FKY vs Binnen Skipper
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FKY
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MEET YOUR FRIENDS - der Freundeskreis Klassische Yachten (FKY) greift das steigende Interesse an alten Schiffen auf und bringt all jene freundlichen Individualisten zusammen, die sich aus Lebensfreude, Leidenschaft oder auch manchmal ein wenig Weltanschauung um den Erhalt klassischer Yachten und unser maritimes Erbe bemühen. Die neue App macht die digitalen Informationsangebote des Freundeskreis einfach und ohne viele Klicks erreichbar. Für Mitglieder bietet sie weitere Informationsangebote zu Veranstaltungen und für die Vernetzung untereinander.
Binnen Skipper
Navigate five Bavarian lakes with this comprehensive sailing app. Features include nautical charts, weather alerts, anchor watch, and trip recording. An optional Pro version unlocks advanced features like detailed forecasts and a full logbook.
- Offline nautical charts with position tracking
- Anchor watch with loud alarm
- Severe weather warnings and storm alerts
- Trip recording with distance, duration, and notes
- Harbor and point of interest information
- Right-of-way rules and zone warnings
- Pro features: detailed forecasts, webcams, and virtual regatta
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Map, weather and safety for five Bavarian lakes: Chiemsee, Lake Starnberg, Ammersee, Tegernsee and Großer Brombachsee. Made by sailors for real life on the water. “Chiemsee Skipper” became “Binnen Skipper”: anyone who bought the app before already has Pro unlocked. FREE OF CHARGE Map, anchor watch, man overboard, emergency contacts and warnings cost nothing. No purchase prompt sits on top of a running warning. • Offline map of your lake with your position – works without mobile network • Anchor watch – alerts you when the boat leaves the circle; supplements your own watch • Man overboard: marks your current position • Official severe-weather warnings from the DWD and the storm-warning lights – all five lakes • Emergency numbers, water rescue, distress signals, emergency plan • Current weather, water level and water temperature • Weather map with wind, gusts, rain and radar – current state • Harbours, moorings, slipways and cranes, steamer piers, points of interest • Course to your destination around islands and marked shallows; “nearest reachable harbour” • Right-of-way rules, nature and quiet zones – with a warning when you enter • Depth contours in the lake, filterable – all but the shallowest, which is part of Pro • Marked shallows and, on some lakes, spot depths closer to shore • Record trips – distance, duration, speed, crew and notes • Share single trips as an image or GPX • Backup and restore WITH PRO – ONE PAYMENT, NO SUBSCRIPTION • The shallowest depth contour too – the last step before shallow water • The whole logbook – open every trip, not just the three most recent • ICON-D2 and ICON-EU forecast models in detail • Weather map: view and play the development • Sailing window – notice the evening before • All webcams on the lake – without Pro you see one • Widgets – water level, temperature, weather and camera • Trip analysis and season totals • Water level and temperature over time • Export the whole logbook – as GPX or spreadsheet • Virtual regatta – set your own course and score it by Yardstick • Measure distances and plan a route • Several boats and a maintenance log • Photos on saved places • Alternative app icons for your home screen The purchase covers all five lakes. SEVEN DAYS OF PRO TO TRY Once per device you can try everything for a week – without payment details. The week ends by itself, there is nothing to cancel. ABOUT THE LOGBOOK, SO IT IS CLEAR Everything is recorded and kept. Without Pro you can open the three most recent trips; older ones stay visible with date, distance and duration and carry a lock. Do keep a backup: uninstalling or switching devices loses local data. ALSO • Message history: read every warning at your leisure • UV index – today, tomorrow and the day after • Sun and moon times, regatta calendar • German and English, light and dark design • Freely selectable units (kn/km/h, NM/km, °C/°F) Data sources: DWD (weather, radar, warnings, UV index), GKD Bavaria / Bavarian Environment Agency (water), Wasserwirtschaftsamt Ansbach (Brombachsee gauging station), Bayerische Vermessungsverwaltung (depth contours, CC BY 4.0, modified), © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Full details are shown in the app. Depths refer to mean water level; the matching gauge reading is shown in the app. Between the shore and the shallowest contour there is no area-wide depth data – only the individually marked shallows and measured points. All content consists of simplified summaries for general information. It does not replace an official nautical chart, official navigation or your own seamanship; information may be inaccurate or incomplete. The app is not a warning service – alerts may arrive late, incomplete or not at all. The storm-warning lights are not an official warning system; the German Weather Service prevails. Decisions on board remain yours. Statutory liability for life, body and health and for intent and gross negligence is unaffected.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Binnen Skipper at fortnightly against FKY's every 8 months. FKY's advantage is iOS requirement (12.4 vs 15.1). 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
FKY ships an update every 8 months, Binnen Skipper fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | FKY | Binnen Skipper |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.4 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 20 MB | 123 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Verein Freundeskreis Klassische Yachten e.V. | Skipperfriends |
In-app purchases
FKY
No in-app purchases
Binnen Skipper
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is FKY free?
Is Binnen Skipper free?
Do FKY or Binnen Skipper have ads?
Which is updated more often, FKY or Binnen Skipper?
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