Comparison

Nautinect Autopilot vs SailControl

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

Head to head
About

Nautinect Autopilot

Features
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Control your boat from your phone. This app support the Nautinect Autopilot controller and the DIY bluetooth autopilot. More info on nautinect.com This autopilot can control any type of actuator, hydraulic drives, linear drives and wheel drives. It support actuators up to 40 Amps, which are basically all autopilots. The Size of the boat does not matter, it can control everything.

About

SailControl

Features
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SailControl transforms your device into a professional-grade navigation and performance assistant. Seamlessly connecting with your vessel’s AIS and NMEA chartplotter, it brings your full instrument panel to your iPhone and Apple Watch. By combining real-time AIS target tracking, wind metrics, speed insights, GPS positioning, and onboard sensor data, SailControl gives you an all-in-one situational awareness solution - right in your pocket. Whether you’re a competitive sailing athlete striving for performance gains, a recreational sailor seeking safety and confidence offshore, or a professional mariner managing critical navigation tasks, SailControl adapts to your needs: - Sailing Races: Gain a competitive edge by tracking rivals in real time, analyzing their speed and course, and adjusting your sails or maneuvers with precision to outpace the fleet. - Recreational Sailors: Sail with confidence using clear visualizations of vessel traffic, wind conditions, and speed insights for safer, more enjoyable cruising. - Mariners & Captains: Enhance safety with precise motion telemetry, and situational awareness in challenging waters. - Vessel Spotters & Enthusiasts: Identify ships, monitor movement patterns, and log encounters with professional accuracy. - Marine Researchers & Surveyors: Collect reliable positional and telemetry data for studies, inspections, or field operations. - Coast Guards & Rescue Teams: Benefit from fast, portable vessel identification tools that complement onboard systems during operations. Built with SwiftUI and a modular real-time architecture, SailControl ensures seamless performance, high reliability, and a modern, customizable interface. From improving racing strategies to increasing safety at sea, it is the go-to digital cockpit for anyone passionate about the maritime world. To receive AIS and NMEA data, you need to configure the IP of your vessel’s AIS and NMEA chartplotter, SailControl Pro requires a subscription. A 7-day trial period is offered so that you can explore the PRO features. SailControl Pro includes: - Advanced vessel filters: search by name, MMSI, and more - Advanced NMEA instruments: Apparent Wind, True Wind, ARPA radar, Motion Sensors, GPS status - Unlimited β€œMy Vessels” tracking: Add more than two(2) vessels to your tracking list - Map recording and Race data export: save and share your tracks, export time/laps as images or to Apple Health - Personalised settings: sort by distance, set max-distance filters - AIS/NMEA parsing controls: choose exactly which messages to process - Underway-only view: display vessels currently underway, to reduce lag in crowded areas - AI Bow Sentry (Experimental): Use artificial intelligence to analyze a live camera feed from your iPhone or an RTSP camera installed near the bow of your vessel. AI Bow Sentry assists in detecting potential obstacles and collision risks by identifying objects ahead of the boat and improving forward awareness. - AI Sail Trim Assistant (Experimental): Receive AI-powered sail trimming insights using your iPhone camera or an RTSP camera positioned near the steering area. SailControl analyzes sail shape and provides experimental recommendations to help optimize trimming decisions and sailing efficiency. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.defendcyberspace.com/privacy

Screenshots

Nautinect Autopilot3 screens
SailControl4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nautinect Autopilot at none against SailControl's 2. Nautinect Autopilot also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.5). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. SailControl sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Nautinect Autopilot asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nautinect Autopilot ships an update every 6 weeks, SailControl every 5 months. Both last shipped on October 8, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 3 level
Nautinect Autopilot versus SailControl: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNautinect AutopilotSailControl
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks β€” betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo β€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.6 β€” better17.5
Further details β€” not scored
Size40 MB63 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPieter OskamDefend Cyberspace

In-app purchases

None

Nautinect Autopilot

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

SailControl

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Annual7 Days trial$14.991 Year

Questions

Is Nautinect Autopilot free?
Nautinect Autopilot is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SailControl free?
SailControl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Nautinect Autopilot or SailControl have ads?
Neither Nautinect Autopilot nor SailControl shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nautinect Autopilot or SailControl?
Nautinect Autopilot ships an update every 6 weeks, and SailControl every 5 months. Most recently, Nautinect Autopilot was updated on October 8, 2026 and SailControl on October 8, 2026.

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