# Whale Alert vs Aqua Map Boating

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Whale Alert at none against Aqua Map Boating's 17. Aqua Map Boating's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (65% vs 43%). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Aqua Map Boating sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Whale Alert asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Whale Alert against 4.7 for Aqua Map Boating. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aqua Map Boating has 14K ratings behind it against 523, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 43% of Whale Alert's written reviews are positive against 65% of Aqua Map Boating's.

Whale Alert ships an update every 3 months, Aqua Map Boating weekly. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Whale Alert | Aqua Map Boating |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (523 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whale-alert/id911035973/reviews) | [4.7 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aqua-map-boating/id919552329/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 523 | **14K** |
| Positive reviews | 42.5% of reviews | **64.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#71** |
| Size | 132 MB | 173 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Conserve.IO](https://appshunter.io/developer/651453353) | [GEC s.r.l.](https://appshunter.io/developer/675562886) |

## What reviewers say

### Whale Alert

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/whale-alert/id911035973)

This app helps protect whales by reducing ship strikes. It allows users to report whale sightings, access real-time alerts about whale activity and regulations, and view an interactive map of whale presence. It also provides tools for identifying whale species and connecting with response teams.

**Highlights:** Interactive whale sighting map, Real-time whale activity alerts, Report live, dead, or injured whales, Whale identification guide, Connect with first responders, Collision risk monitoring, Marine rules and speed zones

**In-app purchases:** none


### Aqua Map Boating

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aqua-map-boating/id919552329)

**Currently charting:** #71 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

This app provides official, weekly updated nautical charts for marine navigation. It allows for offline map downloads, GPS track recording, and integration with onboard instruments. Enhance your boating safety and experience with advanced features like weather forecasts and AIS collision detection.

**Highlights:** Official NOAA nautical charts, Offline map downloads, GPS track recording, Tides and currents predictions, Anchor Alarm, NMEA instrument connectivity, AIS with collision detection

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

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Florida - NOAA Nautical chart | $4.99 | per year |
| Alabama to Texas charts | $4.99 | per year |
| Cape Cod to Chesapeake Charts | $4.99 | per year |
| New England - Nautical charts | $4.99 | per year |
| Virginia to Georgia - Charts | $4.99 | per year |
| Midwest-Minnesota lake charts | $4.99 | per year |
| Michigan & Great Lakes chart | $4.99 | per year |
| US - Nautical & Lakes charts | $9.99 | per year |
| Canada - nautical charts | $9.99 | per year |
| US & Canada - nautical charts | $14.99 | per year |
| Caribbean South Nautical chart | $14.99 | per year |
| Bermuda - nautical charts | $14.99 | per year |
| Aqua Map Expert | $14.99 | per year |
| Aqua Map Master | $24.99 | per year |
| Bahamas - Explorer Charts | $49.99 | per year |
| US & Canada - Nautical chart | $49.99 | one-time |
| Bahamas - Explorer Chartbooks | $139.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent navigation tool
- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
- 🗺️ Detailed and accurate charts
- 💡 Helpful features like AIS, weather, and fuel prices
- 🤝 Responsive and helpful customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional issues with map downloads and disappearing charts
- 🔍 Lack of intuitive route planning functionality
- 🔍 Slow map loading and tracking issues in certain areas
- 💰 Subscription model with additional costs for map downloads

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent GPS tracking and positioning
- Compatibility issues on older devices

**Requested features**

- Improved route planning and optimization
- Offline map caching and seamless downloads
- Tidal and wind data overlays
- Sync capabilities across devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Whale Alert free?

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

### Is Aqua Map Boating free?

Aqua Map Boating is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Whale Alert or Aqua Map Boating?

Whale Alert and Aqua Map Boating are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 523 and 14K ratings respectively.

### Do Whale Alert or Aqua Map Boating have ads?

Neither Whale Alert nor Aqua Map Boating shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Whale Alert or Aqua Map Boating?

Whale Alert ships an update every 3 months, and Aqua Map Boating weekly. Most recently, Whale Alert was updated on September 28, 2026 and Aqua Map Boating on September 28, 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.*