Comparison

Skipper vs SeaNav

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

Head to head
About

Skipper

Record your boat trips with real-time GPS data, weather, and crew information. Securely store your boating history and relive your adventures with detailed maps and statistics. Import/export GPX files and manage your logbook with powerful search and filtering options.

Highlights
  • Real-time GPS trip recording
  • Log weather, crew, and boat details
  • Access trip statistics
  • Review adventures on maps
  • Search and filter logbook entries
  • Import/export GPX files
Features
Read full description

Skipper is a simple yet powerful boating logbook app for iPhone and iPad. It allows you to automatically keep a permanent record of all your activities at sea and to securely store all your trips on your device to protect your entire boating history. If you love sailing or boating, Skipper is the perfect app! Features of Skipper: • Record your boat trips with your iPhone or iPad*: real-time GPS position, course, speed, duration, distance, track and more • Auto start recording your trips as soon as you leave your initial position • Log everything: weather, sea state, crew members, boat, departure/arrival places, sails used, engine hours, incidents, repairs, and more • Access accurate stats like distance, duration, average/top speed and more • Relive your adventures review your chronicles over time with beautiful maps • Search your logbook for name, notes or place and filter by crew member, boat, weather (wind force and direction) • Import/export GPX files • Nautical, metric and imperial units of measurement support Notes: • *Only the Wi-Fi + Cellular iPads have a built-in GPS, the Wi-Fi only iPads don't have a built-in GPS. • Skipper cannot be used as replacement for Automatic Identification System (AIS). • Continued use of GPS running in the background can decrease your device’s battery life: it is recommend to connect the device to a power outlet when possible. • GPS is completely independent of any Wi-Fi or Cellular data connection. • An Internet connection is required to download weather forecast and maps. • Maps provided by Apple. • Weather is provided by Apple. --- The first three recorded or imported activities are completely free of charge. Skipper+, an optional in-app subscription, unlocks unlimited activities. Development and ongoing maintenance are supported by Skipper+ subscribers. Thank you! Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. The subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage your subscription or turn off auto-renew by going to your App Store account settings after purchase. Cancellation of the current active subscription period is not allowed. • Privacy: https://skipper.alpennec.com/privacy • Terms and Conditions: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula

About

SeaNav

This app provides high-resolution marine charts, route planning, and real-time navigation for boaters. It offers features like AIS ship tracking, tide and weather information, and offline chart access. Advanced capabilities include augmented reality views and autopilot integration.

Highlights
  • High-resolution marine charts
  • Autoroute planning
  • Real-time GPS navigation
  • AIS ship tracking
  • Tides and weather
  • Offline chart access
  • Augmented Reality View
Features
Read full description

SeaNav combines high-resolution marine charts, route planning and real-time navigation in one simple boating app for your iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Charts, Autoroute planning, AIS ship tracking, tides and weather in one powerful and affordable navigation app. Built from official hydrographic data with extensive coverage across North America, Europe and Australia. Professional marine navigation features including: Planning • Create and edit routes with auto-routing for creating waypoints • Measure distance & bearing • Import & export GPX routes • Tides, Streams & Weather • Works offline Navigate with Confidence • Real-time GPS navigation • Course Up & North Up modes • ETA, XTE, VMG, SOG & COG • Sailing HUD display • Background navigation • Automatic Waypoint advancing & alerts Live AIS & Safety (Optional IAP) • Real-time AIS ship positions • Collision alarms • AIS position sharing • Internet AIS integration • Free AIS when used with Boat Beacon • MOB and Anchor alarm (IAP) - NMEA Link for Depth, Wind & AutoPilot - Real time local wind feed and Sailing laylines display (IAP) Alongside this SeaNav offers advanced onboard capabilities rarely found in a single app: Apple Watch app SeaNav for Apple Watch is included at no extra cost, giving you route data, key navigation information and quick access controls directly from your wrist. Sophisticated AIS Display and Position sharing The leader in the field with global coverage and clear, information-rich vessel tracking with intelligent filtering and collision prediction tools. CPA and TCPA alerts help you assess risk early and act confidently. Augmented Reality View Overlays navigation, AIS and chart data directly onto the real-world camera view for intuitive situational awareness. Includes night mode support for compatible thermal cameras such as FLIR. SeaNav Autoroute and Autopilot Integration - Just choose where you want to go and SeaNav will create the route for you - Go one step further and let SeaNav pilot the route with compatible autopilot systems from Raymarine, SIMRAD, Lowrance and B&G SeaNav comes with a built-in tutorial mode with free access to all features including charts, AIS, AR & wind The free version includes all navigation and trip planning tools. High resolution vector charts are available by In App Purchase (IAP) including updates for 12 months. Requirements: GPS only required for real time route navigation. Optional Real time AIS, Tides and Weather information require an active internet connection. WiFi-only iPad will need an external GPS receiver for navigation. Please note that continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Subscriptions Our in-app purchases are 1 year subscriptions, which 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. NOTICES: This product has been derived in part from material obtained from the UK Hydrographic Office with the permission of the UK Hydrographic Office, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.” “© British Crown Copyright, [2026]. All rights reserved. The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and its licensors make no warranties or representations, express or implied, with respect to this product. The UKHO and its licensors have not verified the information within this product or quality assured it. Terms of Use: http://seanav.net/termsofuse.php Privacy Policy: http://seanav.net/privacy.php Support: help@pocketmariner.com

Screenshots

Skipper4 screens
SeaNav4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Skipper at 79% against SeaNav's 55%. Skipper also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and rating (4.6 vs 4.4). SeaNav's advantage is ratings volume (251 vs 36). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Skipper sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and SeaNav sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Skipper holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SeaNav has 251 ratings behind it against 36, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Skipper's written reviews are positive against 55% of SeaNav's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Skipper ships an update weekly, SeaNav monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Skipper versus SeaNav: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSkipperSeaNav
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (36 ratings) — better4.4 (251 ratings)
Positive reviews79.2% of reviews — better54.7% of reviews
Number of ratings36251 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB158 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAxel Le PennecPocket Mariner Ltd.

Customer experience

Skipper

All ratings36 ratings
Positive91.7%
Neutral2.8%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews77 reviews
Positive79.2%
Neutral3.9%
Negative16.9%

SeaNav

All ratings251 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral5.2%
Negative11.6%
Written reviews64 reviews
Positive54.7%
Neutral3.1%
Negative42.2%

Bugs and requests

Skipper

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

SeaNav

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Frozen/locked app
  • Not picking up vessels or ship traffic
  • App does not open
  • Crashes after crashes
  • Sailing mode crash
Show 3 more
  • Confused and buggy, buttons hidden
  • Crashes when pressing boat button
  • French charts missing information (buoys, wind farms)

Requested features

7 requests
  • Can you see water depth on Apple Watch?
  • Download all purchased charts button
  • Update all purchased charts button
  • Legend for symbols and colors
  • Brief chart reading explainer
Show 2 more
  • Course integration with NMEA 2000 devices
  • Easy export/import of route plans between iOS devices

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Skipper

Subscriptions7
  • Skipper+ Weekly$5.997 Days
  • Skipper+ Weekly$7.997 Days
  • Weekly$8.997 Days
Show 4 more
  • Skipper+ Yearly$29.991 Year
  • Yearly$35.991 Year
  • Yearly$44.991 Year
  • Yearly$49.991 Year
One-time3
  • Skipper+ Lifetime$14.99
  • Skipper+ Lifetime$99.99
  • Lifetime$124.99
10 purchases

SeaNav

Subscriptions8
  • Weather charts$4.991 Year
  • NOAA US Raster Charts$9.991 Year
  • US Charts$9.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Pro Features$10.491 Year
  • US Charts$19.991 Year
  • UK & IE Charts$24.991 Year
  • French Charts$24.991 Year
  • Canadian Charts$26.991 Year
One-time2
  • Man Overboard & Anchor Watch$4.99
  • Pro Features$14.99

Questions

Is Skipper free?
Skipper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SeaNav free?
SeaNav is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Skipper or SeaNav?
Skipper is rated higher. Skipper averages 4.6 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while SeaNav averages 4.4 from 251 ratings.
Do Skipper or SeaNav have ads?
Neither Skipper nor SeaNav shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Skipper or SeaNav?
Skipper ships an update weekly, and SeaNav monthly. Most recently, Skipper was updated on November 6, 2026 and SeaNav on November 11, 2026.

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