Comparison

ClearDepth vs BuoyPilot

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

Head to head
About

ClearDepth

This app provides real-time hazard information for boaters and lake-goers, showing submerged dangers and shallow spots on interactive maps. It automatically adjusts hazard severity based on current water levels, enhancing safety on the water.

Highlights
  • Community-reported hazards on interactive maps
  • Real-time water level adjustments
  • Proximity alerts for flagged areas
  • Per-lake community chat
  • Support for 150+ US lakes
Features
Read full description

ClearDepth is the water safety app built for boaters and lake-goers who want to know what's beneath the surface before they get there. Whether you're anchoring in a cove, letting the kids jump in, or navigating unfamiliar water, ClearDepth shows you hazards reported by other boaters in real time: submerged rocks, shallow spots, blind turns, debris, and more. And because water levels change, ClearDepth automatically adjusts the severity of every hazard based on current conditions. A rock that's harmless at high water becomes a serious threat when levels drop. Features: Community-reported hazards on interactive lake maps Real-time water level data that updates hazard severity automatically Proximity alerts that notify you as you approach a flagged area Per-lake community chat to connect with boaters on the same water Support for 150+ lakes across the United States ClearDepth is built on the idea that boaters looking out for each other makes everyone safer. Every report you add helps the next person on the water.

About

BuoyPilot

Discover lake hazards, report obstructions, and check conditions with a community-powered safety map. Access weather radar, lake levels, and fishing insights. Upgrade for offline maps and advanced fishing tools.

Highlights
  • Community-powered lake safety map
  • Report and view lake hazards
  • Weather radar and lake conditions
  • Fishing insights and AI fish IDs
  • Offline lake maps (Pro)
  • Day planning tools
Read full description

BuoyPilot helps boaters discover lake hazards, report obstructions, check lake conditions, view fishing insights, and contribute to a growing community-powered lake safety map. Boating conditions can change fast. Stumps, rocks, shallow areas, debris, and other hazards may appear or become harder to see as water levels change. BuoyPilot gives lake users a simple way to mark hazards, view community reports, and improve awareness on the water. Add a report by placing a pin on a lake map, even when you are not nearby. Choose an icon such as a tree, rock, stump, or no-wake buoy, share how you know about it, and help confirm other reports. Community reports may be uncertain, outdated, or incomplete; they are not a substitute for safe navigation. Plan your time on the lake with helpful tools for weather radar, lake levels, bathymetry on supported lakes, marinas, fuel reports, day planning, and Fishing Intelligence. Fishing Intelligence can show known fish at supported lakes, current fishing outlooks, recommended approaches, lure and bait ideas, water clarity, fishing factors, and forecast windows. Free features include weather radar, bathymetry on supported lakes, basic forecasts, 3 AI fish IDs per month, and up to 25 saved catches. Optional BuoyPilot Pro features include up to 10 offline lakes, fishing zones on supported lakes, detailed weather and Day Planner, 50 AI fish IDs per month, and unlimited catch entries. BuoyPilot is community based and still growing. Always use caution, follow local regulations, and verify official boating, fishing, weather, and water-level information before making decisions on the water. BuoyPilot Pro Subscription BuoyPilot Pro is an optional auto-renewing subscription that unlocks Pro features including up to 10 offline lakes, fishing zones on supported lakes, detailed weather and Day Planner, 50 AI fish IDs per month, and unlimited catch entries. Pro Monthly: $4.99 per month Pro Annual: $39.99 per year Payment will be charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://buoypilot.com/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

ClearDepth4 screens
BuoyPilot4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ClearDepth at none against BuoyPilot's 2. ClearDepth also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs fortnightly) and ratings volume (53 vs 4). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. BuoyPilot sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. ClearDepth asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for ClearDepth against 5.0 for BuoyPilot. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ClearDepth has 53 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ClearDepth ships an update every 6 days, BuoyPilot fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
ClearDepth versus BuoyPilot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterClearDepthBuoyPilot
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (53 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings53 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB129 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperPoint 6 LLCElk Ridge Systems LLC

Customer experience

ClearDepth

All ratings53 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

BuoyPilot

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

ClearDepth

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

BuoyPilot

Subscriptions2
  • BuoyPilot Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • BuoyPilot Pro Annual7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is ClearDepth free?
ClearDepth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BuoyPilot free?
BuoyPilot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ClearDepth or BuoyPilot?
BuoyPilot is rated higher. ClearDepth averages 5.0 out of 5 from 53 ratings, while BuoyPilot averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do ClearDepth or BuoyPilot have ads?
Neither ClearDepth nor BuoyPilot shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ClearDepth or BuoyPilot?
ClearDepth ships an update every 6 days, and BuoyPilot fortnightly. Most recently, ClearDepth was updated on October 31, 2026 and BuoyPilot on November 10, 2026.

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