Comparison

NightPilot vs Sailing Instruments

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

Head to head
About

NightPilot

Features
Read full description

A night pilotage training aid for sailors. 1 month or 1 year non-renewing subscriptions are available. A subscription will full access to a database of most lit buoys in the Solent and its main channels and ports. including:- Ashlett Creek, Beaulieu, Cowes, Fareham Lake, Fishbourne, Hamble, Itchen, Lymington, Port Solent, Portsmouth, Yarmouth Buoys or marks can be identified from their light phase and bearings can be taken. With this information, and by reference to the log and your pilotage chart, you are able to practise entries into unfamilier ports at night Directional lights (WRG), leading lights and lighthouses are included. Can also be used to practise finding an unlit mark at night. (a yachmaster exam favourite) Facility to specify a tidal stream (set and rate) to add the drift that would affect your course over the ground Track made good is recorded and shown on the chart Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Sailing Instruments

This app provides essential sailing instruments and tactical tools for planning, racing, and navigating. It offers features like a race timer, speed tracking, bearing and compass, waypoint navigation, and route recording. Offline support ensures functionality on open water.

Highlights
  • Race Timer with auto-start
  • Boat Speed (SOG)
  • Bearing & Compass
  • Waypoint Navigation
  • VMG (Velocity Made Good)
  • Route Tracking (GPX)
  • Offline Support
Features
Read full description

Plan, race, and sail smarter - all from your iPhone. From the first beat of planning to the final gun, this app puts essential sailing instruments, tactical tools, and live wind forecasts at your fingertips - whether you're cruising the coast or counting down to the start. Instruments • Boat Speed (SOG) – Accurate speed over ground in knots, km/h, or mph • Bearing & Compass – Know your heading and navigate confidently • VMG (Velocity Made Good) – See how effectively you're sailing toward your target Race & Tactics • Race Timer – Easy countdown with auto-start tracking and a large, glanceable display • Waypoint Navigation – Build a library of reusable marks and plot your course in seconds • Wind Forecasts (Premium) – Overlay live wind across your race area, with direction, speed, and gusts shown right on the map. Scrub up to 48 hours ahead to see how the breeze will shift, and choose the forecast model that's most accurate for your waters (UK Met Office, ECMWF, GFS, and more) Track & Review • Route Tracking – Record your GPS track as a GPX file for post-sail analysis • Track Playback – Replay your sail with speed, distance, and your saved marks shown in context • Offline Support – Built for open water; no internet required after install (wind forecasts need a connection) Modern design meets real-world sailing needs - ideal for day sailors, racers, and adventurers. Freemium - no subscriptions, just pay once if you love it: • Use the core instruments for free • Try the race timer, routing, and track recorder twice, then upgrade for unlimited access • Premium unlocks unlimited use plus live wind forecasts • Leave us a review and reset your free trial! This app uses your device's GPS - please ensure your device supports GPS. If GPS updates stop while using the app, try moving your device in large circles to wake it back up. We value your feedback! Share ideas or report issues at yanafloat@gmail.com

Screenshots

NightPilot1 screens
Sailing Instruments4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Sailing Instruments at every 2 weeks against NightPilot's every 3 weeks. 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. NightPilot sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Sailing Instruments sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NightPilot ships an update every 3 weeks, Sailing Instruments every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
NightPilot versus Sailing Instruments: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNightPilotSailing Instruments
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.417.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNavtech SoftwareYAN MARK ANDERSON

In-app purchases

2 purchases

NightPilot

One-time2
  • Solent 1 Month$2.99
  • Solent 1 Year$6.99
1 purchases

Sailing Instruments

One-time1
  • Sailing Instruments Premium$3.99

Questions

Is NightPilot free?
NightPilot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sailing Instruments free?
Sailing Instruments is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do NightPilot or Sailing Instruments have ads?
Neither NightPilot nor Sailing Instruments shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NightPilot or Sailing Instruments?
NightPilot ships an update every 3 weeks, and Sailing Instruments every 2 weeks. Most recently, NightPilot was updated on September 15, 2026 and Sailing Instruments on September 1, 2026.

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