Comparison

iPolar vs Tactiqs

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

iPolar

This app generates performance data for sailing yachts based on their dimensions and sail areas. It calculates yacht performance in knots across various wind strengths and angles, displaying results in graphs and tables. The data can also be sent to other marine applications.

Highlights
  • Generates yacht performance polars
  • Calculates performance for wind 4-30 kts
  • Supports true wind angles 0-180°
  • Visualizes results as graphs and tables
  • Exports data to Weather4D Pro
  • Supports metric and imperial units
Features
Read full description

iPolar generates sailing yachts polars of cruising yachts and cruiser racers from a very simple set of data. iPolar is fully functional on iPad, iPhone & iPod touch. Mandatory Input data: - Length Overall - Displacement - Mainsail area - Jib area (units can be set to metric or imperial) Optional data: - Length Waterline - Symmetrical Spinnaker area - Assymetrical spinnaker aera For each sail configuration in the input data, iPolars will compute a performance polar decribing the yacht performance in kts for wind strength ranging from 4 to 30kts and true wind angles ranging from 0° to 180° Output format: Resulting polars can be visualized as a graph and as a table of numbers within iPolar. In addition, the polars can be sent directly to the weather/routing application Weather4D Pro. Limitations: iPolar has been developed to generate accurate polars of cruising yachts. It currently does not handle multihulls and is limited to yachts with a size ranging from 8 to 20m. The accuracy of the application decreases for yachts whose displacement to length and sail area to displacement ratios are outside the usual range for production cruisers and cruiser racers.

About

Tactiqs

This comprehensive boat performance system enhances race understanding and decision-making using real-time sensor data. It offers customizable displays for numerous metrics, post-race analysis, and integrated charting with weather forecasts. Supports both instrumented and smaller boats, with advanced features for foiling vessels.

Highlights
  • Real-time performance metrics
  • Post-race analysis tools
  • Sail usage tracking
  • Integrated chart viewer
  • Weather forecasts and routing
  • Augmented reality display integration
Features
Read full description

The Tactiqs® Performance System was designed by a team of sail boat racers and technologists from the US and Europe as the ultimate comprehensive boat performance system. It will substantially improve your understanding of the conditions and the race course, and help you make better decisions and win more races. The system utilizes your boat's sensor data via a wireless NMEA interface connected to the Tactiqs® application, allowing the crew to use any number of iOS devices as customizable displays for 52 different performance metrics. An additional data set is available for foiling boats to optimize your flight attitude and performance. Post-race analysis tools give you the details on your performance and let you review the race by numbers as well as track individual sail usage and cross-overs to make optimum use of your inventory. The integrated camera function allows you to take sail shape photos synchronized with your performance data for detailed analysis - photos taken with dual-camera iPhones are perspective-corrected for maximum accuracy in sail-shape analysis tools. For smaller boats without instruments the system uses the iOS devices' built-in sensors and basic wind input controls combined with smart tracking algorithms. The built-in chart viewer (iPad only) enables quick and easy planning and routing for offshore and coastal racing, including fully integrated weather forecasts and routing together with our partner Avalon Offshore. You can create course specific waypoints and exclusion zones to fine-tune your route, and visually edit the course directly in the map. If your boat is equipped with an AIS receiver you can see other vessels and their heading and speed on the chart. The system supports Navionics charts and raster format charts based on BSB versions 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and GeoTIFF. Navigation in the app is simple - swipe the left edge to switch between live race mode, race analysis mode, and setup mode, and the right edge to select a view within each mode. When in live race mode, swipe up and down to switch between performance data and start data, and between wind and course data. That's all you need to know. Additionally, the Tactiqs® system offers custom augmented reality displays in the form-factor of sun-glasses that provide you the key data right within your field of vision. These glasses are fully integrated with the iOS application and can replicate any metrics of choice. Race data such as course definitions, your sail inventory, and your boat's VPP data are synchronized with your iOS device for offline access during racing. Once you have raced with this level of understanding of the race track and your boat's performance in realtime you will never want to go back.

Screenshots

iPolar4 screens
Tactiqs4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Tactiqs at Free against iPolar's $10.99. Tactiqs also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.2) and review sentiment (89% vs 50%). iPolar's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Tactiqs is free to download; iPolar costs $10.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tactiqs holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 19 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of iPolar's written reviews are positive against 89% of Tactiqs's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iPolar ships an update every 11 months, Tactiqs weekly. Both last shipped on October 4, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
iPolar versus Tactiqs: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriPolarTactiqs
Price$10.99Free — better
Rating3.2 (5 ratings)5.0 (19 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews88.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings519 — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB186 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKND Marine SOCIEDAD LIMITADAMarine Ventures LLC

Customer experience

iPolar

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative40.0%

Tactiqs

All ratings19 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%

In-app purchases

None

iPolar

No in-app purchases

None

Tactiqs

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iPolar free?
iPolar costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tactiqs free?
Tactiqs is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iPolar or Tactiqs?
Tactiqs is rated higher. iPolar averages 3.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Tactiqs averages 5.0 from 19 ratings.
Do iPolar or Tactiqs have ads?
Neither iPolar nor Tactiqs shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iPolar or Tactiqs?
iPolar ships an update every 11 months, and Tactiqs weekly. Most recently, iPolar was updated on October 4, 2026 and Tactiqs on October 4, 2026.

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