Comparison

Seapilot vs Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser

This app provides access to nautical chart data and map image tiles generated by a collaborative open-source mapping project. It serves as a browser for freely usable marine navigation information.

Highlights
  • Nautical chart data access
  • Map image tile generation
  • Open-source mapping project browser
  • Freely usable marine navigation info
Features
Read full description

Open Sea is a browser for the maps produced by the OpenSeaMap project. OpenSeaMap is a subproject of OpenStreetMap, and generates freely usable nautical chart data and map image tiles.

Screenshots

Seapilot2 screens
Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser at 3.2 against Seapilot's 2.8. Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Seapilot's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 102 months) and review sentiment (38% vs 29%). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 5 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 38% of Seapilot's written reviews are positive against 29% of Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Seapilot ships an update every 3 months, Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser every 102 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Seapilot versus Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSeapilotOpen Sea OpenSeaMap Browser
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (16 ratings)3.2 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews38.1% of reviews — better28.6% of reviews
Number of ratings16 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 102 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.3 — better15.5
Further details — not scored
Size107 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSeapilotMobile Geographics

Customer experience

Seapilot

All ratings15 ratings
Positive46.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative46.7%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive38.1%
Neutral9.5%
Negative52.4%

Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser

All ratings5 ratings
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral28.6%
Negative42.9%

In-app purchases

None

Seapilot

No in-app purchases

None

Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Seapilot free?
Seapilot is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser free?
Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Seapilot or Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser?
Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser is rated higher. Seapilot averages 2.8 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser averages 3.2 from 5 ratings.
Do Seapilot or Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser have ads?
Neither Seapilot nor Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Seapilot or Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser?
Seapilot ships an update every 3 months, and Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser every 102 months. Most recently, Seapilot was updated on November 1, 2026 and Open Sea OpenSeaMap Browser on November 1, 2026.

Other comparisons