, Connect NMEA 2000 instruments

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is RayControl free?

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

### Is Cortex Onboard free?

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

### Which has better reviews, RayControl or Cortex Onboard?

Cortex Onboard is rated higher. RayControl averages 3.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Cortex Onboard averages 3.8 from 12 ratings.

### Do RayControl or Cortex Onboard have ads?

Neither RayControl nor Cortex Onboard shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, RayControl or Cortex Onboard?

RayControl ships an update every 16 months, and Cortex Onboard every 2 months. Most recently, RayControl was updated on September 30, 2026 and Cortex Onboard on September 28, 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.*