SeaNav vs Seapilot
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SeaNav
This app provides high-resolution marine charts, route planning, and real-time navigation for boaters. It offers features like AIS ship tracking, tide and weather information, and offline chart access. Advanced capabilities include augmented reality views and autopilot integration.
- High-resolution marine charts
- Autoroute planning
- Real-time GPS navigation
- AIS ship tracking
- Tides and weather
- Offline chart access
- Augmented Reality View
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SeaNav combines high-resolution marine charts, route planning and real-time navigation in one simple boating app for your iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Charts, Autoroute planning, AIS ship tracking, tides and weather in one powerful and affordable navigation app. Built from official hydrographic data with extensive coverage across North America, Europe and Australia. Professional marine navigation features including: Planning • Create and edit routes with auto-routing for creating waypoints • Measure distance & bearing • Import & export GPX routes • Tides, Streams & Weather • Works offline Navigate with Confidence • Real-time GPS navigation • Course Up & North Up modes • ETA, XTE, VMG, SOG & COG • Sailing HUD display • Background navigation • Automatic Waypoint advancing & alerts Live AIS & Safety (Optional IAP) • Real-time AIS ship positions • Collision alarms • AIS position sharing • Internet AIS integration • Free AIS when used with Boat Beacon • MOB and Anchor alarm (IAP) - NMEA Link for Depth, Wind & AutoPilot - Real time local wind feed and Sailing laylines display (IAP) Alongside this SeaNav offers advanced onboard capabilities rarely found in a single app: Apple Watch app SeaNav for Apple Watch is included at no extra cost, giving you route data, key navigation information and quick access controls directly from your wrist. Sophisticated AIS Display and Position sharing The leader in the field with global coverage and clear, information-rich vessel tracking with intelligent filtering and collision prediction tools. CPA and TCPA alerts help you assess risk early and act confidently. Augmented Reality View Overlays navigation, AIS and chart data directly onto the real-world camera view for intuitive situational awareness. Includes night mode support for compatible thermal cameras such as FLIR. SeaNav Autoroute and Autopilot Integration - Just choose where you want to go and SeaNav will create the route for you - Go one step further and let SeaNav pilot the route with compatible autopilot systems from Raymarine, SIMRAD, Lowrance and B&G SeaNav comes with a built-in tutorial mode with free access to all features including charts, AIS, AR & wind The free version includes all navigation and trip planning tools. High resolution vector charts are available by In App Purchase (IAP) including updates for 12 months. Requirements: GPS only required for real time route navigation. Optional Real time AIS, Tides and Weather information require an active internet connection. WiFi-only iPad will need an external GPS receiver for navigation. Please note that continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Subscriptions Our in-app purchases are 1 year subscriptions, which automatically renew at the end of the subscription period unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase, and will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed by the iTunes account holder and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to Account Settings after purchase. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. NOTICES: This product has been derived in part from material obtained from the UK Hydrographic Office with the permission of the UK Hydrographic Office, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.” “© British Crown Copyright, [2026]. All rights reserved. The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) and its licensors make no warranties or representations, express or implied, with respect to this product. The UKHO and its licensors have not verified the information within this product or quality assured it. Terms of Use: http://seanav.net/termsofuse.php Privacy Policy: http://seanav.net/privacy.php Support: help@pocketmariner.com
Seapilot
Navigate like a professional with this marine navigation app. It offers vectorized chart data, AIS, and weather forecasts, bringing merchant shipping technology to your mobile device. Plan trips, track your vessel, and access advanced navigation tools.
- Vectorized S-57 chart data
- Automatic Identification System (AIS)
- Built-in weather forecasts
- Positioning and background positioning via GPS
- Man Overboard function
- Premium features like Weather Routing
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Professional marine navigation used to require an expensive GPS plotter. Now, same technology used in merchant shipping is available for the iPad and iPhone. Seapilot lets you navigate like a pro with vectorized S-57 chart data from National Maritime Administrations. This is the first navigation app to feature Automatic Identification System (AIS) and built in weather forecasts, when within a mobile network. Charts and features available as In-App Purchase. Use it to navigate, to plan tomorrow’s boat trip or reminisce about yesterday’s. (PS. Even works in your sofa at home.) Seapilot features: • Free trial period of included functionallity • Professional navigation based on merchant shipping standards for ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System) • S-57 chart data (In-App Purchase) and AIS data from National Maritime Administrations • Developed by True Heading, leaders in marine navigation and communication at sea, with cutting-edge AIS and VHF know-how Functions: Δ Positioning and background positioning via GPS (Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life) Δ Visualization of S-57 chart data from National Maritime Administrations Δ Autonomous navigation - charts (In-App-purchase) downloaded to the device Δ Option of tracking your own boat on the chart Δ Displays position, course and speed Δ Adjustable own speed and course vector Δ Man Overboard function Δ Display settings for day, dawn/dusk and night Δ Past track Δ Plotting/marking objects Δ Electronic bearing and range marker from own vessel Δ True Motion and adjustable North Up / Head Up chart orientation Δ Chart object search Δ AIS target search Δ Setting of safety contour (2, 3, 6, 10 and 15 meters) Δ World chart for rough overview/orientation Δ Facebook integration; share position with friends or all users, list friends, show friends or all users on chart, post on was Premium: Δ Routes Δ Weather Routing Δ Weather Forecast, High quality 5-day Coastal Weather Forecasts. Δ AIS data from National Maritime Administrations via Internet (3G or WLAN) Δ Course and speed vector for AIS targets Δ NMEA-0183 interface for connecting external GPS/AIS via WIFI Δ Import/Export to GPX-file == Auto-renewable subscriptions in Seapilot == • Seapilot Premium, Annual Subscription: $39.99 • Swedish Charts with automatic updates, Annual Subscription: $8.99 Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user’s Account Settings after purchase No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period Privacy Policy https://seapilot.com/privacy End User License Agreement https://seapilot.com/eula/ ==== Requirements: iOS 7.0 or later, iPad or iPhone with GPS. (External GPS unit can be used for other models.) Based on 140 years of experience, Seapilot has been developed by True Heading (www.trueheading.se/us) – experts at AIS, VHF, marine navigation and communication at sea. • True Heading is a leader in AIS products with over 40 years of navigation experience. – An authority on professional navigation. Contact: Your input is essential in helping us further develop Seapilot. Feel free to contact us at info@seapilot.com. For the latest info, like Seapilot on www.facebook.com/seapilot.se
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SeaNav at 4.4 against Seapilot's 2.9. SeaNav also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (55% vs 38%). Seapilot's advantage is iOS requirement (9.3 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. SeaNav sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year and Seapilot sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
SeaNav holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SeaNav has 247 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of SeaNav's written reviews are positive against 38% of Seapilot's.
SeaNav ships an update every 3 weeks, Seapilot every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SeaNav | Seapilot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (247 ratings) — better | 2.9 (15 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 54.7% of reviews — better | 38.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 247 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 9.3 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 159 MB | 107 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pocket Mariner Ltd. | Seapilot |
Customer experience
SeaNav
Seapilot
Bugs and requests
SeaNav
Reported bugs
8 issues- Frozen/locked app
- Not picking up vessels or ship traffic
- App does not open
- Crashes after crashes
- Sailing mode crash
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- Confused and buggy, buttons hidden
- Crashes when pressing boat button
- French charts missing information (buoys, wind farms)
Requested features
7 requests- Can you see water depth on Apple Watch?
- Download all purchased charts button
- Update all purchased charts button
- Legend for symbols and colors
- Brief chart reading explainer
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- Course integration with NMEA 2000 devices
- Easy export/import of route plans between iOS devices
Seapilot
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SeaNav
- Weather charts$4.991 Year
- New Zealand Charts$5.991 Year
- NOAA US Raster Charts$9.991 Year
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- US Charts$9.991 Month
- Pro Features$10.491 Year
- Bermuda and BVI Charts$12.991 Year
- Italy, Sardinia and Sicily$17.991 Year
- Norwegian Charts$18.491 Year
- US Charts$19.991 Year
- Portuguese Charts$19.991 Year
- BE & NL Charts$20.991 Year
- Spanish Charts$24.991 Year
- UK & IE Charts$24.991 Year
- French Charts$24.991 Year
- Canadian Charts$26.991 Year
- Croatian Charts$28.491 Year
- Man Overboard & Anchor Watch$4.99
- Pro Features$14.99
Seapilot
- Swedish charts with automatic updates$8.991 Year
- East Canadian charts$14.491 Year
- West Canadian$14.491 Year
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- Spanish charts with automatic updates$17.491 Year
- Finnish charts$19.491 Year
- Dutch charts$19.491 Year
- Irish charts$19.491 Year
- British charts$19.491 Year
- German charts$23.491 Year
- Croatian charts with automatic updates$26.491 Year
- Portuguese charts with automatic updates$26.491 Year
- Greek charts with automatic updates$34.991 Year
- Premium$39.991 Year
- French charts$50.991 Year
- US EastFree
- US WestFree
- US-Great Lakes. One year subscription.$11.99
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- US-West. One year subscription.$13.99









