# MarineTraffic vs Ocean Alert

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MarineTraffic at 50% against Ocean Alert's 0%. MarineTraffic also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 4 months). Ocean Alert's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and iOS requirement (9.1 vs 15.6). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

MarineTraffic holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MarineTraffic has 65K ratings behind it against 1, 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 0% of Ocean Alert's.

MarineTraffic ships an update every 10 days, Ocean Alert every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MarineTraffic | Ocean Alert |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (65K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marinetraffic-ship-tracking/id563910324/reviews)** | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ocean-alert/id1457113771/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **65K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **49.6% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#18** | — |
| Size | 157 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **9.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MarineTraffic Applications LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1668374750) | [Conserve.IO](https://appshunter.io/developer/651453353) |

## What reviewers say

### MarineTraffic

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

**Currently charting:** #18 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


### Ocean Alert

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ocean-alert/id1457113771)

Report sightings of marine animals to aid ocean conservation efforts. The app provides an interactive map with protected areas and real-time alerts for speed restrictions and construction. It helps scientists understand animal behavior and allows for responsible ocean use.

**Highlights:** Report marine animal sightings, Interactive ocean map, US National Marine Sanctuary boundaries, Real-time alerts for speed restrictions, Custom survey modes

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MarineTraffic free?

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

### Is Ocean Alert free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MarineTraffic or Ocean Alert?

MarineTraffic is rated higher. MarineTraffic averages 4.7 out of 5 from 65K ratings, while Ocean Alert averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do MarineTraffic or Ocean Alert have ads?

Neither MarineTraffic nor Ocean Alert shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MarineTraffic or Ocean Alert?

MarineTraffic ships an update every 10 days, and Ocean Alert every 4 months. Most recently, MarineTraffic was updated on October 30, 2026 and Ocean Alert on October 14, 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.*