River Thames Guide Lite vs Canal Maps
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
River Thames Guide Lite
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.
- Interactive River Map
- Journey Planner (time, distance, locks)
- Lock Details
- Bridge Headway Information
- Weather Forecasts
- Current River Conditions
- Boating Rules and Emergency Guidance
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The complete planner and guide for travel and leisure on the River Thames (from its source to the Thames Barrier) and the Wey Navigation including where you can go, how you get there and what’s on the way - includes these key features: Thames Map and Guide: •Interactive River Map* •Journey Planner: time (at 5, 3 , 1 mph), distance and number of locks between any two of 102 River Thames points (45 on Wey) •Locks: need to know detail on every lock •Bridges: headway in metres and feet •River draught (depth of water) •Weather for selected locations* •Current river conditions (non-tidal and tidal)* Boating Advice: •Rules for the River •Preventing Problems •Emergency Help and Guidance (RNLI approved) INTERACTIVE RIVER MAP*: pinch or squeeze to zoom to the required level of detail. Add any combination of locks, moorings, boatyards, fuel, marinas, pubs, restaurants, lodgings, sanitation, fishing, emergency RVP and/or bridges; tapping any icon pops up further details including phone number, post code, maximum stay etc (where available). JOURNEY PLANNER: select a starting point and destination from the supplied list of 102 landmarks (including locks, marinas, moorings, bridges and places of interest (from Lechlade to the Thames Barrier) and immediately see the sailing distance, direction (up or downstream), sailing time (at 5 mph, 3 mph and 1 mph) and the number of locks to transit to complete your journey; Wey navigation planner features 45 locations. LOCK FEATURES: every Thames lock is listed in order from Cricklade Bridge to Teddington with distance to next lock both up and downstream. Touch any lock to see much more information including: telephone number; post code; lock type; width, drop and length; lock keeper’s hours; facilities available (such as WC, water, pump out etc). From the lock detail just tap to highlight this lock in the middle of the interactive map. Portage Maps for Sonning to Teddington locks. BRIDGE HEADWAY: every bridge listed in order with headway in feet and metres; bridge headways are colour coded for ease of use and instant check to see if you need to lower any masts. WEATHER*: select one of 20 location on the river for an up-to-date weather forecast for today and tomorrow (includes temperature, winds, humidity, visibility, sunrise and sunset). Requires an Internet connection. The weather page includes the current nautical twilight (the correct time to strike your ensign). CURRENT RIVER CONDITIONS*: for safer river use always verify the current official conditions before setting off; non-tidal conditions are provided by the Environment Agency (the River Thames authority) and categorised as Red, Yellow or Green – tap to view an explanation of the colours. Tidal conditions are provided by the Port of London Authority. Includes current and planned river closures and river restrictions. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY: River Thames Guide includes an SOS section with information, endorsed by the RNLI, on how to deal with various problems including: Man Overboard; Boat Sinking; Boat on Fire; Boat Drifting. NOTE: these sections should be studied before embarking so that you can react properly to any emergency. Better still: take an appropriate course before using the river. HELP: every page contains tips on using River Thames Guide to help plan your journey, find somewhere to eat or stay, using the map, and more. * requires an active Internet connection
Canal Maps
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Canal Maps is an offline-first navigation app for the UK's inland waterways. Browse detailed maps of major canals and navigable rivers, find points of interest along your route, and keep your bearings — with or without a mobile signal. Features: • Detailed maps of UK canals and navigable rings including the Avon Ring, Cheshire Ring, and more • Points of interest: locks, bridges, pubs, wharves, marinas, services, and visitor moorings • Photos for canal points of interest • Search for specific points of interest by name • Canal traders and fuel boats near your route • My Places: save your own private points of interest with custom icons • Your GPS position shown live on the map — all data processed on-device, never transmitted • Works offline after initial data download Whether you're planning a narrowboat holiday or already on the water, Canal Maps keeps the information you need close at hand.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Canal Maps at fortnightly against River Thames Guide Lite's every 6 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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.
River Thames Guide Lite ships an update every 6 weeks, Canal Maps fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | River Thames Guide Lite | Canal Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 92.9% of reviews | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 178 MB | 55 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jeff Maynard | DAVID ANTHONY FLOYD |
In-app purchases
River Thames Guide Lite
No in-app purchases
Canal Maps
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is River Thames Guide Lite free?
Is Canal Maps free?
Do River Thames Guide Lite or Canal Maps have ads?
Which is updated more often, River Thames Guide Lite or Canal Maps?
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