Comparison

Sail Scan vs SailViewer

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

Head to head
About

Sail Scan

This app uses your phone's camera to analyze sail shape by reading trim stripes. It provides detailed measurements like camber depth, draft position, and twist, helping sailors make real-time adjustments to improve speed and performance. Save your scans, build a library, and connect rig settings to your progress on the water.

Highlights
  • AI-powered sail shape analysis
  • Measures camber depth, draft position, and twist
  • Works on mainsails and jibs
  • Real-time adjustments
  • Save and build sail scan library
  • Compare scans and track settings
Features
Read full description

SailScan is currently in beta. SailScan turns your iPhone into a sail shape analyzer. SailScan's computer vision reads the trim stripes to measure what your eyes can't quantify. Measurements include: • CAMBER DEPTH — how much shape you're carrying, stripe by stripe • DRAFT POSITION — where the depth sits, front to back • TWIST — how the top opens relative to the boom SailScan works on mainsails and jibs, from small one-design boats to grand prix racers and superyachts. Make real-time adjustments, save your scans, build your library, and start connecting your rig settings to increase speed and progress on the water. WHY IT MATTERS Good trimmers develop an eye over decades. SailScan gives you the numbers behind that eye—so you can repeat fast settings, compare tack to tack, and debrief with data instead of memory. HOW IT WORKS 1. Photograph your sail (main or jib) from below 2. SailScan detects the stripes and calculates shape metrics 3. Review, adjust, and save your scans 4. Compare scans across the day—track every setting change BUILT BY SAILORS SailScan was built by people who race and trim for a living. Join us!

About

SailViewer

Features
Read full description

SailViewer turns sailing GPS and instrument logs into an interactive debrief on iPhone and iPad. Import a supported sailing file, choose the logs you want to open, and explore the race from several angles: • Track views with boats, courses, selections, and optional map backgrounds • Tables and graphs for comparing selected values • Polar analysis for speed and angle relationships • Start, Race, Boat, and Maneuvers views when supported by the data • Local image sharing from supported analysis windows SailViewer includes synthetic sample logs. Samples start closed, so you decide when to open them. You can import SW2, SLV, GPX, KML, NMEA, VTK, FIT, VKX, supported CSV sources, and supported ZIP archives. Your imported sailing files stay on your device unless you explicitly share them. Ordinary iPhones, including large iPhones, have permanently free local access and do not require weekly license checks. All iPads, including iPad mini, and this iPad app running on an Apple-silicon Mac are free through 31 December 2026. These devices require an internet connection for initial activation and at least once every seven days. Free access ends on 1 January 2027 at 00:00 UTC, when a paid subscription will be required. Purchasing will require a future app update; this release cannot take payments. There is no automatic charge. If access expires, your local library is retained. Optional error reports and usage summaries are off by default. Support reports are sent only when you choose to send them, and original sailing logs are not attached automatically. This is the new SailViewer app and is separate from the legacy SailViewer/TruSailViewer product. Automatic transfer from the legacy app is not promised; keep your original files and import supported formats into this app.

Screenshots

Sail Scan4 screens
SailViewer3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Sail Scan at 15.1 against SailViewer's 17.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Sail Scan versus SailViewer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSail ScanSailViewer
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyDaily—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSail Scan LLCMaster Sailing jdoo

In-app purchases

None

Sail Scan

No in-app purchases

None

SailViewer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sail Scan free?
Sail Scan is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SailViewer free?
SailViewer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Sail Scan or SailViewer have ads?
Neither Sail Scan nor SailViewer shows ads.

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