# Link vs Waterway Guide

The clearest difference is rating: Waterway Guide at 4.7 against Link's 2.2. Waterway Guide also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (52% vs 25%). Link's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.6). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Waterway Guide sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per year. Link asks for nothing beyond the download.

Waterway Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Waterway Guide has 2.9K ratings behind it against 148, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Link's written reviews are positive against 52% of Waterway Guide's.

Link ships an update every 4 months, Waterway Guide every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Link | Waterway Guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (148 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/link-connect-your-boat/id565848636/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waterway-guide/id1551794976/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 148 | **2.9K** |
| Positive reviews | 24.6% of reviews | **52.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#143** |
| Size | 60 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Navico Norway AS](https://appshunter.io/developer/842162153) | [Waterway Guide](https://appshunter.io/developer/958617198) |

## What reviewers say

### Link

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/link-connect-your-boat/id565848636)

Control your Simrad, Lowrance, or B&G marine electronics remotely from your smartphone or tablet. Duplicate your display's screen, manage charts, sonar, radar, and entertainment, and back up your data wirelessly. Stay connected to your boat's systems from anywhere on board.

**Highlights:** Remote display mirroring, Control charts, sonar, and radar, Manage entertainment systems, View engine and instrument data, Wireless waypoint backup and restore, Wireless settings backup and restore

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to set up and use once connected
- 📱 Allows remote viewing of chart plotter on iPad/iPhone
- 🎮 Remote control functionality for chart plotter
- 📡 WiFi connectivity to marine devices
- 🖥️ Screen mirroring capability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection drops and disconnections
- 🐛 Login failures with Genesis and single sign-on systems
- 📱 Portrait mode only - no landscape/full screen support
- 🔌 Incompatible with cellular data when connected to WiFi
- ⚠️ Poor compatibility with newer iOS versions

**Reported bugs**

- App won't connect to Genesis after Simrad SSO update
- Connection drops when cellular data is enabled
- Sonar log uploads fail with 'Can't Login' error
- Screen mirroring shows lower resolution than expected
- App crashes when taking screenshots

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch compatibility and autopilot control
- Dark mode for night boating
- Full screen landscape mode support
- Autopilot remote control capability
- Sound/audio alerts for alarms


### Waterway Guide

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waterway-guide/id1551794976)

**Currently charting:** #143 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

This app provides a comprehensive boating resource with a verified database of marinas, anchorages, and navigation alerts. Users can access real-time hazard information, plan trips with a digital handbook, and utilize detailed content optimized for mobile devices. Engage with a community of boaters through comments and reviews.

**Highlights:** Verified points of interest database, Real-time navigation alerts, Community comments and reviews, Skipper's Handbook for trip planning, Offline content access, Marina filtering by amenities

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Great Lakes Vol.2 Ch.8 | $14.99 | per year |
| Anchorages Along the ICW | $20.99 | per year |
| ICW Cruising Guide by Bob423 | $29.99 | per year |
| Northern Edition | $49.99 | per year |
| 1st Ed. Bahamas Land and Sea | $49.99 | per year |
| Chesapeake Bay Edition | $54.99 | per year |
| Atlantic ICW Edition | $54.99 | per year |
| Southern Edition | $54.99 | per year |
| Western Gulf Coast Edition | $54.99 | per year |
| Florida Keys Edition | $54.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent integration with Aqua Map
- 👍 Useful resource for boating
- 👍 Great information and details
- 👍 Easy to use and navigate
- 👍 Invaluable for planning trips

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes frequently
- 🐛 Inconsistent and unreliable
- 🐛 Difficult to navigate and use
- 🐛 Outdated information and images
- 🐛 Subscription and access issues

**Reported bugs**

- App not working with latest iOS version
- Subscription purchases not working properly
- Unable to access purchased content
- Frequent crashes and errors

**Requested features**

- Provide vertical bridge clearances
- Improve offline functionality
- Enhance search and filtering options
- Implement dark mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Link free?

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

### Is Waterway Guide free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Link or Waterway Guide?

Waterway Guide is rated higher. Link averages 2.2 out of 5 from 148 ratings, while Waterway Guide averages 4.7 from 2.9K ratings.

### Do Link or Waterway Guide have ads?

Neither Link nor Waterway Guide shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Link or Waterway Guide?

Link ships an update every 4 months, and Waterway Guide every 2 weeks. Most recently, Link was updated on November 10, 2026 and Waterway Guide on November 11, 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.*