# iHoy Captain vs Nautical Buddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nautical Buddy at none against iHoy Captain's 13. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iHoy Captain sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Nautical Buddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

iHoy Captain ships an update weekly, Nautical Buddy every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iHoy Captain | Nautical Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 85 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [iHoy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1720531982) | [Emin Kartc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1847070384) |

## What reviewers say

### iHoy Captain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ihoy-captain/id6474068271)

Control your boat's autopilot and navigate with nautical charts directly from your mobile device. Enjoy features like remote maneuvering, motion control, and dual screen modes for a user-friendly experience. It also provides essential weather information for your trips.

**Highlights:** Nautical chart access, Mobile autopilot control, Remote boat maneuvering, Motion-based steering, Dual screen display options, Meteo information, Multi-user functionality

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Montenegro Folio | $9.99 | per year |
| Germany Folio | $9.99 | per year |
| United States Folio | $9.99 | per year |
| Brazil Folio | $19.99 | per year |
| Tonga Folio | $19.99 | per year |
| Niue Folio | $19.99 | per year |
| Tokelau Folio | $19.99 | per year |
| Samoa Folio | $19.99 | per year |
| Colombia - Caribbean Sea 2 | $39.99 | per year |
| Colombia - Pacific Ocean 1 | $39.99 | per year |
| Colombia - Caribbean Sea 3 | $39.99 | per year |
| Colombia - Pacific Ocean 2 | $39.99 | per year |
| Colombia - Pacific Ocean 3 | $39.99 | per year |


### Nautical Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nautical-buddy/id6754201912)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iHoy Captain free?

iHoy Captain is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Nautical Buddy free?

Nautical Buddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do iHoy Captain or Nautical Buddy have ads?

Neither iHoy Captain nor Nautical Buddy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iHoy Captain or Nautical Buddy?

iHoy Captain ships an update weekly, and Nautical Buddy every 10 days. Most recently, iHoy Captain was updated on October 5, 2026 and Nautical Buddy on October 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*