# SEA.AI vs CH16

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SEA.AI at none against CH16's 2. SEA.AI also leads on ads (none vs shown). CH16's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CH16 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. SEA.AI asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SEA.AI | CH16 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 3 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SEA.AI SAS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1477495617) | [Global SAR Hub](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888797457) |

## What reviewers say

### SEA.AI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seaai/id6500180816)

**In-app purchases:** none


### CH16

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ch16/id6761360179)

This maritime safety app provides instant access to global rescue coordination centers and features tools for generating distress messages and planning voyages. It offers real-time location tracking for man overboard situations and works offline, ensuring safety at sea.

**Highlights:** Global maritime rescue center directory, Interactive SRR zone map, GMDSS-compliant distress message generator, Man Overboard (MOB) mode with GPS tracking, Passage Plan for voyage declaration, Offline functionality, Multilingual support

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CH16 Pro | $0.99 | per month |
| CH16 Pro Lifetime | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SEA.AI free?

SEA.AI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CH16 free?

CH16 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do SEA.AI or CH16 have ads?

CH16 shows ads; SEA.AI does not.

### Which is updated more often, SEA.AI or CH16?

SEA.AI ships an update every 2 months, and CH16 every 2 months. Most recently, SEA.AI was updated on October 10, 2026 and CH16 on October 2, 2026.

---

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