Searebbel vs PyNav
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Searebbel
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Searebbel Mobile App β Easy Boating Experience a new level of intuitive and effortless navigation with the Searebbel app. Connected via Bluetooth to the MobilePilot, the app turns any smartphone or tablet into a smart navigation controller. Enjoy three simple yet powerful navigation modes: Keep Course: Maintain a steady heading with ease. Waypoint Navigation: Set one or multiple waypoints with simple screen taps. Path Following: Draw your path directly with your finger β and the system follows. With seamless performance across all mobile devices, the Searebbel app makes boating easier than ever.
PyNav
This app provides NMEA instrument data and remote control for a pypilot autopilot. It can function as a standalone navigation hub, displaying wind, engine, and GPS data with customizable panels and configurable alarms.
- Pypilot autopilot control
- NMEA instrument display
- Customizable dashboard panels
- Wind and engine data
- GPS and waypoint navigation
- Configurable alarms
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NMEA NAVIGATION HUB + PYPILOT REMOTE CONTROL PyNav serves two kinds of sailors: - Have a pypilot autopilot? Control it from your iPhone/iPad AND display all your NMEA instruments. - No pypilot? Use PyNav as a standalone professional NMEA navigation hub. FREE VERSION - Autopilot tab + Settings Full control of the pypilot autopilot: - Engage / disengage the autopilot - Modes: compass, wind, GPS, true wind, navigation - Current heading + target heading entry - Real-time rudder angle indicator - IMU data: pitch, roll, heel, rate of turn - Full PID gain tuning (P, I, D, DD, PR, FF, WG, Deadzone) - IMU compass and rudder calibration - Tack settings - Pilot profiles (basic, wind, gps, simple, rate, absolute) - Servo stats: amp-hours, voltage, temperatures, runtime - Direct WiFi connection to the pypilot Raspberry Pi hotspot - no router needed The free version gives access to pypilot data only - no external NMEA instruments. PRO VERSION - Complete navigation hub One-time purchase, lifetime - no subscription. Works WITH or WITHOUT pypilot. Just needs a NMEA/WiFi module and an iPhone or iPad. Optimized for iPad - also works on iPhone with adapted layout. DASHBOARD - Customizable unified view 6 configurable, drag-and-drop panels: - Wind: dynamic rose or raw data grid - Navigation: SOG, COG, GPS data - Autopilot: engage/disengage, target heading, rudder indicator, IMU - Depth: color-coded - Pressure: hPa value, 3h trend, history chart - Engine: RPM with color coding (nominal / warning / danger) Resizable panels, 1 or 2 column layout. WIND - Apparent and true wind Dynamic wind rose, 5-minute history chart, real-time AWA/AWS/TWA/TWS. ENGINE INSTRUMENTS RPM, coolant and oil temperature/pressure, battery/alternator voltage, engine hours, fuel flow, exhaust and sea water temperature, gearbox state (Fwd/Neutral/Rev), transmission oil. Tank gauges: port/starboard fuel, fresh water, grey and black water. Unlimited custom charts (any parameter vs RPM or time). NAV - GPS and waypoint navigation Compass rose, true and magnetic heading, SOG, COG, STW, latitude/longitude (DDΒ°MM'SS), waypoint navigation (bearing BTW, distance DTW, cross track error XTE), arrival indicator. CONFIGURABLE ALARMS On all NMEA data: depth, speed, heading, pressure, wind, RPM, temperatures, oil pressures, voltages, fuel levels, rudder angle. Each alarm: custom name, threshold, condition, individual on/off. Triggers: sound + vibration + on-screen banner. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS Free: iOS 13.4+, working pypilot setup (Raspberry Pi), direct WiFi connection to pypilot hotspot. PRO: any TCP/UDP NMEA/WiFi module (Yacht Devices, Quark-elec, Digital Yacht, Hat Labs, Actisense...) + iOS 13.4+. Pypilot optional. Supported protocols: NMEA 0183, NMEA 2000 Raw, Pypilot (TCP). SAFETY WARNING PyNav is a navigation interface. It does not replace mandatory navigation equipment. The skipper remains SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for navigation. Permanent watch at sea is MANDATORY. Pypilot is an open-source DIY project provided "as-is". PRIVACY No navigation data is sent to external servers. Runs 100% locally on your onboard network. No ads, no tracking. LEGAL Publisher: CL Consulting SASU - SIRET 94261399300016. GDPR compliant. Pypilot is an independent open-source project (Sean D'Epagnier, GPLv3). PyNav is not affiliated with the pypilot project.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Searebbel at none against PyNav's 1. PyNav's advantage is iOS requirement (13.4 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. PyNav sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Searebbel asks for nothing beyond the download.
Searebbel ships an update monthly, PyNav every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Searebbel | PyNav |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | β | 100.0% of reviews |
| Update frequency | Monthly β better | Every 5 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No β better | Yes |
| Monetization | β | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 13.4 β better |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 90 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | SeaRebbel | CL Consulting |
In-app purchases
Searebbel
No in-app purchases
PyNav
- PyNav Pro$7.99









