Comparison

Nautics Sailmate Classic vs Aqua Map Boating

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

Head to head
About

Nautics Sailmate Classic

Features
Read full description

Sailmate is a Finnish navigation app for leisure boaters with the most reliable nautical charts on the market, provided by the Finnish Transport Agency. Sailmate offers unmatched usability and a great user experience for leisure boaters. You can download Sailmate application free of charge. With Sailmate Free you can - Browse and zoom unprocessed copies of the official Finnish nautical charts - See your approximate location on the chart - See comprehensive database of the Finnish guest marinas linked to the map - Create 5 personal POI´s (points of interest) - Buy a separate content service "Scout harbours and routes" The Sailmate Premium -service provides additional features, which are useful when using Sailmate in a boat. In addition to Sailmate Free, Sailmate Premium includes - Exact gps-location display, course indication line, speedometer, heading in degrees - Download the charts to your mobile device (can be used offline without internet) - Marina maps - Unlimited personal POI´s - Route planning using web-browser at address www.sailmate.fi - Routes shown in App, you can navigate along your personal routes. You can buy the Sailmate Premium-service either at the setting page of the App or at the web page www.sailmate.fi. The Sailmate charts are exact unprocessed raster copies of the printed official nautical paper charts. The charts cover all sea- and freshwater areas in Finland. The only minor exceptions are the series S: Saimaan kanava (Saimaa channel) and some freshwater charts in the Kymi river area (446, 447, 452). Do you like our product and want to keep up to date with updates and news on latest features from us? Please rate our product and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Sailmate). Have anything to ask from us? Drop a line at our Facebook page or send e-mail to us at tuki@nautics.fi. Finnish Transport Agency's licence no. 1908/1024/2013 WARNING: The Finnish Transport Agency has not verified the information within this service and hence does not accept responsibility or liability for its accuracy, nor for any changes made to the product after completion.

About

Aqua Map Boating

This app provides official, weekly updated nautical charts for marine navigation. It allows for offline map downloads, GPS track recording, and integration with onboard instruments. Enhance your boating safety and experience with advanced features like weather forecasts and AIS collision detection.

Highlights
  • Official NOAA nautical charts
  • Offline map downloads
  • GPS track recording
  • Tides and currents predictions
  • Anchor Alarm
  • NMEA instrument connectivity
  • AIS with collision detection
Features
Read full description

Free 14-day trial for all subscriptions   Aqua Map offers weekly updated OFFICIAL NAUTICAL CHARTS (NOAA) for marine navigation. Purchase a chart subscription for the area of your interest, download the map areas for offline use, and connect your onboard instruments for a complete experience. ● BASIC FEATURES - Switch between manual and auto route planning modes - Record your GPS tracks - Store and share your navigation data (markers, routes, and recorded tracks) - Display tides and currents predictions and simulations - Increase your safety with Anchor Alarm - Enable Live Sharing to interact with the Aqua Map community - Display points of interest from the "ActiveCaptain" and "Waterway Guide" communities ● EXPERT SUBSCRIPTION Note: this subscription does not include charts; it must be paired with a chart subscription. - Marine forecasts (wind, waves, currents, gusts, salinity, sea surface temperature + weather information for any point on the map) - Overlay satellite images on the charts - Advanced AnchorLink with anchorage mirroring and email/telegram notifications for greater peace of mind while anchored, even if you are away from the boat - Connect your NMEA instruments via WiFi (autopilot, depth sounder, wind sensor, compass, GPS) and use their data on the app - AIS with automatic collision detection - Route Explorer for real-time information on all elements along your route ● MASTER SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE BEST NAVIGATION EXPERIENCE Note: this subscription does not include charts; it must be paired with a chart subscription. - All features of the EXPERT subscription are included in the MASTER subscription. + LOCAL DATA: > US: Army Corps of Engineers surveys for safe navigation in shallow waters > US: LNMs and "List of Lights" navaids from the Coast Guard. > Canada: NAVWARNs from the Coast Guard. > France: Warnings, Notices and Regulations from the PING > Denmark: Warnings and Notices from the DMA > Western Australia: temporary Notices from the Transport WA   ● PURCHASE OPTIONS To access the charts, you need to purchase a chart subscription for the area of interest. Optionally, you can add the Expert subscription or the Master subscription to unlock extra navigation features and additional data. Subscription payments will be made through your account (Apple ID). The annual subscription will automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before expiration. You can manage your subscription and disable automatic renewal in the account settings section after purchase. Terms of use: https://www.aquamap.app/terms-and-conditions Privacy policy: https://www.aquamap.app/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Nautics Sailmate Classic4 screens
Aqua Map Boating4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Aqua Map Boating at weekly against Nautics Sailmate Classic's every 2 months. Aqua Map Boating also leads on chart position (#91 vs unranked). Nautics Sailmate Classic's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Nautics Sailmate Classic sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per year and Aqua Map Boating sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nautics Sailmate Classic ships an update every 2 months, Aqua Map Boating weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Nautics Sailmate Classic versus Aqua Map Boating: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNautics Sailmate ClassicAqua Map Boating
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.7 (14K ratings) — better
Positive reviews—64.4% of reviews
Number of ratings—14K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#91 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB174 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNauticsGEC s.r.l.

Bugs and requests

Nautics Sailmate Classic

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Aqua Map Boating

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Inconsistent GPS tracking and positioning
  • Compatibility issues on older devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved route planning and optimization
  • Offline map caching and seamless downloads
  • Tidal and wind data overlays
  • Sync capabilities across devices

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Nautics Sailmate Classic

Subscriptions2
  • Partiolaisten reitit$17.991 Year
  • Sailmate Premium3 Days trial$22.991 Year
One-time4
  • Sailmate Premium 2016$17.99
  • Partiolaisten reitit$17.99
  • Sailmate Premium$19.99
Show 1 more
  • Scout Harbours and Routes$19.99
17 purchases

Aqua Map Boating

Subscriptions15
  • Florida - NOAA Nautical chart14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Alabama to Texas charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Cape Cod to Chesapeake Charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
Show 12 more
  • New England - Nautical charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Virginia to Georgia - Charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Midwest-Minnesota lake charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Michigan & Great Lakes chart14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • US - Nautical & Lakes charts14 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • Canada - nautical charts14 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • US & Canada - nautical charts14 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Caribbean South Nautical chart14 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Bermuda - nautical charts14 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Aqua Map Expert14 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Aqua Map Master14 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Bahamas - Explorer Charts14 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time2
  • US & Canada - Nautical chart$49.99
  • Bahamas - Explorer Chartbooks$139.99

Questions

Is Nautics Sailmate Classic free?
Nautics Sailmate Classic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aqua Map Boating free?
Aqua Map Boating is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Nautics Sailmate Classic or Aqua Map Boating have ads?
Neither Nautics Sailmate Classic nor Aqua Map Boating shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nautics Sailmate Classic or Aqua Map Boating?
Nautics Sailmate Classic ships an update every 2 months, and Aqua Map Boating weekly. Most recently, Nautics Sailmate Classic was updated on October 29, 2026 and Aqua Map Boating on October 31, 2026.

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