NightPilot vs Sailing Instruments
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NightPilot
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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/
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.
- Race Timer with auto-start
- Boat Speed (SOG)
- Bearing & Compass
- Waypoint Navigation
- VMG (Velocity Made Good)
- Route Tracking (GPX)
- Offline Support
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
| Parameter | NightPilot | Sailing Instruments |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.4 | 17.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 7 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Navtech Software | YAN MARK ANDERSON |
In-app purchases
NightPilot
- Solent 1 Month$2.99
- Solent 1 Year$6.99
Sailing Instruments
- Sailing Instruments Premium$3.99
Questions
Is NightPilot free?
Is Sailing Instruments free?
Do NightPilot or Sailing Instruments have ads?
Which is updated more often, NightPilot or Sailing Instruments?
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