# KnowWake vs Nautical Charts & Maps

The clearest difference is price: KnowWake at Free against Nautical Charts & Maps's $8.99. KnowWake also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 2 months). Nautical Charts & Maps's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (3.8K vs 273). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

KnowWake is free to download; Nautical Charts & Maps costs $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Nautical Charts & Maps holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nautical Charts & Maps has 3.8K ratings behind it against 273, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 55% of KnowWake's written reviews are positive against 49% of Nautical Charts & Maps'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, Nautical Charts & Maps every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | KnowWake | Nautical Charts & Maps |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $8.99 |
| Rating | [4.0 (273 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knowwake/id688017646/reviews) | **[4.6 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nautical-charts-and-maps/id1420774597/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 273 | **3.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **55.3% of reviews** | 49.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | — | **#31** |
| Size | 123 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Application Generation, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/571709068) | [LW Brands, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/963599018) |

## 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


### Nautical Charts & Maps

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nautical-charts-and-maps/id1420774597)

**Currently charting:** #31 Top Paid · Navigation (US App Store)

Access NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) for offline marine navigation. View detailed information like buoys, depths, and port features. Overlay NOAA weather maps including radar, sea temperature, and wind data.

**Highlights:** NOAA Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC), Offline chart downloads, Detailed chart information, NOAA Weather Map Overlays, Weather radar, Sea surface temperature, Wind speed and direction

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Good performance
- 💡 Useful for planning and navigation
- 🗺️ Detailed charts
- 💰 Good value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🗺️ Limited chart coverage
- 🔍 Lack of advanced features (plotting, routing, etc.)
- 🔍 Poor user interface and interactivity
- 💰 Overpriced in some cases

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch or when downloading charts
- Rendering issues when zooming or panning the map
- Incorrect or missing chart data in certain areas

**Requested features**

- Add more chart coverage, especially for inland waterways and Canadian regions
- Implement advanced navigation tools like route planning, waypoints, and distance measurement
- Improve user interface and add more customization options
- Provide better support and responsiveness from the developer


## Frequently asked questions

### Is KnowWake free?

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

### Is Nautical Charts & Maps free?

Nautical Charts & Maps costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, KnowWake or Nautical Charts & Maps?

Nautical Charts & Maps is rated higher. KnowWake averages 4.0 out of 5 from 273 ratings, while Nautical Charts & Maps averages 4.6 from 3.8K ratings.

### Do KnowWake or Nautical Charts & Maps have ads?

Neither KnowWake nor Nautical Charts & Maps shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, KnowWake or Nautical Charts & Maps?

KnowWake ships an update every 11 days, and Nautical Charts & Maps every 2 months. Most recently, KnowWake was updated on October 21, 2026 and Nautical Charts & Maps on October 29, 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.*