Comparison

Boat vs Comms

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

Head to head
About

Boat

Learn boating safety through interactive simulations and a virtual instructor. Earn your official, lifetime boater safety certification recognized nationwide. Optimized for touch devices and available offline.

Highlights
  • Virtual instructor with real-time feedback
  • Scenario-driven training
  • On-the-water simulations
  • Self-paced learning
  • Lifetime certification
  • Offline access
Read full description

Get your Official Boater Safety Certification and go boating today! Boat-Ed+ is a virtual boater education course built around immersive, scenario-driven training that helps you learn through real decisions on the water, not through static reading. Led by a virtual classroom instructor and powered by on-the-water simulations, you engage with interactive modules and hands-on tasks in a dynamic course designed to build true boating confidence. Created in coordination with state boating agencies, Boat-Ed+ delivers a leading-edge learning experience with high-engagement instruction, real-time feedback, and instant scenario correction that helps knowledge lock in quickly. Built for seamless completion and optimized for tablet and touch, Boat-Ed+ offers one of the most immersive ways to obtain your boater safety certificate (commonly referred to as a boating license). Who’s It For? This course is perfect for all ages and skill levels. First-time operators, families planning a lake getaway, seasoned mariners brushing up for the season: it’s built to support you from launch to landing and all the waves in between. Nationally Recognized and Good for Life Once you pass the exam, you’ll receive your Official Boater Safety Certification, which is your official proof of competency in your state. It’s valid in every state and Canadian province, and it never expires. That means there are no renewals or ongoing fees, and you’ll enjoy it for life. TOP FEATURES Meets All State Requirements Virtual Instructor with real-time feedback Self-paced learning anytime, anywhere Hands-on lessons with real scenarios Quick and easy lifetime certification WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Safe boat operation Navigating busy waterways Boating emergency procedures Your state’s legal requirements Boating basics Rules, regulations and necessary equipment Navigation and right-of-way rules Trip preparation Docking, mooring and trailering Markers and buoys BONUS GIFT Get a FREE year of Wavve ($60 value) when you earn your license through Boat-Ed+. The Wavve Boating app helps you navigate with smart nautical charts and community-powered maps. How to Access This content is structured for convenience. That means you can access it from any device you prefer. Laptop, mobile, tablet, you name it. No internet? No problem. It’s even available offline so you can learn wherever it works best for you. GET CERTIFIED TODAY From motorboats to jet skis, this course prepares you to be confident, capable, and earn your certification to enjoy safe boating for a lifetime.

About

Comms

Practice realistic air traffic control radio communications using AI and speech recognition. Build confidence with over 35 scenarios, from basic taxi instructions to complex airspace transitions. Get instant feedback on your phraseology and accuracy.

Highlights
  • AI-powered speech recognition
  • Realistic ATC scenarios
  • Instant feedback on phraseology
  • Transcript review
  • Practice anytime, anywhere
  • Guided responses
Features
Read full description

Master Your Radio Skills. Fly with Confidence. Practice real ATC conversations by speaking into your phone. Comms uses AI and speech recognition to simulate realistic radio exchanges — so you can build confidence before keying the mic in the cockpit. Whether you're preparing for your first solo or sharpening your skills before a checkride, Comms helps you sound like you've been on frequency for years. 35+ Realistic ATC Scenarios - Taxi clearances, progressive taxi, and runway crossings - Takeoff, pattern work, and departures from towered and non-towered fields - VFR flight following — requesting, canceling, and handoffs - Class Bravo and Charlie airspace clearances and transitions - CRAFT clearances, IFR pop-ups, and holding instructions - Approaches, go-arounds, and missed approach procedures - Landing at towered and non-towered airports - Filing PIREPs, opening/closing flight plans, and requesting diversions - VFR into IMC emergency scenarios How It Works - Listen to ATC instructions with realistic controller audio - Respond by speaking your readback out loud - Get instant feedback on accuracy and phraseology - Review your full transcript after each session Built for Student Pilots - Designed for the calls that make new pilots nervous - Practice anytime — no airplane, no instructor, no pressure - Progress from basic taxi calls to complex airspace scenarios - Guided responses help you learn correct phraseology Perfect For - Student pilots preparing for solo or checkride - Private pilot candidates building radio confidence - Flight instructors looking for a training aid - Rusty pilots getting back on frequency Download Comms and take the stress out of talking to ATC. Focus on what matters most — flying the airplane. Terms of use - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Boat4 screens
Comms4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Comms at 4.2 against Boat's 2.7. Comms also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 weeks) and ratings volume (207 vs 38). Boat's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12). On price, review sentiment, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Comms sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Boat asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Comms holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Comms has 207 ratings behind it against 38, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Boat's written reviews are positive against 36% of Comms's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Boat ships an update every 4 weeks, Comms every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Boat versus Comms: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBoatComms
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.7 (38 ratings)4.2 (207 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews35.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings38207 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size278 MB67 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperKalkomeyKHV Digital LLC

Customer experience

Boat

All ratings38 ratings
Positive36.8%
Neutral13.2%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews39 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral10.3%
Negative56.4%

Comms

All ratings207 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative15.9%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive35.8%
Neutral13.4%
Negative50.7%

Bugs and requests

Boat

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Comms

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes and becomes unusable after account setup
  • Incompatible with latest iOS versions
  • Provides incorrect information that goes against FAA guidelines

Requested features

3 requests
  • More detailed and comprehensive pilot scenarios
  • Improved voice recognition and speech-to-text accuracy
  • Better alignment with FAA instructions and procedures

In-app purchases

None

Boat

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Comms

Subscriptions4
  • Comms Premium Weekly2 variants$6.997 Days
  • Comms Premium Monthly2 variants$14.991 Month
  • Comms Premium Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Comms Premium Yearly3 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time6
  • Study Guide Private Pilot w/Premium$9.99
  • 25 Scan Credits$9.99
  • Pro - Unlock All Comms$12.99
Show 3 more
  • Study Guide Commercial Pilot$14.99
  • 50 Scan Credits$14.99
  • Study Guide Private Pilot$19.99

Questions

Is Boat free?
Boat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Comms free?
Comms is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Boat or Comms?
Comms is rated higher. Boat averages 2.7 out of 5 from 38 ratings, while Comms averages 4.2 from 207 ratings.
Do Boat or Comms have ads?
Neither Boat nor Comms shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Boat or Comms?
Boat ships an update every 4 weeks, and Comms every 4 days. Most recently, Boat was updated on September 18, 2026 and Comms on September 23, 2026.

Other comparisons