# MarineTraffic vs Ship Tracker

The clearest difference is ads: MarineTraffic at none against Ship Tracker's shown. MarineTraffic also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 24%) and ratings volume (65K vs 1.8K). On price, rating, update cadence 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 Ship Tracker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for MarineTraffic against 4.6 for Ship Tracker. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MarineTraffic has 65K ratings behind it against 1.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of MarineTraffic's written reviews are positive against 24% of Ship Tracker's.

MarineTraffic ships an update every 9 days, Ship Tracker fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MarineTraffic | Ship Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (65K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marinetraffic-ship-tracking/id563910324/reviews)** | [4.6 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ship-tracker/id6471243761/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **65K** | 1.8K |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 23.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#22** | #165 |
| Size | 153 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MarineTraffic Applications LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1668374750) | [Rocketech sp. z o.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1764757195) |

## What reviewers say

### MarineTraffic

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

**Currently charting:** #22 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


### Ship Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ship-tracker/id6471243761)

**Currently charting:** #165 Top Grossing · Travel (US App Store)

Track ships live on the ocean, view their routes, destinations, and arrival times. Access detailed port information and manage your own fleet. Ideal for maritime enthusiasts, professionals, and travelers.

**Highlights:** Real-time vessel monitoring, Expected arrivals, Port details, Customizable fleet management, User-friendly search

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Access | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlimited Access | $7.99 | per month |
| Unlimited Access | $17.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Access | $34.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 🚀 Excellent tool
- 👍 Accurate app
- 👍 Helpful app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy app
- 🐛 Outdated information
- 🐛 Doesn't work properly
- 🔒 Forced subscription
- 🐛 Unreliable tracking

**Reported bugs**

- Ads not working
- Crashes frequently
- Tracking issues
- Incorrect vessel locations

**Requested features**

- Free vessel pictures
- Ability to set location
- Improve search functionality
- Better open sea tracking


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MarineTraffic free?

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

### Is Ship Tracker free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MarineTraffic or Ship Tracker?

MarineTraffic is rated higher. MarineTraffic averages 4.7 out of 5 from 65K ratings, while Ship Tracker averages 4.6 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do MarineTraffic or Ship Tracker have ads?

Ship Tracker shows ads; MarineTraffic does not.

### Which is updated more often, MarineTraffic or Ship Tracker?

MarineTraffic ships an update every 9 days, and Ship Tracker fortnightly. Most recently, MarineTraffic was updated on September 25, 2026 and Ship Tracker on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, MarineTraffic or Ship Tracker?

MarineTraffic currently peaks at #22 in the App Store charts, and Ship Tracker at #165. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*