Comparison

VMGPolar vs PyNav

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

Head to head
About

VMGPolar

Calculate sailing wind and boat speed with this tool. Input three values to determine the rest and log your data for export. It helps build and validate polar graphs for sailing performance.

Highlights
  • Sailing wind and boat speed calculation
  • Input three values to calculate others
  • Save data into a log
  • Export log data
  • Build and validate polar graphs
Features
Read full description

Sailing wind and boat speed calculator. Enter 3 values to calculate the rest, then save the data into a log that can be exported later. The input fields are highlighted, with the least intensive highlight marking the next field to become a calculated value when a new input is entered. BSP = Boat Speed TWS = True Wind Speed TWA = True Wind Angle AWS = Apparent Wind Speed AWA = Apparent Wind Angle VMG = Velocity Made Good (calculated only) Save and export data to build and validate polar graphs.

About

PyNav

This app provides NMEA instrument data and remote control for a pypilot autopilot. It can function as a standalone navigation hub, displaying wind, engine, and GPS data with customizable panels and configurable alarms.

Highlights
  • Pypilot autopilot control
  • NMEA instrument display
  • Customizable dashboard panels
  • Wind and engine data
  • GPS and waypoint navigation
  • Configurable alarms
Features
Read full description

NMEA NAVIGATION HUB + PYPILOT REMOTE CONTROL PyNav serves two kinds of sailors: - Have a pypilot autopilot? Control it from your iPhone/iPad AND display all your NMEA instruments. - No pypilot? Use PyNav as a standalone professional NMEA navigation hub. FREE VERSION - Autopilot tab + Settings Full control of the pypilot autopilot: - Engage / disengage the autopilot - Modes: compass, wind, GPS, true wind, navigation - Current heading + target heading entry - Real-time rudder angle indicator - IMU data: pitch, roll, heel, rate of turn - Full PID gain tuning (P, I, D, DD, PR, FF, WG, Deadzone) - IMU compass and rudder calibration - Tack settings - Pilot profiles (basic, wind, gps, simple, rate, absolute) - Servo stats: amp-hours, voltage, temperatures, runtime - Direct WiFi connection to the pypilot Raspberry Pi hotspot - no router needed The free version gives access to pypilot data only - no external NMEA instruments. PRO VERSION - Complete navigation hub One-time purchase, lifetime - no subscription. Works WITH or WITHOUT pypilot. Just needs a NMEA/WiFi module and an iPhone or iPad. Optimized for iPad - also works on iPhone with adapted layout. DASHBOARD - Customizable unified view 6 configurable, drag-and-drop panels: - Wind: dynamic rose or raw data grid - Navigation: SOG, COG, GPS data - Autopilot: engage/disengage, target heading, rudder indicator, IMU - Depth: color-coded - Pressure: hPa value, 3h trend, history chart - Engine: RPM with color coding (nominal / warning / danger) Resizable panels, 1 or 2 column layout. WIND - Apparent and true wind Dynamic wind rose, 5-minute history chart, real-time AWA/AWS/TWA/TWS. ENGINE INSTRUMENTS RPM, coolant and oil temperature/pressure, battery/alternator voltage, engine hours, fuel flow, exhaust and sea water temperature, gearbox state (Fwd/Neutral/Rev), transmission oil. Tank gauges: port/starboard fuel, fresh water, grey and black water. Unlimited custom charts (any parameter vs RPM or time). NAV - GPS and waypoint navigation Compass rose, true and magnetic heading, SOG, COG, STW, latitude/longitude (DD°MM'SS), waypoint navigation (bearing BTW, distance DTW, cross track error XTE), arrival indicator. CONFIGURABLE ALARMS On all NMEA data: depth, speed, heading, pressure, wind, RPM, temperatures, oil pressures, voltages, fuel levels, rudder angle. Each alarm: custom name, threshold, condition, individual on/off. Triggers: sound + vibration + on-screen banner. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS Free: iOS 13.4+, working pypilot setup (Raspberry Pi), direct WiFi connection to pypilot hotspot. PRO: any TCP/UDP NMEA/WiFi module (Yacht Devices, Quark-elec, Digital Yacht, Hat Labs, Actisense...) + iOS 13.4+. Pypilot optional. Supported protocols: NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000 Raw, Pypilot (TCP). SAFETY WARNING PyNav is a navigation interface. It does not replace mandatory navigation equipment. The skipper remains SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for navigation. Permanent watch at sea is MANDATORY. Pypilot is an open-source DIY project provided "as-is". PRIVACY No navigation data is sent to external servers. Runs 100% locally on your onboard network. No ads, no tracking. LEGAL Publisher: CL Consulting SASU - SIRET 94261399300016. GDPR compliant. Pypilot is an independent open-source project (Sean D'Epagnier, GPLv3). PyNav is not affiliated with the pypilot project.

Screenshots

VMGPolar3 screens
PyNav3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VMGPolar at none against PyNav's 1. VMGPolar also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). PyNav's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.6). On price, review sentiment, 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

Both are free to download. PyNav sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. VMGPolar asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VMGPolar ships an update fortnightly, PyNav every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
VMGPolar versus PyNav: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVMGPolarPyNav
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.613.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrei SkobtsovCL Consulting

Customer experience

VMGPolar

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

PyNav

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

VMGPolar

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PyNav

One-time1
  • PyNav Pro$7.99

Questions

Is VMGPolar free?
VMGPolar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PyNav free?
PyNav is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do VMGPolar or PyNav have ads?
Neither VMGPolar nor PyNav shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VMGPolar or PyNav?
VMGPolar ships an update fortnightly, and PyNav every 5 weeks. Most recently, VMGPolar was updated on October 6, 2026 and PyNav on October 9, 2026.

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