Celestial Navigator vs Nautical Rules
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Celestial Navigator
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.
- Perpetual almanac
- Animated star finder chart
- Line of position calculation
- Meridian passage calculation
- Real-time sensor integration
- Celestial object data
Read full descriptionHide full description
Celestial Navigation Calculator with - perpetual Almanac - star finder chart with animation. Use phone sensor for altitude. - calculation of lines of position ( intercept/delta ) - celestial object data - meridian passage calculation - running fix support - astronomical position calculations with two or more altitude observations - Hipparchus 150 star catalog - World chart with lines and position Program can be set to use device's sensors (gyro, compass) to position the star finder chart in real time. Capture celestial object approximate altitude. Correct Altitude with a Marine Sextant reading (not included). You still need a marine sextant to do celestial navigation, but the phone sensors may be used for training. Software for iPhone and iPad, with the same features. e-book with manual and celestial navigation tutorial.
Nautical Rules
Master USCG Navigation Rules with a comprehensive question bank and smart study features. Track your progress, practice for exams, and study offline to navigate with confidence.
- 1,200+ practice questions
- Inland and International waters coverage
- Detailed explanations
- Customizable tests
- Offline study capability
- Progress tracking dashboard
- Accuracy by rule statistics
Read full descriptionHide full description
Nautical Rules is the ultimate study companion for mastering the USCG Navigation Rules (COLREGS). Whether you're preparing for your captain's license exam or refreshing your maritime knowledge, this app provides everything you need to succeed. COMPREHENSIVE QUESTION BANK - Over 1,200 practice questions covering all Navigation Rules - Questions for both Inland and International waters - Covers Steering & Sailing Rules, Lights & Shapes, Sound Signals, and more - Detailed explanations SMART STUDY FEATURES - Take customizable tests with 10, 25, 50, or 100 questions - Practice mode with immediate feedback and explanations - Focus Area suggestions to target your weakest rules - Bookmark questions for later review - Review your mistakes to reinforce learning TRACK YOUR PROGRESS - Activity dashboard with test history and statistics - See your accuracy by rule (Rule 1, Rule 2, etc.) - Track your study streak and mastery level - View detailed results for each completed test DESIGNED FOR MARINERS - Clean, intuitive interface optimized for study sessions - No internet connection required - study anywhere - All questions based on official USCG Navigation Rules - Perfect for captains, SWO, sailors, and maritime professionals Whether you're studying for the USCG license exam, improving your seamanship skills, or just want to stay sharp on the water, Nautical Rules gives you the tools to succeed. Download now and navigate with confidence! --- Note: This app is an educational study aid and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Coast Guard. For official rules and regulations, consult the official USCG Navigation Rules publications.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Nautical Rules at 100% against Celestial Navigator's 43%. Nautical Rules also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.0) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months). Celestial Navigator's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Nautical Rules holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Celestial Navigator's written reviews are positive against 100% of Nautical Rules's.
Celestial Navigator ships an update every 9 months, Nautical Rules every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Celestial Navigator | Nautical Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.0 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Omar reis | Joseph Kim |
Customer experience
Celestial Navigator
Nautical Rules
In-app purchases
Celestial Navigator
No in-app purchases
Nautical Rules
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Celestial Navigator free?
Is Nautical Rules free?
Which has better reviews, Celestial Navigator or Nautical Rules?
Do Celestial Navigator or Nautical Rules have ads?
Which is updated more often, Celestial Navigator or Nautical Rules?
Other comparisons















