# Celestial Navigator vs Mariner Studio

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mariner Studio at 100% against Celestial Navigator's 43%. Mariner Studio also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.0) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 9 months). Celestial Navigator's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.4). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mariner Studio sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Celestial Navigator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mariner Studio holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Celestial Navigator's written reviews are positive against 100% of Mariner Studio's.

Celestial Navigator ships an update every 9 months, Mariner Studio every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Celestial Navigator | Mariner Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestial-navigator/id696927722/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mariner-studio/id6744251295/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 32 MB | 278 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 18.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Omar reis](https://appshunter.io/developer/687921629) | [Osprey Applications LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1619576372) |

## What reviewers say

### Celestial Navigator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/celestial-navigator/id696927722)

This app assists with celestial navigation training by providing a perpetual almanac, star finder chart with animation, and tools for calculating lines of position and meridian passages. It can utilize device sensors for real-time chart positioning, though a marine sextant is still required for actual navigation.

**Highlights:** Perpetual almanac, Animated star finder chart, Line of position calculation, Meridian passage calculation, Real-time sensor integration, Celestial object data

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mariner Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mariner-studio/id6744251295)

Plan safe and efficient voyages with real-time marine data, interactive maps, and comprehensive weather forecasts. Study for FCC and USCG exams with extensive question banks and practice modes. Features smart route planning, tidal predictions, and navigation aid information.

**Highlights:** Interactive marine maps with live data, Intelligent route and voyage planning, Comprehensive marine weather forecasts, FCC & USCG exam preparation, Tidal height and current predictions, Navigation aid and marine facility database, Seamless data sync across devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mariner Pro Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Mariner Studio Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Mariner Studio Pro Annual | $34.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Celestial Navigator free?

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

### Is Mariner Studio free?

Mariner Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Celestial Navigator or Mariner Studio?

Mariner Studio is rated higher. Celestial Navigator averages 2.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Mariner Studio averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Celestial Navigator or Mariner Studio have ads?

Neither Celestial Navigator nor Mariner Studio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Celestial Navigator or Mariner Studio?

Celestial Navigator ships an update every 9 months, and Mariner Studio every 2 weeks. Most recently, Celestial Navigator was updated on September 25, 2026 and Mariner Studio on October 14, 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.*