# MarineTraffic vs Train Beacon

The clearest difference is rating: MarineTraffic at 4.7 against Train Beacon's 3.5. MarineTraffic also leads on ratings volume (65K vs 2) and update cadence (every 10 days vs monthly). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MarineTraffic sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Train Beacon sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MarineTraffic holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MarineTraffic has 65K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 50% and 50% positive.

MarineTraffic ships an update every 10 days, Train Beacon monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MarineTraffic | Train Beacon |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (65K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marinetraffic-ship-tracking/id563910324/reviews)** | [3.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/train-beacon/id1464887688/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **65K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 49.6% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#19** | — |
| Size | 157 MB | 76 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) | [Christopher Riches](https://appshunter.io/developer/1464887687) |

## What reviewers say

### MarineTraffic

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

**Currently charting:** #19 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


### Train Beacon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/train-beacon/id1464887688)

Visualize train locations and real-time schedules in augmented reality or on a map. Get instant updates on train times, platform information, and service status for Great Britain and London Underground. Pro features include widgets, incident reports, and advanced train tracking.

**Highlights:** Augmented reality train visualization, Map-based train tracking, Real-time train times, Platform information, Service incident reports, Home screen widgets

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Train Beacon Pro (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MarineTraffic free?

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

### Is Train Beacon free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MarineTraffic or Train Beacon?

MarineTraffic is rated higher. MarineTraffic averages 4.7 out of 5 from 65K ratings, while Train Beacon averages 3.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do MarineTraffic or Train Beacon have ads?

Neither MarineTraffic nor Train Beacon shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MarineTraffic or Train Beacon?

MarineTraffic ships an update every 10 days, and Train Beacon monthly. Most recently, MarineTraffic was updated on October 19, 2026 and Train Beacon on October 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.*