Comparison

Whale Tracker vs Salty

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

Head to head
About

Whale Tracker

Discover real-time, verified whale and shark sightings worldwide on a live map. Receive proximity alerts, track individual whales, and explore migration routes. Ideal for whale watchers, boaters, and ocean enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Live sightings map
  • Proximity alerts
  • Track individual whales
  • Worldwide coverage
  • Migration routes
  • Captain Mode for boaters
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

See whales — in real time. Whale Tracker turns every coastline into a live map of what's out there right now — verified whale sightings near you, reported by a trusted community of spotters, captains, and researchers worldwide. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Live sightings map — orca, humpback, blue, sperm, grey, fin & southern right whales • Sightings near you — see what's been spotted on your coast today • Proximity alerts — get notified the moment a whale is near, by species and radius • Follow individual whales — know when one you're tracking is seen again • Worldwide coverage — USA, Canada, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Iceland, the Azores, Japan, UK & dozens more • Migration routes — follow the giants as they travel • Captain Mode — live chart with real-time proximity alerts & speed warnings for boaters • Listen Live — hear orcas and humpbacks on live underwater microphones • Whale news & articles — whale science, conservation & current sightings Whether you're whale watching, boating, fishing, or just love the ocean, Whale Tracker puts the sea in your pocket. Download and see what's swimming near you today. Auto-Renewable Subscription Some features require an active subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at purchase confirmation. Subscriptions auto-renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/orca-spotter-privacy-policy/home

About

Salty

Features
Read full description

Get Salty is the community-powered guide to the Salish Sea — built for mariners, paddlers, ferry travellers, and coastal explorers who want to know before they dock. From the Gulf Islands to Puget Sound, the Pacific Northwest coast is best navigated with local knowledge. Get Salty connects you to that knowledge in real time, surfacing live updates from the marinas, boaters, and coastal communities already on the water.

Screenshots

Whale Tracker3 screens
Salty4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Salty at none against Whale Tracker's 15. Whale Tracker's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months) and chart position (#180 vs unranked). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Whale Tracker sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Salty asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Whale Tracker ships an update every 2 weeks, Salty every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Whale Tracker versus Salty: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWhale TrackerSalty
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (28 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings28 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#180 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB62 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSTEPHEN VICTOR HARTthe number

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Whale Tracker

Subscriptions9
  • Whale Tracker Monthly2 variants$3.991 Month
  • Whale Tracker Premium Monthly2 variants$4.991 Month
  • Whale Tracker Monthly2 variants$4.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Whale Tracker Premium Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Whale Tracker Yearly$14.991 Year
  • Whale Tracker Premium Yearly2 variants$19.991 Year
  • Whale Tracker Yearly2 variants$19.991 Year
  • Whale Tracker Yearly$22.991 Year
  • Whale Tracker Premium Yearly$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Unlock everything forever.$64.99
None

Salty

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Whale Tracker free?
Whale Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Salty free?
Salty is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Whale Tracker or Salty have ads?
Neither Whale Tracker nor Salty shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Whale Tracker or Salty?
Whale Tracker ships an update every 2 weeks, and Salty every 4 months. Most recently, Whale Tracker was updated on October 30, 2026 and Salty on October 28, 2026.

Other comparisons