Comparison

SEAiq Pilot vs Seapilot

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

Head to head
About

SEAiq Pilot

This navigation app provides advanced charting and real-time vessel data for professional marine pilots. It supports various chart formats and external NMEA/AIS devices, offering features like predicted vessel display and docking aids. A free trial is available, with an in-app purchase for permanent access.

Highlights
  • S-57, S-63, iENC, BSB/KAP chart support
  • External NMEA/AIS over WiFi
  • Predicted vessel display
  • Docking aids
  • Vessel catalog
  • NMEA/AIS record and playback
  • Mariners tools
Read full description

SEAiq Pilot is designed especially for use by river, channel, and harbor pilots. It includes support for charts in the S-57, S-63, iENC and BSB/KAP formats and use of external NMEA/AIS over WiFi. IMPORTANT: For non-pilots, we recommend SEAiq and SEAiq USA. This app is free to download. All features are available during a 7-day evaluation period. An in-app purchase is required to permanently upgrade the app, otherwise after the evaluation period only basic chart viewing is supported. SEAiq Pilot and SEAiq Pilot VPP are the exact same app and differ only in how they are purchased. Features unique to SEAiq Pilot include: * Support for official HO S-57/S-63 marine charts * Adheres to IHO S-52 chart display standards * Predicted vessel display (with ROT) * Docking aids displaying distance/velocity to wharf fenders * Vessel catalog * Supports WiFi based AIS plugs and Portable Pilot Units * NMEA/AIS record and playback * Waypoints, routes, ETA, XTD, speed limits * Route Meeting Point * Visual CPA * AIS "virtual boarding" * Mariners tools: VRM, EBL, Mariners Notes, Clearing Lines Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

Seapilot

Navigate like a professional with this marine navigation app. It offers vectorized chart data, AIS, and weather forecasts, bringing merchant shipping technology to your mobile device. Plan trips, track your vessel, and access advanced navigation tools.

Highlights
  • Vectorized S-57 chart data
  • Automatic Identification System (AIS)
  • Built-in weather forecasts
  • Positioning and background positioning via GPS
  • Man Overboard function
  • Premium features like Weather Routing
Features
Read full description

Professional marine navigation used to require an expensive GPS plotter. Now, same technology used in merchant shipping is available for the iPad and iPhone.  Seapilot lets you navigate like a pro with vectorized S-57 chart data from National Maritime Administrations. This is the first navigation app to feature Automatic Identification System (AIS) and built in weather forecasts, when within a mobile network. Charts and features available as In-App Purchase. Use it to navigate, to plan tomorrow’s boat trip or reminisce about yesterday’s. (PS. Even works in your sofa at home.) Seapilot features: • Free trial period of included functionallity • Professional navigation based on merchant shipping standards for ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) • S-57 chart data (In-App Purchase) and AIS data from National Maritime Administrations  • Developed by True Heading, leaders in marine navigation and communication at sea, with cutting-edge AIS and VHF know-how Functions: Δ Positioning and background positioning via GPS  (Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life) Δ Visualization of S-57 chart data from National Maritime Administrations  Δ Autonomous navigation - charts (In-App-purchase) downloaded to the device  Δ Option of tracking your own boat on the chart Δ Displays position, course and speed Δ Adjustable own speed and course vector  Δ Man Overboard function Δ Display settings for day, dawn/dusk and night Δ Past track Δ Plotting/marking objects Δ Electronic bearing and range marker from own vessel Δ True Motion and adjustable North Up / Head Up chart orientation Δ Chart object search Δ AIS target search Δ Setting of safety contour (2, 3, 6, 10 and 15 meters) Δ World chart for rough overview/orientation Δ Facebook integration; share position with friends or all users, list friends, show friends or all users on chart, post on was Premium: Δ Routes Δ Weather Routing Δ Weather Forecast, High quality 5-day Coastal Weather Forecasts. Δ AIS data from National Maritime Administrations via Internet (3G or WLAN)  Δ Course and speed vector for AIS targets Δ NMEA-0183 interface for connecting external GPS/AIS via WIFI Δ Import/Export to GPX-file == Auto-renewable subscriptions in Seapilot == • Seapilot Premium, Annual Subscription: $39.99 • Swedish Charts with automatic updates, Annual Subscription: $8.99 Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period Privacy Policy https://seapilot.com/privacy End User License Agreement https://seapilot.com/eula/ ==== Requirements: iOS 7.0 or later, iPad or iPhone with GPS. (External GPS unit can be used for other models.) Based on 140 years of experience, Seapilot has been developed by True Heading (www.trueheading.se/us) – experts at AIS, VHF, marine navigation and communication at sea.  • True Heading is a leader in AIS products with over 40 years of navigation experience. – An authority on professional navigation. Contact: Your input is essential in helping us further develop Seapilot. Feel free to contact us at info@seapilot.com. For the latest info, like Seapilot on www.facebook.com/seapilot.se

Screenshots

SEAiq Pilot2 screens
Seapilot2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SEAiq Pilot at 93% against Seapilot's 38%. SEAiq Pilot also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.9) and ratings volume (451 vs 15). Seapilot's advantage is iOS requirement (9.3 vs 13.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. SEAiq Pilot sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $179.99 per year and Seapilot sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SEAiq Pilot holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SEAiq Pilot has 451 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of SEAiq Pilot's written reviews are positive against 38% of Seapilot's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SEAiq Pilot ships an update every 2 months, Seapilot every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SEAiq Pilot versus Seapilot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSEAiq PilotSeapilot
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (451 ratings) — better2.9 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews93.3% of reviews — better38.1% of reviews
Number of ratings451 — better15
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.09.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB107 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSakhalinSeapilot

Customer experience

SEAiq Pilot

All ratings451 ratings
Positive97.3%
Neutral0.7%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews90 reviews
Positive93.3%
Neutral1.1%
Negative5.6%

Seapilot

All ratings15 ratings
Positive46.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative46.7%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive38.1%
Neutral9.5%
Negative52.4%

Bugs and requests

SEAiq Pilot

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • 🐛 Graphics are poor
  • 🐛 Hard to see own ship AIS for boarding
  • 🐛 iOS 14 position acquisition issues with AIS pilot plug Wifi
  • 🐛 Waypoints can be accidentally deleted
  • 🐛 Chartworld map loading issues
Show 1 more
  • 🐛 AIS target display issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add Vietnamese to language section
  • Allow waypoints to be locked
  • Make active tools (EBL, VRM) a different color than orange
  • Ability to use voice record through Bluetooth for VDR functionality
  • Dark mode option

Seapilot

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

SEAiq Pilot

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Annual$179.991 Year
  • Enterprise Annual$359.991 Year
One-time1
  • Upgrade for Premium Features$399.99
18 purchases

Seapilot

Subscriptions14
  • Swedish charts with automatic updates$8.991 Year
  • East Canadian charts$14.491 Year
  • West Canadian$14.491 Year
Show 11 more
  • Spanish charts with automatic updates$17.491 Year
  • Finnish charts$19.491 Year
  • Dutch charts$19.491 Year
  • Irish charts$19.491 Year
  • British charts$19.491 Year
  • German charts$23.491 Year
  • Croatian charts with automatic updates$26.491 Year
  • Portuguese charts with automatic updates$26.491 Year
  • Greek charts with automatic updates$34.991 Year
  • Premium$39.991 Year
  • French charts$50.991 Year
One-time4
  • US EastFree
  • US WestFree
  • US-Great Lakes. One year subscription.$11.99
Show 1 more
  • US-West. One year subscription.$13.99

Questions

Is SEAiq Pilot free?
SEAiq Pilot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Seapilot free?
Seapilot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SEAiq Pilot or Seapilot?
SEAiq Pilot is rated higher. SEAiq Pilot averages 4.9 out of 5 from 451 ratings, while Seapilot averages 2.9 from 15 ratings.
Do SEAiq Pilot or Seapilot have ads?
Neither SEAiq Pilot nor Seapilot shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SEAiq Pilot or Seapilot?
SEAiq Pilot ships an update every 2 months, and Seapilot every 3 months. Most recently, SEAiq Pilot was updated on September 15, 2026 and Seapilot on September 11, 2026.

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