Comparison

SailBot vs Anchor Pro

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

Head to head
About

SailBot

Automate sailing race starting signals with this advanced air horn system. Connect via Bluetooth to your iOS device to manage custom start sequences, choose from pre-set ISAF options, or create your own. Ideal for sailing schools, yacht clubs, and race committees seeking a portable and reliable solution.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth connectivity
  • Automated starting sequences
  • Customizable start sequence editing
  • Pre-set ISAF starting sequences
  • Portable and durable construction
  • iOS app control
Features
Read full description

Start your sailing races with style! Connect over Bluetooth to SailBot™, the most advanced air horn system for starting sailing races. Sailbot™ is simply the most flexible and convenient way to automate the audible signals at the start of any sailing race. Sailing schools, yacht clubs, and sailing teams will love the ease of use and durability of construction. Compact, robust, reliable and ready for action; SailBot™ was designed from the ground up to be an integral part of any RC toolkit. Make your Race Committee job easier by automating your starting sequences today! SailBot™ is a self-contained and portable unit that connects to your iPhone or iPod Touch by Bluetooth technology. SailBot™ is the only automatic sailboat race start controller that offers custom start sequence editing and modification. Choose from one of the many included ISAF starting sequences, modify them or create your own. The options are limitless. All software for controlling the horn is contained in the app on your iPhone or iPod Touch so updates are automatic and your device is always up to date. Say goodbye to hard-wired sequences forever! Requires Bluetooth 4.0: iPhone 4s or greater, and iPad 3 or greater

About

Anchor Pro

This app helps boaters set and monitor their anchor position in real-time. It allows for defining safe zones, tracking boat movement, and receiving alerts for critical changes. Remote notifications and Apple Watch integration enhance its utility for secure anchoring.

Highlights
  • Set anchor location in real-time or manually
  • Define custom safe swing zones
  • Monitor boat movement and track history
  • Receive real-time alerts for position, GPS, and battery
  • Remote notifications via Telegram or email
  • Apple Watch companion app for key metrics
Features
Read full description

SET THE ANCHOR Set your anchor location in real time as you drop it, or specify it later by entering distance and bearing. Advanced users can also input exact coordinates. DEFINE THE SAFE ZONE Define the allowed swing area as a simple circle around the anchor, or create a more precise zone by setting two different radii at specific angles. MONITOR MOVEMENT Stay on top of every movement with comprehensive real-time data. Review key metrics on the main screen or switch to the map view to see your boat's track — ideal for analyzing whether your anchor is holding or dragging. GET ALERTED WHEN IT MATTERS Monitor position, GPS signal strength, and battery level — and receive alerts the moment any of these fall outside your set thresholds. REMOTE ALERTS Leave your phone on board and stay informed from shore. Receive alarm notifications via Telegram or email. With Telegram, you can also request a live status update at any time. APPLE WATCH Keep distance, bearing, and battery level on your wrist with the Apple Watch companion app — all updated in real time. TRY ANCHOR PRO FOR FREE Core features are always free. Want to explore everything? All premium features are available during a free trial period — no commitment required. Anchor Pro is ad-supported. Purchasing an Anchor Premium subscription removes ads and unlocks extra features. Payment is charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation. Subscriptions renew automatically at the same price unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the current period ends. You can manage auto-renewal anytime in your Account Settings. Anchor Premium is $6.99 USD/year (pricing may vary by country). Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited upon purchasing a subscription, where applicable. Terms of use: https://links.ideaboys.net/anchor-ios-terms.html GOOD TO KNOW Anchor Pro uses background audio and location services to keep alerts active when the app is not in the foreground. Please note that continuous GPS use will drain your battery faster than usual.

Screenshots

SailBot4 screens
Anchor Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SailBot at none against Anchor Pro's 1. SailBot also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 79%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.2). Anchor Pro's advantage is ratings volume (3.5K vs 5) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months). On price, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Anchor Pro sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $6.99 per year. SailBot asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Anchor Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Anchor Pro has 3.5K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of SailBot's written reviews are positive against 79% of Anchor Pro's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SailBot ships an update every 8 months, Anchor Pro every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
SailBot versus Anchor Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSailBotAnchor Pro
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (5 ratings)4.8 (3.5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better78.9% of reviews
Number of ratings53.5K — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS11.0 — better17.2
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSlope LLCIdeaBoys GmbH

Customer experience

SailBot

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Anchor Pro

All ratings3,496 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.7%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews180 reviews
Positive78.9%
Neutral3.3%
Negative17.8%

Bugs and requests

SailBot

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Anchor Pro

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App randomly shuts off
  • Anchor position tracking glitches

Requested features

3 requests
  • Customizable anchor icon/color
  • Integration with marine GPS/chartplotter
  • Ability to adjust alarm parameters remotely

In-app purchases

None

SailBot

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Anchor Pro

Subscriptions1
  • Anchor Premium7 Days trial$6.991 Year

Questions

Is SailBot free?
SailBot is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Anchor Pro free?
Anchor Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SailBot or Anchor Pro?
Anchor Pro is rated higher. SailBot averages 4.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Anchor Pro averages 4.8 from 3.5K ratings.
Do SailBot or Anchor Pro have ads?
Neither SailBot nor Anchor Pro shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SailBot or Anchor Pro?
SailBot ships an update every 8 months, and Anchor Pro every 2 months. Most recently, SailBot was updated on September 29, 2026 and Anchor Pro on October 12, 2026.

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