Comparison

app4sail vs Seapilot

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

Head to head
About

app4sail

Features
Read full description

Nautical navigation app. uses free S57 vector charts Not everywhere in the world those maps are available and not all of the available maps are implemented at this moment. Instead you can use maps of the project 'Openstreetmap'

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

app4sail2 screens
Seapilot2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Seapilot at Free against app4sail's $4.99. Seapilot also leads on iOS requirement (9.3 vs 12.0). app4sail's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 18). On update cadence, ads 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

Seapilot is free to download; app4sail costs $4.99 up front. Seapilot sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. app4sail asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

app4sail ships an update every 4 months, Seapilot every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on June 7, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
app4sail versus Seapilot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterapp4sailSeapilot
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating—2.9 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—38.1% of reviews
Number of ratings—15 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.09.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB107 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeranton van oostenSeapilot

In-app purchases

None

app4sail

No in-app purchases

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 app4sail free?
app4sail costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Seapilot free?
Seapilot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do app4sail or Seapilot have ads?
Neither app4sail nor Seapilot shows ads.
Which is updated more often, app4sail or Seapilot?
app4sail ships an update every 4 months, and Seapilot every 3 months. Most recently, app4sail was updated on June 7, 2026 and Seapilot on September 11, 2026.

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