Comparison

KnowWake vs Float LKN

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

Head to head
About

KnowWake

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
Read full description

KnowWake is a FREE marine navigation platform packed with waterfront destinations in the United States, Canada, Caribbean, Mexico, South Africa, United Kingdom, parts of Europe, Arabian Peninsula and NOW all of Australia and New Zealand!! Salt and freshwater points of interest include 50,000+ VERIFIED: restaurants, marinas, fuel docks, yacht clubs, lodging, vessel services, dive shops, boat ramps, dive & snorkel areas, bridges, locks, popular spots, town docks, anchorages, inlets and more! KnowWake also uses real-time waterway reports from the community to see and share things like hazards, marine life, police and other important information. Features include: · Wake zones - Simplified, color-coded waterways · Marine Weather Suite - Current and forecasted marine conditions · NAVAIDS - Navigation Channel Markers, Buoys & Beacons · Anchor Alarm - Get notified if your vessel moves outside of a predetermined area · Virtual Dive Flag - Alert other vessels of swimmers in the water · Routing - Point to point waterway routing with distance to location · Depth - See depth based on current NOAA bathymetry charts · Location sharing - Share location with a single person, group or everyone · Vessel Tracks - Leave tracks along the way to see or share later · Offline mode - Use KnowWake anywhere, even with bad network service · Augmented Reality - See what's ahead including all KnowWake points of interest · Safety First - An SOS button, Safety Checklists and Float Plan generator Sharing with friends is easier than ever. Simply click the share button on any point, route or favorite location and choose who you want to share it with - This feature is perfect to retrace steps, show friends how to get somewhere or just share your adventures. Adding to the chart helps everyone. Whether posting a waterway report, adding a missing point or updating an existing one, you can help keep the chart current with local knowledge. Thank you to everyone helping keep the chart updated and we'll see you on the water soon!!

About

Float LKN

Navigate Lake Norman with this boating app. Discover marinas, boat launches, and restaurants, and save your favorite spots. Customize your map views and access real-time lake information.

Highlights
  • Navigate Lake Norman
  • Discover marinas and restaurants
  • Save favorite spots
  • Create custom places
  • Real-time lake news and weather
  • Customizable map styles
  • Map overlays for fuel docks and launches
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Lake Norman’s go-to boating map and lake guide app. Explore Lake Norman with confidence. Discover marinas, boat launches, waterfront restaurants, fuel docks, hangout spots, and more. Save your favorite places, record your time on the water, and share your adventures with friends and family. Whether you're new to the lake or out every weekend, Float LKN helps you learn your way around and make the most of your day on the water. Favorites Save marinas, restaurants, boat launches, and other go-to spots for quick access anytime. Places Create your own custom places on the map. Mark quiet coves, surfing areas, fishing spots, sandbars, or favorite hangouts and keep them organized your way. Locate Yourself Instantly Quickly see your location on the lake and orient yourself with ease. Current Stay updated with lake news, water level, water temperature, and weather forecasts. Choose Your Map Style Switch between multiple map styles including standard, satellite, and dark mode views. Map Overlays Toggle overlays for fuel docks, boat launches, markers, and other useful lake information. Float+ Features Tracks Record your day on the water and save your path to revisit later. Live Sessions Share your live location with friends and family using a simple link or code. 3D Map Mode View the lake in perspective with terrain and depth for a more immersive experience on the water. Float LKN is designed to help you explore and enjoy Lake Norman, not provide turn-by-turn marine navigation. Always operate responsibly and use proper marine charts and equipment when boating. Terms of Use - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

KnowWake4 screens
Float LKN4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: KnowWake at Free against Float LKN's $2.99. KnowWake also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ratings volume (250 vs 9). Float LKN's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 4.1) and chart position (#21 vs unranked). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads 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

KnowWake is free to download; Float LKN costs $2.99 up front. Float LKN sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. KnowWake asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Float LKN holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KnowWake has 250 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of KnowWake's written reviews are positive against 57% of Float LKN's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KnowWake ships an update every 11 days, Float LKN every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
KnowWake versus Float LKN: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKnowWakeFloat LKN
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.1 (250 ratings)4.4 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.3% of reviews57.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings250 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 11 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#21 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size123 MB81 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperApplication Generation, IncJason Sanford

Customer experience

KnowWake

All ratings250 ratings
Positive74.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative22.0%
Written reviews103 reviews
Positive55.3%
Neutral4.9%
Negative39.8%

Float LKN

All ratings9 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative28.6%

Bugs and requests

KnowWake

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • 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
Show 9 more
  • Filtering options don't work (removed items still appear)
  • Depth chart feature returns 'error tap on water area' message
  • Freshwater/saltwater detection incorrect
  • NOAA overlay charts work once then fail
  • Vessel picture change causes symbol display issues
  • Buoy recognition inconsistent (only recognizes one random buoy)
  • Contact form CAPTCHA rejects valid input
  • App won't load or appear in app list after download
  • Force closing and random shutdowns

Requested features

12 requests
  • 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
Show 7 more
  • Ability to save multiple vessel profiles
  • Layer on/off toggle functionality
  • Bridge information with contact details and height specifications
  • Water amenities for canal boaters (water points, Elsan disposal, pump out sites)
  • Improved filtering system that actually works
  • Better icon explanations or legend
  • Expanded lake coverage in central Florida and other regions

Float LKN

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

KnowWake

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Float LKN

Subscriptions2
  • Float+ Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Float+ Annual$19.991 Year

Questions

Is KnowWake free?
KnowWake is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Float LKN free?
Float LKN costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, KnowWake or Float LKN?
Float LKN is rated higher. KnowWake averages 4.1 out of 5 from 250 ratings, while Float LKN averages 4.4 from 9 ratings.
Do KnowWake or Float LKN have ads?
Neither KnowWake nor Float LKN shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KnowWake or Float LKN?
KnowWake ships an update every 11 days, and Float LKN every 2 weeks. Most recently, KnowWake was updated on September 24, 2026 and Float LKN on September 11, 2026.

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