# MarineTraffic vs CruiseMapper

The clearest difference is rating: MarineTraffic at 4.7 against CruiseMapper's 3.6. MarineTraffic also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 months). CruiseMapper's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MarineTraffic sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. CruiseMapper asks for nothing beyond the download.

MarineTraffic holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MarineTraffic has 65K ratings behind it against 118, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of MarineTraffic's written reviews are positive against 37% of CruiseMapper's.

MarineTraffic ships an update every 9 days, CruiseMapper every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MarineTraffic | CruiseMapper |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (65K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marinetraffic-ship-tracking/id563910324/reviews)** | [3.6 (118 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cruisemapper/id1032294427/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **65K** | 118 |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 36.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | — |
| Size | 153 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MarineTraffic Applications LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1668374750) | [AstraPaging Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/438160792) |

## What reviewers say

### MarineTraffic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marinetraffic-ship-tracking/id563910324)

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Grossing · Travel (US App Store)

Track vessels live worldwide using AIS data. View ship positions, movements, and voyage history with detailed vessel information and enhanced weather monitoring. Unlock advanced features for deeper visibility and extended coverage with a Pro plan.

**Highlights:** Live vessel tracking worldwide, Ship positions and movements, Voyage history and key events, Detailed vessel information, Enhanced maps with weather monitoring, Fleet monitoring and alerts

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Advanced Density Maps Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Nautical Charts Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Mobile Pro Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| Nautical Charts Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Weather Maps Layers Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Starter Plan Annual | $9.99 | per year |
| Advanced Density Maps Annual | $16.99 | per year |
| Nautical Charts Annual | $29.49 | per year |
| Mobile Pro Plan | $29.99 | per year |
| Nautical Charts Annual | $66.99 | per year |
| Weather Maps Layers Annual | $95.99 | per year |
| Route Planner | $0.99 | one-time |
| Access Plus 24 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Augmented Reality | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate location tracking
- 👍 Useful for maritime enthusiasts
- 🔍 Provides detailed ship information
- 🌍 Good worldwide coverage
- 🙌 Helpful for monitoring loved ones at sea

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall for many features
- 🕰️ Delayed or outdated ship positions
- 🤔 Confusing interface and navigation
- 🔍 Limited free features
- 🔋 Drains device battery

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes or freezes
- Inconsistent or unreliable ship data
- Difficulty canceling subscriptions
- Compatibility issues with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Real-time ship tracking
- Improved map and interface design
- More free features and data access
- Ability to track multiple ships simultaneously
- Integration with other maritime apps and services


### CruiseMapper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cruisemapper/id1032294427)

Discover and plan your next vacation with a comprehensive database of cruises. Explore detailed itineraries, port schedules, ship reviews, and real-time ship locations. Find your ideal cruise from thousands of options across numerous cruise lines and ships.

**Highlights:** Detailed itineraries and port schedules, Cruise ship reviews and videos, Current position of cruise ships, Special features and technical details, Database of cruise lines, ships, and cruises

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Accurate real-time ship tracking
- 📍 Comprehensive ship location information
- 📋 Detailed itineraries and port schedules
- 🚢 Extensive database of cruise ships
- 🎨 Clean and intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezes
- 📍 Inaccurate ship location tracking
- 🔄 Slow or delayed location updates
- 🎯 Ships disappearing from map display
- 🔍 Difficulty zooming in/out on map

**Reported bugs**

- Ships disappear after a few seconds on map
- Cannot see ships unless searched individually
- Zoom functionality inverts (zooms out when trying to zoom in)
- App freezes when switching between ships
- Cannot tap on another ship while viewing one

**Requested features**

- Favorites section for frequently tracked ships
- Deck plans for all ship versions (iOS parity with Android)
- Show route feature on app (currently on website only)
- Filter options to hide river boats and ferries
- Ability to save/lock multi-segment cruise itineraries


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MarineTraffic free?

MarineTraffic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is CruiseMapper free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MarineTraffic or CruiseMapper?

MarineTraffic is rated higher. MarineTraffic averages 4.7 out of 5 from 65K ratings, while CruiseMapper averages 3.6 from 118 ratings.

### Do MarineTraffic or CruiseMapper have ads?

CruiseMapper shows ads; MarineTraffic does not.

### Which is updated more often, MarineTraffic or CruiseMapper?

MarineTraffic ships an update every 9 days, and CruiseMapper every 5 months. Most recently, MarineTraffic was updated on September 25, 2026 and CruiseMapper on September 17, 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.*