Comparison

Marinus vs The Nautical School ExamTutor+

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

Head to head
About

Marinus

This app provides comprehensive guidance on maritime navigation rules and signals. It offers detailed information on flags, lights, sounds, and buoyage systems, along with interactive quizzes and a map feature. Designed for sailors, it ensures safe navigation on any vessel.

Highlights
  • Maritime flags and meanings
  • Weather scales and cloud identification
  • Sound signal guidance
  • Vessel navigation light diagrams
  • Day shape identification
  • Safe navigation maneuvers
  • Morse code decoder
  • IALA Buoyage System
  • Radio communication guidelines
  • COLREGs text
Features
Read full description

Not just another app for navigation rules… this is THE app for navigation rules! Created by sailors, for sailors, Marinus COLREGs is designed to provide clear and instant answers to your questions anytime, anywhere. It's the essential app for your sailboat or motorboat. Key Features: • Flags – All maritime flags with their meanings. • Meteo – Beaufort and Douglas scales, plus cloud identification. • Sounds – Navigate safely with sound signal guidance. • Lights – Detailed views of every vessel's navigation lights from all angles. • Day Shapes – Learn and identify the correct day shapes for any situation. • Maneuvers – Clear guidance on safe navigation maneuvers. • Morse – Decode Morse signals with ease. • Buoys (IALA) – Understand the International Buoyage System. • Radio – Key radio communication guidelines. • ColRegs – Full text of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCS). • Quiz – Test your knowledge with interactive quizzes. • Map – Visualize navigation concepts on an interactive map. Access PRO Features Unlock all PRO features with an affordable annual subscription. Your support helps us maintain and improve the app, keeping it the trusted tool for sailors around the world. Join thousands of sailors who trust Marinus ColRegs every day on their iPhone. Whether you're an experienced seafarer or just starting your nautical journey, this is the app you’ve been looking for! For any questions, feel free to contact us at info@marinus.es.

About

The Nautical School ExamTutor+

Prepare for your USCG OUPV examination with this comprehensive learning program. It offers over 1,300 practice questions, instant feedback, and detailed explanations to help you master the Nautical Inland and International Rules of the Road.

Highlights
  • 1300+ practice questions
  • Instant feedback and explanations
  • Progress tracking and scoring
  • Learning and Flashcard modes
  • Bonus questions for endorsements
  • Simulates exam environment
Features
Read full description

The number one learning program that has helped thousands pass their USCG OUPV examination, it is an absolute necessity for learning the Nautical Inland and International Rules of the Road - while testing yourself at the same time! With over 1,300 questions, that track your progress and keeps score, you get instant - and in many instances FUN and EASY TO UNDERSTAND - explanations written by Capt. Bill, when you answer a question incorrectly. You’ll have fun and learn while preparing for the examination. This program is for anyone wishing to learn the Rules of the Road quickly in preparation for their United States Coast Guard captains license examination. Don’t take the real exam until you have passed the Nautical School’s ExamTutor+ a few times and you’ll KNOW, you’re ready to take and pass the real test! Created by Capt. Bill Rivera, Director of the Nautical School of Maritime Licensing, this program is a must for any student about to take the nautical rules of the road examination for their Coast Guard license. This app contains over 1300 rules of the road questions that's simulate the exam. A 90% passing grade is required and the program tracks your progress, provides instant feedback when a question is answered incorrectly and displays an explanation to help the student understand why the question is incorrect. Do not attempt to take the rules of the road examination from the Coast Guard or anywhere without first working with this program. Once you are consistently passing the sample examinations that you select, then you will be ready to take the real examination and pass it. You can test yourself in learning mode or Flash card mode. This is the Best program and stress free way to help you learn the Rules of the Road while and test yourself while you're learning. In addition to the rules of the road examination which you must attain the 90% passing score, there are also bonus questions on Deck General, Navigation General, Sailing Endorsement and Marine Radio Operator Permit examination questions. Keywords: Learn Rules of the Road, Captain's License Exam, Rules of the Road, Nautical School, Coast guard test, Coast guard examination, USCG Rules of the Road, Captain's License, Coast Guard License, Boat Captain

Screenshots

Marinus4 screens
The Nautical School ExamTutor+3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: The Nautical School ExamTutor+ at none against Marinus's shown. Marinus's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (215 vs 24). On price, review sentiment, update cadence 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. Marinus sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $8.99 per year and The Nautical School ExamTutor+ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Marinus holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Marinus has 215 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of Marinus's written reviews are positive against 67% of The Nautical School ExamTutor+'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and July 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Marinus versus The Nautical School ExamTutor+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMarinusThe Nautical School ExamTutor+
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (215 ratings) — better4.1 (24 ratings)
Positive reviews65.3% of reviews66.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings215 — better24
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 5 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlejandroNautical School

Customer experience

Marinus

All ratings215 ratings
Positive87.0%
Neutral7.4%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews95 reviews
Positive65.3%
Neutral10.5%
Negative24.2%

The Nautical School ExamTutor+

All ratings24 ratings
Positive70.8%
Neutral20.8%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral22.2%
Negative11.1%

Bugs and requests

Marinus

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App not working, ads won't clear
  • App crashes frequently
  • Mistake with sounds
  • App crashes after 10-15 seconds

Requested features

7 requests
  • Settings for Buoyage A & B & combined
  • Search feature
  • Combine sounds and lights
  • Add tides information
  • More free version functionality
Show 2 more
  • More detail in maneuvers section
  • Lights with silhouette and head-on/stern-on views

The Nautical School ExamTutor+

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Marinus

Subscriptions1
  • Marinus PRO3 Days trial$8.991 Year
1 purchases

The Nautical School ExamTutor+

One-time1
  • Purchase Full App$24.99

Questions

Is Marinus free?
Marinus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is The Nautical School ExamTutor+ free?
The Nautical School ExamTutor+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Marinus or The Nautical School ExamTutor+?
Marinus is rated higher. Marinus averages 4.4 out of 5 from 215 ratings, while The Nautical School ExamTutor+ averages 4.1 from 24 ratings.
Do Marinus or The Nautical School ExamTutor+ have ads?
Marinus shows ads; The Nautical School ExamTutor+ does not.
Which is updated more often, Marinus or The Nautical School ExamTutor+?
Marinus ships an update every 5 weeks, and The Nautical School ExamTutor+ every 5 weeks. Most recently, Marinus was updated on September 21, 2026 and The Nautical School ExamTutor+ on July 7, 2026.

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