# Boat Instrument vs CH16

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

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

Boat Instrument ships an update every 6 weeks, CH16 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Boat Instrument | CH16 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boat-instrument/id6614616870/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 59 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [VICTORIAN HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING ASSOCIATION INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1594349509) | [Global SAR Hub](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888797457) |

## What reviewers say

### Boat Instrument

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boat-instrument/id6614616870)

This app displays boat instrument data through customizable boxes. It connects to a SignalK server, which processes NMEA data from your boat's systems. Ideal for boat owners who want a digital dashboard.

**Highlights:** Configurable data boxes, SignalK server integration, NMEA data display, Customizable dashboard

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**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 Boat Instrument free?

Boat Instrument is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is CH16 free?

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

### Do Boat Instrument or CH16 have ads?

CH16 shows ads; Boat Instrument does not.

### Which is updated more often, Boat Instrument or CH16?

Boat Instrument ships an update every 6 weeks, and CH16 every 2 months. Most recently, Boat Instrument was updated on October 27, 2026 and CH16 on October 25, 2026.

---

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