Comparison

Ventus PRO vs Helmsman's Kit

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

Head to head
About

Ventus PRO

Control key features of Expedition Navigation Software remotely from your device. Manage timers, set start lines, view active marks, and create new courses with precision.

Highlights
  • Remote control for Expedition Navigation Software
  • Expedition Timer control (15, 10, 5, 3 min)
  • Set Start Line ends
  • View Active Mark
  • Select Active course
  • Ping new mark by range and bearing
  • MOB Button
Features
Read full description

Ventus PRO, the first and only system that gives you control of key Expedition Navigation Software features from a remote device. Our new PRO version not only has all the features of the original Ventus Navigator that lets you view all the data that Expedition puts out in the palm of your hand but also gives you the ability to control the key functions of Expedition remotely. New Features Include: * - Uses the Expedition Timer 15, 10,5, or 3 minute timers * - Set the ends of the Start Line * - View the Active Mark in your current course * - Select Active course from your course list * - Select the mark you want to be Active in the current course * - Ping new mark by range and bearing to create a new active course, or to insert new mark into an existing course * - MOB Button on each page

About

Helmsman's Kit

This navigation app provides essential yacht cockpit features, including a spherical compass, man-over-board alerts, and anchor watch. It offers offline charts, weather overlays, and marine instrument displays for a comprehensive sailing experience.

Highlights
  • Spherical compass display
  • Man-over-board button with direction/distance
  • Anchor watch with forwarding
  • Offline chart caching
  • Weather overlay (wind, waves, temp, pressure)
  • Marine instruments display (position, heading, speed)
  • Track export in GPX format
Features
Read full description

This app combines the essential features you need in the cockpit of your yacht, optimized for easy and fast usage. • Display of a spherical compass as you are used to. • Man-over-board button, display direction/distance with compass. • Anchor watch with forwarding to a second device. • Bearing compass. • Charts with sea signs. • Offline charts by caching of all chart access. • Weather overlay: wind, waves, temperature, pressure. • Tracking optimized for boats. • Full access to and export of the tracks in standard format (GPX). • Post images of your tracks on social media. • Marine instruments display with the standard values: Position, Heading, Speed over ground, Course over Ground, Heel, Log, Average speed, Time. No account or registration required, even not for forwarding the anchor watch alarm to a second iPhone or iPad!

Screenshots

Ventus PRO4 screens
Helmsman's Kit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Helmsman's Kit at $1.99 against Ventus PRO's $119.99. Helmsman's Kit also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and monetization model 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

Ventus PRO costs $119.99 and Helmsman's Kit $1.99 up front. Ventus PRO sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Helmsman's Kit asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ventus PRO ships an update every 4 months, Helmsman's Kit every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Ventus PRO versus Helmsman's Kit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVentus PROHelmsman's Kit
Price$119.99$1.99 — better
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVentus Navigation LLCDr. Harald Merkel

Customer experience

Ventus PRO

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Helmsman's Kit

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Ventus PRO

One-time2
  • VentusPro - Pebble Watch Link$9.99
  • VentusPro - Strip Chart$24.99
None

Helmsman's Kit

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ventus PRO free?
Ventus PRO costs $119.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Helmsman's Kit free?
Helmsman's Kit costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Ventus PRO or Helmsman's Kit have ads?
Neither Ventus PRO nor Helmsman's Kit shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ventus PRO or Helmsman's Kit?
Ventus PRO ships an update every 4 months, and Helmsman's Kit every 7 months. Most recently, Ventus PRO was updated on October 11, 2026 and Helmsman's Kit on October 24, 2026.

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