Comparison

PassageMaker vs Mercury Marine

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

PassageMaker

Access a wealth of information for trawler enthusiasts and long-range cruisers. Discover resources for purchasing and building various boat types, and stay informed about the latest in marine technology and events.

Highlights
  • Offline reading of downloaded issues
  • Customizable reading modes (light, dark, sepia)
  • Adjustable font sizes
  • Interactive table of contents
  • Bookmark saved articles
Features
Read full description

PASSAGEMAKER is the trusted authority for 30+ years for trawler enthusiasts and long-range cruisers who live to venture beyond the reef. Rely on resources for purchase and building traditional or custom trawlers, plus multihulls, pilothouse, and bluewater motorsailers. Stay updated with the latest in engines, electronics, gear, and events. Site: https://PassageMaker.com FEATURES: -Optimized for Your Device: Enjoy a smooth, browser-friendly experience. -Offline Reading: Download issues to your device browser to read anytime, even without wifi. -Bookmarks: Save articles to revisit later. -Text View: Switch to a responsive reading view for comfort. -Reading Modes: Customize background (light, dark, sepia, gray) and adjust font size. -Interactive Table of Contents: Easily jump between articles. NOTE: When purchasing a subscription or single copy of this title, you agree to the privacy and policy and terms of use which can be viewed at http://Firecrown.com/Privacy-Policy and http://Firecrown.com/Terms-of-Use. PASSAGEMAKER publishes 8 issues a year, but reserves the right to change the number of issues in an annual term, including discontinuing any format and substituting and/or modifying the manner in which the subscription is distributed. Apple iOS Subscriptions: Subscription(s) will automatically renew via your Apple Account prior to the end of your subscription term. You can turn off the Apple auto-renew feature up to 24-hours before the end of your subscription by going into Apple Account Settings. Subscriptions cannot be cancelled during the active subscription period.

About

Mercury Marine

This app enhances boating experiences by providing real-time vessel data, trip planning tools, and maintenance tracking. It acts as a digital hub for managing your boat's performance, fuel, and safety, even without a direct module connection.

Highlights
  • Live Data & Gauges
  • Range and Runtime Estimate
  • Descriptive Alarms
  • Track & Log Maintenance
  • Digital Mapping/Chart
  • Boating Checklists
  • Preferred Dealer Connection
Features
Read full description

The Mercury Marine app is the ultimate boating companion for Mercury Marine owners providing you with the convenience to track and manage all aspects of your vessel’s Mercury propulsion system from one location. Use the app to view important information about your product as well as enable all your Mercury connected products to view live VesselView engine data, lock & unlock your vessel, and much more from your mobile device. The Mercury Marine app can be used alone or connect via Bluetooth to SmartCraft Connect Mobile, SmartCraft Connect level 2 & 3, or VesselView Mobile Module to maximize your experience. Stay Informed. All you need is your engine serial number to create a profile, establish yourself as the owner and then access important information like warranty status, owner's manuals, product videos, tutorials, and more Stay on top of maintenance needs as well as quickly access maintenance parts and spec information Use the map feature to locate various points of interest including your nearest Mercury Authorized dealer, marinas, fuel, and restaurants Look up alarm code descriptions Live Engine Data* When connected to SmartCraft Connect or VesselView Mobile hardware, boaters can monitor vital propulsion information with precision and accuracy with VesselView data on your mobile device Customize your live data view to track the most important information for you time on the water Zero in on your fuel management using the fuel tracking page to monitor current burn rates as well as predicting the remaining distances Test performance of your vessel using the Holeshot feature and see the true performance of your vessel. Convenience & Security* With the NEW Mercury Marine Keyless hardware, use the Mercury Marine App to effortlessly unlock or lock your boat without the need for physical keys. Proximity lock & unlock turns your phone into a mobile key without needing to remove anything from your pocket. Claim ownership and grant guest access or restrict access to your vessel Stay Informed* When connected, your mobile device will automatically receive descriptive alarms no longer requiring you to decipher alarm codes or beeps. Track & Log Maintenance specific to your engine as well as receive reminders. Handy range rings use your GPS location and actual fuel burn to show how far you can go with the fuel or battery charge remaining. More to Explore Set-up and manage various configuration settings Boating Checklists – Access checklists for pre-departure, aquatic invasive species prevention and more. Digital Compass to ensure you are never lost on the water Local Weather Forecasts * To access these features requires a Bluetooth connection Important Information · The Mercury Marine App is free to install on your mobile device for any Mercury owner · To access engine data features, app requires a SmartCraft® Connect or VesselView Mobile module installed on your Mercury Marine powered vessel · To access keyless features, app requires a SmartCraft® Connect and the Mercury Keyless system to be installed on your Mercury Marine powered vessel SmartCraft Connect is compatible with Mercury Outboards & Mercruiser Engines –2004 and newer, 40hp and above; 2022 and newer, 25hp and above Avator Electric Outboards – Compatible with all modules; The SmartCraft Connect module is included on Avator 20e & above; Available for purchase with the Avator 7.5e outboard · Continued use of GPS and Bluetooth running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life · Range and runtime data are only estimates. Weather conditions, boat and load can impact results · The app’s GPS charts are not intended to be your sole source of navigation

Screenshots

PassageMaker4 screens
Mercury Marine4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: PassageMaker at 4.2 against Mercury Marine's 1.6. Mercury Marine's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 47). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PassageMaker sells 47 in-app purchases, starting at $27.00 per year. Mercury Marine asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PassageMaker holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 52 and 37 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 7% of PassageMaker's written reviews are positive against 9% of Mercury Marine's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
PassageMaker versus Mercury Marine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPassageMakerMercury Marine
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (52 ratings) — better1.6 (37 ratings)
Positive reviews6.7% of reviews9.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings52 — better37
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.2
Further details — not scored
Size89 MB156 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperFlying Media Group, LLCMercury Marine LLC

Customer experience

PassageMaker

All ratings52 ratings
Positive80.8%
Neutral1.9%
Negative17.3%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive6.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative93.3%

Mercury Marine

All ratings31 ratings
Positive12.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative87.1%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive9.1%
Neutral3.0%
Negative87.9%

In-app purchases

47 purchases

PassageMaker

Subscriptions1
  • 1 Year | PassageMaker1 Month trial$27.001 Year
One-time46
  • April 2014 Issue$5.99
  • May/June 2014 Issue$5.99
  • January/February 2018$5.99
Show 43 more
  • 2020 03 Mar/Apr$5.99
  • September 2020$5.99
  • October 2020$5.99
  • January/February 2021$5.99
  • 2021 March$5.99
  • 2021 April$5.99
  • 2022 March$5.99
  • March 2023$5.99
  • July August 2023$5.99
  • 2023 Oct$5.99
  • January February 2024$5.99
  • November December 2023$5.99
  • May June 2023$5.99
  • 2026 March$5.99
  • 2022 April$5.99
  • January/February 2026$5.99
  • 2025 October$5.99
  • 2024 October$5.99
  • 2025 September$5.99
  • 2024 September$5.99
  • 2023 Sept$5.99
  • May/June 2019 issue$5.99
  • July/August 2025$5.99
  • July/August 2022$5.99
  • May/June 2020$5.99
  • July/August 2018 issue$5.99
  • May/June 2018 issue$5.99
  • October 2016 issue$5.99
  • January/February 2027$5.99
  • November/December 2026$5.99
  • July/August 2021$5.99
  • 2026 October$5.99
  • September 2019$5.99
  • January /February 2023$5.99
  • July/August 2017 issue$5.99
  • April 2017 issue$5.99
  • 2026 September$5.99
  • 2026 April$5.99
  • July/August 2024$5.99
  • May/June 2026$5.99
  • 2021 October$5.99
  • November/December 2018$5.99
  • May/Jun 2026$7.99
None

Mercury Marine

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PassageMaker free?
PassageMaker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mercury Marine free?
Mercury Marine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PassageMaker or Mercury Marine?
PassageMaker is rated higher. PassageMaker averages 4.2 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while Mercury Marine averages 1.6 from 37 ratings.
Do PassageMaker or Mercury Marine have ads?
Neither PassageMaker nor Mercury Marine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PassageMaker or Mercury Marine?
PassageMaker ships an update every 3 months, and Mercury Marine every 3 months. Most recently, PassageMaker was updated on October 24, 2026 and Mercury Marine on October 21, 2026.

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