U.S. Inland Navigational Rules vs True
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
U.S. Inland Navigational Rules
This app provides comprehensive Inland Navigation Rules for U.S. inland waters and the Great Lakes. It features over 100 custom illustrations and captions for easy learning, along with bonus emergency procedures for boaters.
- Complete Inland Navigation Rules
- 100+ explanatory illustrations
- Bonus emergency procedures section
- Reference, learning, and revision tool
- Researched by nautical experts
- Covers Steering & Sailing Rules, Lights & Shapes, Signals
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Essential Information for All Boat Users. Now includes Search function, Quick Get Location (your current latitude and longitude) with save and export, and Text Size/Reading mode. Complete Inland Navigation Rules for all U.S. inland waters and the Great Lakes. With 100+ specially produced explanatory illustrations and captions. For all boaters. Plus FREE bonus emergency procedures section. ************ FEATURES and BENEFITS ******************* - For reference, learning & revision - Over 100 custom made graphics for quick reference and easy learning - Researched and produced by nautical and marine experts for accuracy - Positively evaluated by professionals for reliability The complete Inland Navigation Rules for the United States including Parts A, B, C, D and E, plus Annexes, Interpretative Rules and other associated Navigation Regulations are all included in this app. See details below. A bonus illustrated section includes emergency procedures for boaters to follow when in difficulty. Anyone who is responsible for a vessel, from the smallest dinghy to an ocean going freighter, must be able to recognize other vessels around them by day or night, whatever the visibility. They need to be able to quickly interpret what other vessels are doing, who has right of way and what action they should take to prevent a possible collision. This is not always easy, especially along crowded rivers, narrow channels, in harbors or in poor visibility. NAVIGATION RULES INLAND includes the fully illustrated Rules of the Road - great for quick reference and easy learning. • Steering & Sailing Rules [ILLUSTRATED] • Lights & Shapes [ILLUSTRATED] • Sound & Light Signals [ILLUSTRATED] NAVIGATION RULES INLAND also includes the complete detailed rules as follows: * Exemptions * Annex I - Positioning and Technical Details of Lights and Shapes * Annex II - Additional Signals for Fishing Vessels Fishing in Close Proximity * Annex III - Technical Details of Sound Appliances * Annex IV - Distress Signals [ILLUSTRATED] * Annex V - Pilot Signals * Interpretive Rules * COLREGS DEMARCATION LINES - detailed information of the lines of jurisdiction that separate the Inland and International Rules, as indicated on National Ocean Service navigation charts * Alternative Compliance * Waters upon which Inland Rules apply * Vessel Bridge to Bridge Radiotelephone Regulations * Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Call Signs, Designated Frequencies, and Monitoring Areas * Penalty Provisions ************* FREE Bonus Content from "Safe Skipper" ***************************** Safety Afloat Tips & Advice on Emergency Procedures for all Sailors and Leisure Boaters. * Safety information & practical tips * Specially created custom graphics: illustrations, photos & diagrams * Advice on emergency procedures * Stay safe and prevent accidents happening * Written & illustrated by a qualified & experienced yachtsman Includes information on: * Abandoning ship * Dismasting * Distress signals * Engine failure * Fire fighting * Getting a tow * Helicopter rescue * Holed hull * MAYDAY procedures * Medical emergency * SAR signals ***************************************** Customer feedback for Safe Skipper: "Highly recommend this App, get it on your Phone or Tablet today" "This app is full of really useful info for anyone going to sea (or inland waterways...). It's presented really well, and has some good graphics. Can't believe just how much they've packed in. Recommended." "A well written and detailed app for yachts & inland craft also quite useful for ocean going vessels - well done." ***************************************** Special thanks to Captain Richard J. Rodriguez, U.S. Coast Guard licensed Master and Director of Operations at Zenith Maritime for his helpful advice and recommendations.
True
Calculate true wind direction and speed for sailing. Input vessel speed, apparent wind, and angle to determine accurate wind data.
- True-wind calculation
- Vessel speed input
- Apparent wind speed input
- Apparent wind angle input
- Vessel heading input
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The wind you feel on a moving boat isn't the real wind. True-Wind Calculator turns the apparent wind you measure into the true wind you need — in two taps, no wind instruments required. In use since 2013, completely rebuilt in 2026. HOW IT WORKS Enter boat speed, apparent wind speed, apparent wind angle and heading. The app does exact vector math — no lookup tables, no approximations — and gives you true wind speed and true wind direction instantly. Boat speed and heading can be filled automatically from GPS and compass with one tap. FREE • True wind speed, direction and angle — unlimited calculations • One-tap GPS fill for boat speed and heading • The formula explained, so you can trust the numbers • Works completely offline — no account, no ads, no tracking PRO (one-time purchase, no subscription) • Performance — live VMG, target boat speed, % of target VMG and point of sail, driven by your boat's polar • Tactics — tack preview, windward-mark laylines, and whether you can lay the mark • Boat polars — pick a preset or build your own in the editor • Compass rose view — heading, apparent and true wind on one dial • Calculation history — every result logged with its inputs • All speed units — knots, m/s, km/h, mph Bought the app back when it was paid? Pro is already yours — it unlocks automatically. PRIVACY Everything stays on your device. Location is read only to fill the input fields and never leaves your phone. No analytics, no third-party SDKs.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: U.S. Inland Navigational Rules at 75% against True's 0%. U.S. Inland Navigational Rules also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#178 vs unranked). True's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99). On update cadence, ads, monetization model 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
True is free to download; U.S. Inland Navigational Rules costs $2.99 up front. True sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. U.S. Inland Navigational Rules asks for nothing beyond the download.
U.S. Inland Navigational Rules ships an update every 27 months, True every 41 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | U.S. Inland Navigational Rules | True |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.3 (6 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months — better | Every 41 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #178 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 23 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | The Other Hat | Nejc Landeker |
Customer experience
U.S. Inland Navigational Rules
True
In-app purchases
U.S. Inland Navigational Rules
No in-app purchases
True
- Pro Unlock$4.99
Questions
Is U.S. Inland Navigational Rules free?
Is True free?
Do U.S. Inland Navigational Rules or True have ads?
Which is updated more often, U.S. Inland Navigational Rules or True?
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