# KnowWake vs Wavve Boating

The clearest difference is rating: Wavve Boating at 4.7 against KnowWake's 4.1. Wavve Boating also leads on ratings volume (6.4K vs 250) and chart position (#16 vs unranked). KnowWake's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Wavve Boating sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. KnowWake asks for nothing beyond the download.

Wavve Boating holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Wavve Boating has 6.4K ratings behind it against 250, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of KnowWake's written reviews are positive against 52% of Wavve Boating's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

KnowWake ships an update every 11 days, Wavve Boating every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KnowWake | Wavve Boating |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (250 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knowwake/id688017646/reviews) | **[4.7 (6.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavve-boating-gps-map-chart/id1241140495/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 250 | **6.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **55.3% of reviews** | 51.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#16** |
| Size | 123 MB | 197 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Application Generation, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/571709068) | [Wavve Boating INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1241140494) |

## What reviewers say

### KnowWake

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knowwake/id688017646)

This marine navigation platform offers detailed waterway information for numerous global locations. Discover waterfront destinations, access real-time community reports on hazards and marine life, and utilize advanced navigation features for a safer and more informed boating experience.

**Highlights:** Waterfront destinations, Real-time waterway reports, Wake zone indicators, Marine weather forecasts, Anchor alarm, Location sharing, Offline mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🗺️ Comprehensive wake zone and speed restriction information
- 👍 User-friendly and intuitive interface
- 🆓 Free app with valuable features
- 📍 Accurate location data for marinas, restaurants, and fuel docks
- 🚤 Essential tool for boaters and water sports enthusiasts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing issues
- ⏱️ App becomes unstable after 30 seconds of use
- 🔌 Constant stability problems across multiple iOS versions
- ❌ Routing functionality frequently fails
- 🗺️ Limited coverage for certain regions (Great Lakes, some Florida lakes)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately upon opening
- App freezes after 30 seconds of use
- Login/registration fails or times out indefinitely
- Routing returns error messages and crashes
- Tapping on location icons does nothing or crashes app

**Requested features**

- Improved stability and crash prevention
- Course-up/heading-up map orientation option
- Depth layer integration for navigation safety
- NOAA raster charts availability
- Better routing algorithm with estimated time and distance


### Wavve Boating

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavve-boating-gps-map-chart/id1241140495)

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Grossing · Navigation, #122 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Navigate waterways with detailed nautical charts, tide predictions, and weather forecasts. Connect with a community of boaters to share points of interest and track friends on the water. Enjoy simplified GPS navigation tailored to your boat's draft.

**Highlights:** Simple GPS navigation, Customizable nautical charts, Community points of interest, Tide predictions, 7-day weather forecasts, Friend tracking (Fleets)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription (No Data) | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $11.99 | per month |
| Best Value - Wavve Boating | $69.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription (No Data) | $69.99 | per year |
| Best Value - Wavve Boating | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate navigation
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Helpful features like weather and wave data
- 🚢 Great for new and experienced boaters
- 🤝 Good customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate depth charts
- 🚫 Limited coverage for certain areas
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Forced to sign up before trying
- 🤯 Confusing login/account issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when accessing depth data
- Logged out unexpectedly, unable to log back in
- Subscription charges despite cancellation

**Requested features**

- Add more inland lake and river coverage
- Improve auto-routing capabilities
- Allow editing of saved routes
- Integrate with more boat displays
- Add social features to share trips with friends


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KnowWake free?

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

### Is Wavve Boating free?

Wavve Boating is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, KnowWake or Wavve Boating?

Wavve Boating is rated higher. KnowWake averages 4.1 out of 5 from 250 ratings, while Wavve Boating averages 4.7 from 6.4K ratings.

### Do KnowWake or Wavve Boating have ads?

Neither KnowWake nor Wavve Boating shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, KnowWake or Wavve Boating?

KnowWake ships an update every 11 days, and Wavve Boating every 6 days. Most recently, KnowWake was updated on September 24, 2026 and Wavve Boating on September 22, 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.*