# FindShip vs VesselFinder

The clearest difference is rating: VesselFinder at 4.2 against FindShip's 3.5. VesselFinder also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and chart position (#192 vs unranked). FindShip's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 28%) and ratings volume (994 vs 276). On price, update cadence, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. FindShip sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. VesselFinder asks for nothing beyond the download.

VesselFinder holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 994 and 276 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of FindShip's written reviews are positive against 28% of VesselFinder's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

FindShip ships an update every 3 weeks, VesselFinder fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | FindShip | VesselFinder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (994 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/findship-track-vessels/id768240068/reviews) | **[4.2 (276 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vesselfinder/id918080862/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **994** | 276 |
| Positive reviews | **49.8% of reviews** | 28.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#192** |
| Size | 29 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [灵芝 王](https://appshunter.io/developer/1652224026) | [AstraPaging Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/438160792) |

## What reviewers say

### FindShip

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/findship-track-vessels/id768240068)

Track any vessel's movements in real-time on a global map. Access detailed ship information, view historical data, and manage your fleet. Includes tools for ETA calculation and access to over 1000 NOAA charts.

**Highlights:** Real-time vessel tracking, Ship history tracking, Detailed ship particulars (AIS, tonnage, owner), Fleet management, ETA calculator, NOAA chart viewer

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Mile markers
- 🚀 Excellent app
- 🚀 Great for tracking ships
- 🚀 Best free app for following ships

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App freezes and crashes
- 🐛 Unreliable updates, shows outdated information
- 🔋 Too many ads, intrusive ads
- 🐛 Doesn't work on newer devices
- 🐛 Functionality removed in recent updates

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes immediately after opening
- Vessel tracking not working, shows incorrect locations
- App support link doesn't work
- Paid features not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Bring back nautical charts
- Improve reliability and real-time updates
- Reduce ads or provide ad-free option
- Better support for newer devices


### VesselFinder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vesselfinder/id918080862)

**Currently charting:** #192 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Track ships and monitor maritime traffic globally in real-time. Access detailed vessel information, movement history, and predicted routes. Ideal for maritime professionals and enthusiasts alike.

**Highlights:** Real-time vessel tracking, Vessel movement history, Predicted routes and ETAs, Comprehensive vessel particulars, Port call details, My Fleet for favorite vessels, Weather overlays

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 💰 Free version provides basic functionality
- 🗺️ Clear map display with sea blue and land green
- 📊 Comprehensive vessel information available
- ⚓ Good for casual ship tracking and hobbyists

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Severely outdated vessel position data (days old)
- 🐛 App freezes on startup/splash screen frequently
- 💸 Misleading free version with limited functionality
- 🔄 Inconsistent and unreliable data updates
- ❌ Search functionality requires paid version

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes on splash screen and won't load
- Crashes when attempting to zoom on map
- Black screen display on certain devices
- App won't open or opens after long delays
- Crashes on iOS 11 and newer versions

**Requested features**

- Real-time GPS tracking instead of delayed AIS data
- Distance measurement tool restoration
- German language support
- Destination and departure information display
- Ability to remove ads without expensive pro version


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FindShip free?

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

### Is VesselFinder free?

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

### Which has better reviews, FindShip or VesselFinder?

VesselFinder is rated higher. FindShip averages 3.5 out of 5 from 994 ratings, while VesselFinder averages 4.2 from 276 ratings.

### Do FindShip or VesselFinder have ads?

Both FindShip and VesselFinder show ads.

### Which is updated more often, FindShip or VesselFinder?

FindShip ships an update every 3 weeks, and VesselFinder fortnightly. Most recently, FindShip was updated on October 26, 2026 and VesselFinder on October 26, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*