Comparison

KnowWake vs ClearDepth

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

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.

Screenshots

KnowWake4 screens
ClearDepth4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ClearDepth at 100% against KnowWake's 55%. ClearDepth also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.1). KnowWake's advantage is ratings volume (250 vs 53) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ClearDepth holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 250 and 53 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of KnowWake's written reviews are positive against 100% of ClearDepth's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KnowWake ships an update every 11 days, ClearDepth every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
KnowWake versus ClearDepth: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKnowWakeClearDepth
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (250 ratings)5.0 (53 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings250 — better53
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size123 MB37 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperApplication Generation, IncPoint 6 LLC

Customer experience

KnowWake

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

ClearDepth

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

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

ClearDepth

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

KnowWake

No in-app purchases

None

ClearDepth

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is KnowWake free?
KnowWake is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ClearDepth free?
ClearDepth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, KnowWake or ClearDepth?
ClearDepth is rated higher. KnowWake averages 4.1 out of 5 from 250 ratings, while ClearDepth averages 5.0 from 53 ratings.
Do KnowWake or ClearDepth have ads?
Neither KnowWake nor ClearDepth shows ads.
Which is updated more often, KnowWake or ClearDepth?
KnowWake ships an update every 11 days, and ClearDepth every 6 days. Most recently, KnowWake was updated on October 13, 2026 and ClearDepth on October 7, 2026.

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