# River Thames Guide Lite vs WaterNav

The clearest difference is review sentiment: River Thames Guide Lite at 93% against WaterNav's 13%. WaterNav's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (15 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

River Thames Guide Lite ships an update every 6 weeks, WaterNav fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | River Thames Guide Lite | WaterNav |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.2 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waternav/id1554872132/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **6** |
| Positive reviews | **92.9% of reviews** | 12.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 178 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jeff Maynard](https://appshunter.io/developer/320977741) | [River Canal Rescue Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1166619647) |

## What reviewers say

### River Thames Guide Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/river-thames-guide-lite/id771010458)

Navigate and plan your journeys on the River Thames and Wey Navigation with this comprehensive guide. Discover points of interest, lock details, bridge clearances, and real-time river conditions. Essential information for boaters and travelers.

**Highlights:** Interactive River Map, Journey Planner (time, distance, locks), Lock Details, Bridge Headway Information, Weather Forecasts, Current River Conditions, Boating Rules and Emergency Guidance

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### WaterNav

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/waternav/id1554872132)

This app provides offline waterway maps and navigation tools, displaying points of interest, locks, bridges, and closures. It offers route planning with customizable journey times and speed, and includes special features for River Canal Rescue members.

**Highlights:** Offline map access, Real-time GPS location tracking, Points of interest display, Waterway information (locks, bridges, closures), Route planning with customizable options, Exclusive RCR member features

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is River Thames Guide Lite free?

River Thames Guide Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is WaterNav free?

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

### Do River Thames Guide Lite or WaterNav have ads?

Neither River Thames Guide Lite nor WaterNav shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, River Thames Guide Lite or WaterNav?

River Thames Guide Lite ships an update every 6 weeks, and WaterNav fortnightly. Most recently, River Thames Guide Lite was updated on October 15, 2026 and WaterNav on October 13, 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.*