Comparison

SailControl vs True Wind

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

Head to head
About

SailControl

Features
Read full description

SailControl transforms your device into a professional-grade navigation and performance assistant. Seamlessly connecting with your vessel’s AIS and NMEA chartplotter, it brings your full instrument panel to your iPhone and Apple Watch. By combining real-time AIS target tracking, wind metrics, speed insights, GPS positioning, and onboard sensor data, SailControl gives you an all-in-one situational awareness solution - right in your pocket. Whether you’re a competitive sailing athlete striving for performance gains, a recreational sailor seeking safety and confidence offshore, or a professional mariner managing critical navigation tasks, SailControl adapts to your needs: - Sailing Races: Gain a competitive edge by tracking rivals in real time, analyzing their speed and course, and adjusting your sails or maneuvers with precision to outpace the fleet. - Recreational Sailors: Sail with confidence using clear visualizations of vessel traffic, wind conditions, and speed insights for safer, more enjoyable cruising. - Mariners & Captains: Enhance safety with precise motion telemetry, and situational awareness in challenging waters. - Vessel Spotters & Enthusiasts: Identify ships, monitor movement patterns, and log encounters with professional accuracy. - Marine Researchers & Surveyors: Collect reliable positional and telemetry data for studies, inspections, or field operations. - Coast Guards & Rescue Teams: Benefit from fast, portable vessel identification tools that complement onboard systems during operations. Built with SwiftUI and a modular real-time architecture, SailControl ensures seamless performance, high reliability, and a modern, customizable interface. From improving racing strategies to increasing safety at sea, it is the go-to digital cockpit for anyone passionate about the maritime world. To receive AIS and NMEA data, you need to configure the IP of your vessel’s AIS and NMEA chartplotter, SailControl Pro requires a subscription. A 7-day trial period is offered so that you can explore the PRO features. SailControl Pro includes: - Advanced vessel filters: search by name, MMSI, and more - Advanced NMEA instruments: Apparent Wind, True Wind, ARPA radar, Motion Sensors, GPS status - Unlimited “My Vessels” tracking: Add more than two(2) vessels to your tracking list - Map recording and Race data export: save and share your tracks, export time/laps as images or to Apple Health - Personalised settings: sort by distance, set max-distance filters - AIS/NMEA parsing controls: choose exactly which messages to process - Underway-only view: display vessels currently underway, to reduce lag in crowded areas - AI Bow Sentry (Experimental): Use artificial intelligence to analyze a live camera feed from your iPhone or an RTSP camera installed near the bow of your vessel. AI Bow Sentry assists in detecting potential obstacles and collision risks by identifying objects ahead of the boat and improving forward awareness. - AI Sail Trim Assistant (Experimental): Receive AI-powered sail trimming insights using your iPhone camera or an RTSP camera positioned near the steering area. SailControl analyzes sail shape and provides experimental recommendations to help optimize trimming decisions and sailing efficiency. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.defendcyberspace.com/privacy

About

True Wind

This app provides a clear visual display of wind direction, speed, and sail angles, helping sailors understand points of sail. It offers real-time data, spoken alerts, and manual setup for offline use, enhancing sailing confidence.

Highlights
  • Real-time wind direction and speed
  • Points-of-sail visualization
  • Haptic feedback
  • Spoken alerts
  • Manual wind direction setup
  • Night mode
  • Apple Watch support
Features
Read full description

True Wind is a clean sailing companion that makes wind direction, wind speed, and points of sail easy to understand. Designed for sailors learning the basics or refining technique, True Wind shows real-time wind direction and sail angles relative to your heading. Instantly recognize close-hauled, beam reach, broad reach, running, tacking, and gybing with a clear visual wind display. Whether you’re learning how to sail or want a simple wind compass for your sailboat, True Wind helps you understand wind angle and boat orientation at a glance. Features • Real-time wind direction and wind speed • Clear points-of-sail visualization • Haptic feedback for all points of sail • Spoken alerts for current sail position • Manual wind direction setup for offline use • Wind change notifications (15-minute and 1-hour alerts) • Night mode with red display for night sailing • Multiple appearance modes • Metric, nautical, and imperial units • Optional sail position labels • Apple Watch support for hands-free wind awareness True Wind is intended for educational and recreational use. Always rely on proper marine navigation equipment when required. Understand the wind. Sail with confidence.

Screenshots

SailControl4 screens
True Wind4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: True Wind at none against SailControl's 2. True Wind also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 months). SailControl's advantage is iOS requirement (17.5 vs 26.2). On price, 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. SailControl sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. True Wind asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SailControl ships an update every 5 months, True Wind every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SailControl versus True Wind: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSailControlTrue Wind
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS17.5 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDefend CyberspaceChristian Munoz

In-app purchases

2 purchases

SailControl

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Annual7 Days trial$14.991 Year
None

True Wind

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SailControl free?
SailControl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is True Wind free?
True Wind is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SailControl or True Wind have ads?
Neither SailControl nor True Wind shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SailControl or True Wind?
SailControl ships an update every 5 months, and True Wind every 9 days. Most recently, SailControl was updated on October 8, 2026 and True Wind on September 30, 2026.

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