# Maptech iPlot vs AV Assistant

The clearest difference is price: AV Assistant at Free against Maptech iPlot's $39.99. AV Assistant also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.1) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). On ratings volume, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

AV Assistant is free to download; Maptech iPlot costs $39.99 up front. Maptech iPlot sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. AV Assistant asks for nothing beyond the download.

AV Assistant holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 4 respectively.

Maptech iPlot ships an update every 5 months, AV Assistant every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Maptech iPlot | AV Assistant |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $39.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.1 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maptech-iplot/id675930894/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/av-assistant/id1381484046/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 58.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 353 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 12.4 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nautical Solutions Internation](https://appshunter.io/developer/675930897) | [Clint O'Connor](https://appshunter.io/developer/1381484045) |

## What reviewers say

### Maptech iPlot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maptech-iplot/id675930894)

This app provides real-time nautical chart plotting with NOAA charts, allowing users to plan routes, set marks, and navigate seamlessly. It offers offline functionality after initial chart downloads and includes features for vessel location and route steering.

**Highlights:** Real-time NOAA nautical chart plotting, Offline chart operation, Route planning and mark creation, Fast chart quilting engine, Vessel location and anchor alarm, Route steering display

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Region 99 2015 | Free | one-time |
| Region 99 2017 | Free | one-time |
| Region 99 2018, Size: 292MBs | Free | one-time |
| Region 99 2019, Size: 292MBs | Free | one-time |
| Region 8 2014, Size: 195MBs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Region 2 2015 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Region 4 2015 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Region 7 2015 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Region 8 2015 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Region 3 2015 | $9.99 | one-time |


### AV Assistant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/av-assistant/id1381484046)

This app provides U.S. waters navigation information, displaying your location and details of surrounding aids like buoys and lights. It downloads weekly U.S. Coast Guard Light List data and includes relevant Local Notice for Mariners information. It also allows users to report discrepancies in navigation aids to the U.S. Coast Guard.

**Highlights:** Location-based aid display, U.S. Coast Guard Light List data, Local Notice for Mariners integration, Discrepancy reporting to USCG, Informational aid for U.S. waters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Maptech iPlot free?

Maptech iPlot costs $39.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is AV Assistant free?

AV Assistant is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Maptech iPlot or AV Assistant?

AV Assistant is rated higher. Maptech iPlot averages 2.1 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while AV Assistant averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Maptech iPlot or AV Assistant have ads?

Neither Maptech iPlot nor AV Assistant shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Maptech iPlot or AV Assistant?

Maptech iPlot ships an update every 5 months, and AV Assistant every 2 months. Most recently, Maptech iPlot was updated on November 1, 2026 and AV Assistant on November 2, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*