Boat Watch vs Ship Tracker
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Boat Watch
Track ships and boats globally in real-time. Identify vessels, view their details, and receive alerts for arrivals and departures. Explore nautical charts and use augmented reality for an enhanced viewing experience.
- Real-time AIS ship tracking
- Vessel identification and details
- Favorite boat tracking
- Arrival and departure alerts
- Augmented reality view
- Nautical chart integration
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Ever wanted to know more about ships and boats, or track a vessel around the globe? Boat Watch lets you spot and identify boats and ships in an instant. The Pro In-App purchase even sends you alerts when a boat you track sets sail or arrives - perfect for people with loved ones at sea, for tracking ferries and rescue vessels - or following cargo across the world! Boat Watch is free to use for 1 month and offers... * Spot any boat or ship via real-time AIS network * See the name, type and destination of each vessel * Set any boat as a favorite, and track it on the map * Search and find boats and places After 1 month a Pro upgrade is needed to continue getting live ship positions. Pro upgrade ( lifetime or yearly subscription):- * Real-time ship positions updates * Full boat information - picture, speed, where its from, etc. * Show boats' recent tracks * Set multiple favorite boats, to find them easily * Get alerts when a tracked boat arrives or departs * OpenSeaMap charts with buoys, lighthouses & shipping lanes * Filter ships on type to declutter the view and show more vessels of the type required. 3 other optional IAP upgrades are also available:- Live View upgrade ( one time purchase):- *Augmented Reality view to identify and spot boats using your camera *View boats true to scale and with Apple Maps amazing 3D views when zoomed in PortWatch (subscription):- - set a radar alarm ring around an area (0.5 to 10nm) - get notified when any ship is entering or exiting a port or area. Early alert for all ferries, cruise or cargo ships arriving at a port. - alerts when ships are passing or approaching a location. Great for folks who live by the water and want to know when a ship is approaching. You can set your gps position or the current map centre as the PortWatch location and the radar alert range from 0.5nm to 10nm. Fleet upgrade ( subscription): * Fleet - set and receive arrival and departure alerts for multiple boats Boat Watch also gives you the option to buy official NOAA nautical charts for the US and UKHO Admiralty derived charts for the UK&IE so you get the same view of the ocean as the ship's navigator. See the shipping channels, buoys, lights and hazards and why a ship is taking a particular route. Our ship coverage is global and amongst the best in the world. You can find out how our system works and check our coverage here :- http://pocketmariner.com/coverage Pocket Mariner are committed to providing great customer service and continually improve our Boat Watch apps. If you have any questions please email us via help@pocketmariner.com and we'll be happy to help. Terms of Use: http://seanav.net/termsofuse.php Privacy Policy: http://seanav.net/privacy.php Support: help@pocketmariner.com Subscriptions:- Pro and Fleet upgrade" subscriptions are yearly and will automatically renew at the end of the subscription period unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase, and will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed by the iTunes account holder and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to Account Settings after purchase. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period NOT FOR NAVIGATION Boat Watch should only be used for basic navigation reference and should not be solely relied upon to determine precise locations, proximity, distance, or direction.
Ship Tracker
Track ships live on the ocean, view their routes, destinations, and arrival times. Access detailed port information and manage your own fleet. Ideal for maritime enthusiasts, professionals, and travelers.
- Real-time vessel monitoring
- Expected arrivals
- Port details
- Customizable fleet management
- User-friendly search
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Explore the ocean with our new Ship Tracker app. Whether you're a maritime enthusiast, a professional in the industry, or simply an avid traveler, our app offers a wealth of features tailored to meet your needs. Experience the thrill of tracking vessels in real-time, accessing details about their routes, destinations, and estimated arrival times. Plan your coastal adventures and stay informed about new ships entering ports, giving you the ultimate edge in exploring new horizons. For Industry Professionals: Effortlessly manage vessel traffic, streamline port operations, and gain valuable insights into maritime activities. Our app provides you with detailed information about port statuses, vessel specifics, and current maritime conditions, empowering you to make informed decisions and efficiently handle maritime operations. Key Features: - Real-time vessel monitoring: Get live updates on vessel locations, routes, and schedules. - Expected arrivals: Plan ahead with information on anticipated vessel arrivals at ports. - Port details: Access comprehensive port information, including country, codes, and vessel counts. - Customizable fleet management: Add, remove, and track vessels according to your preferences. - User-friendly search: Seamlessly search for specific ports or vessels and explore detailed vessel information effortlessly. Benefits for All Users: Gain access to additional insights such as vessel types, callsigns, and specific vessel details, providing an all-encompassing experience for maritime exploration, leisure, or work-related needs. With a beautiful interface and intuitive design, our Ship Tracker app is your passport to the world of maritime adventure. Stay ahead of the tide, plan your voyages, and explore the high seas effortlessly. Download our app today and embark on your maritime journey with confidence! Ahoy, adventure awaits! By using our app you agree to our Terms of Services: https://sites.google.com/view/ship-tracker-terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Boat Watch at none against Ship Tracker's shown. Boat Watch also leads on review sentiment (38% vs 24%). Ship Tracker's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks) and chart position (#139 vs unranked). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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. Boat Watch sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year and Ship Tracker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Boat Watch against 4.6 for Ship Tracker. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.8K and 1.8K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 38% of Boat Watch's written reviews are positive against 24% of Ship Tracker's.
Boat Watch ships an update every 6 weeks, Ship Tracker fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Boat Watch | Ship Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (3.8K ratings) | 4.6 (1.8K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 38.0% of reviews — better | 23.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3.8K — better | 1.8K |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #139 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 68 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pocket Mariner Ltd. | Rocketech sp. z o.o. |
Customer experience
Boat Watch
Ship Tracker
User reviews
Boat Watch
From 3.8K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Excellent for ship tracking
- 📍 Accurate ship location information
- 🗺️ Useful NOAA chart overlay
- 👍 Great app for enthusiasts
Room to improve
- 🐛 Inconsistent ship detection
- 💰 Excessive in-app purchases
- 🔍 Limited search functionality
- 🕰️ Outdated ship position data
Ship Tracker
From 1.8K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Great app
- 🚀 Excellent tool
- 👍 Accurate app
- 👍 Helpful app
Room to improve
- 🐛 Glitchy app
- 🐛 Outdated information
- 🐛 Doesn't work properly
- 🔒 Forced subscription
- 🐛 Unreliable tracking
Bugs and requests
Boat Watch
Reported bugs
3 issues- Crashes and freezes
- Inability to track ships in certain regions
- Incorrect ship positions and directions
Requested features
4 requests- Route history for ships
- Improved cruise ship tracking
- Automatic notifications for ship movements
- More detailed ship information
Ship Tracker
Reported bugs
4 issues- Ads not working
- Crashes frequently
- Tracking issues
- Incorrect vessel locations
Requested features
4 requests- Free vessel pictures
- Ability to set location
- Improve search functionality
- Better open sea tracking
In-app purchases
Boat Watch
- PortWatch$0.991 Year
- BoatWatch Pro upgrade$1.991 Year
- Fleet Upgrade$5.991 Year
- Full Version Upgrade$4.99
- Live View$4.99
- NOAA US Charts$4.99
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- UK & IE Marine Charts$4.99
Ship Tracker
- Unlimited Access$3.997 Days
- Unlimited Access$7.991 Month
- Unlimited Access7 Days trial$17.991 Year
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Unlimited Access$34.991 Year
Questions
Is Boat Watch free?
Is Ship Tracker free?
Which has better reviews, Boat Watch or Ship Tracker?
Do Boat Watch or Ship Tracker have ads?
Which is updated more often, Boat Watch or Ship Tracker?
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