Comparison

Lights Out Sailing vs Sail Scan

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

Head to head
About

Lights Out Sailing

Enhance your sailing experience with real-time data and race tools. Capture onboard footage, track speed and heading, and perfect your race starts with precise metrics. Customize your interface and sync with other devices for a connected sailing adventure.

Highlights
  • Onboard footage capture
  • Real-time speedometer and compass
  • Distance to line metrics
  • Customizable race layouts
  • Fleet synchronization
  • Onboard camera sharing
Features
Read full description

Lights Out - Your Ultimate Sailing Companion Join sailors worldwide who trust Lights Out Sailing to enhance their time on the water. Whether you’re competing in world championships or enjoying a weekend cruise, Lights Out Sailing provides real-time data and cutting-edge tools to elevate your sailing experience. FEATURES YOU CAN RELY ON Maximize your performance with powerful tools and onboard footage features: - Onboard Footage: Capture every moment and save footage directly to your camera roll. - Speedometer & Compass: Get real-time speed over ground and magnetic heading. - Pings & Distance to Line: Perfect your race starts with precise distance-to-line metrics. - Custom Layouts: Personalize your interface in two different race modes. SYNC WITH CHANNELS Effortlessly connect with other devices to share and synchronize start timers with your fleet, ensuring everyone is in sync for the perfect start. Enjoy sharing your synced onboard cams to as soon as you hit the dock to see all sides of the action. BUILT FOR SAILORS We're constantly pushing new features and updates based on feedback from sailors around the world. Lights Out is built by sailors, for sailors, to bring us into a new era of connected instruments.

About

Sail Scan

This app uses your phone's camera to analyze sail shape by reading trim stripes. It provides detailed measurements like camber depth, draft position, and twist, helping sailors make real-time adjustments to improve speed and performance. Save your scans, build a library, and connect rig settings to your progress on the water.

Highlights
  • AI-powered sail shape analysis
  • Measures camber depth, draft position, and twist
  • Works on mainsails and jibs
  • Real-time adjustments
  • Save and build sail scan library
  • Compare scans and track settings
Features
Read full description

SailScan is currently in beta. SailScan turns your iPhone into a sail shape analyzer. SailScan's computer vision reads the trim stripes to measure what your eyes can't quantify. Measurements include: • CAMBER DEPTH — how much shape you're carrying, stripe by stripe • DRAFT POSITION — where the depth sits, front to back • TWIST — how the top opens relative to the boom SailScan works on mainsails and jibs, from small one-design boats to grand prix racers and superyachts. Make real-time adjustments, save your scans, build your library, and start connecting your rig settings to increase speed and progress on the water. WHY IT MATTERS Good trimmers develop an eye over decades. SailScan gives you the numbers behind that eye—so you can repeat fast settings, compare tack to tack, and debrief with data instead of memory. HOW IT WORKS 1. Photograph your sail (main or jib) from below 2. SailScan detects the stripes and calculates shape metrics 3. Review, adjust, and save your scans 4. Compare scans across the day—track every setting change BUILT BY SAILORS SailScan was built by people who race and trim for a living. Join us!

Screenshots

Lights Out Sailing4 screens
Sail Scan4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sail Scan at 5.0 against Lights Out Sailing's 4.5. Sail Scan also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (daily vs every 5 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and iOS requirement 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. Lights Out Sailing sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $13.49 per month. Sail Scan asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sail Scan holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 3 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lights Out Sailing ships an update every 5 weeks, Sail Scan daily. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Lights Out Sailing versus Sail Scan: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLights Out SailingSail Scan
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (8 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings8 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWhitServe LLCSail Scan LLC

Customer experience

Lights Out Sailing

All ratings8 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%

Sail Scan

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Lights Out Sailing

Subscriptions2
  • Lights Out Sailing3 Days trial$13.491 Month
  • Lights Out Sailing7 Days trial$98.991 Year
None

Sail Scan

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lights Out Sailing free?
Lights Out Sailing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sail Scan free?
Sail Scan is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Lights Out Sailing or Sail Scan?
Sail Scan is rated higher. Lights Out Sailing averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Sail Scan averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Lights Out Sailing or Sail Scan have ads?
Neither Lights Out Sailing nor Sail Scan shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lights Out Sailing or Sail Scan?
Lights Out Sailing ships an update every 5 weeks, and Sail Scan daily. Most recently, Lights Out Sailing was updated on October 24, 2026 and Sail Scan on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons