Seapilot vs mKart Marine Navigation
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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
Read full descriptionHide 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
mKart Marine Navigation
This app provides advanced marine navigation with 3D charts, automatic routing, and safety alerts. It offers features like fleet management, weather forecasts, and docking assistance for safe and efficient seafaring.
- 3D marine and OSM charts
- Automatic routing and NO-GO Area display
- Fleet management
- Docking path guidance
- Marine traffic alerts
- Weather forecasts
- Apple Watch support
Read full descriptionHide full description
mKart 3D marine App is for safe and comfortable navigation. Product Highlights: WEB CONSOLE: E-shop; ENCs and cartographic products Catalogue; Portfolio optimization; Fleet management; Roots and tracks; Data exchange; Accounting; SAFETY IS IN FOCUS: Automatic routing and NO-GO Area display; Dangerous depths and objects automatic control. Safe sailing alternative and recommendations; Meeting points and hazardous traverses calculations. Background monitoring: dangers’ and ships’ alerts, all along the route. Apple watch support. DOCKING: Click on the chart, select the location and follow the docking path. 3D MARINE AND OSM CHARTS: 3D marine and OSM charts are uploaded and displayed automatically. 3D sea floor, land’s relief, 3D buildings, ships and infrastructure models contribute to better seafarers orientation and awareness. FREE NOAA ENCs: Online NOAA nautical charts are being installed automatically via Internet by customer’s position or while browsing and stored for off-line use. Updating is performed in the same way. PRIMAR ENCs: You can buy PRIMAR electronic charts for the whole world directly in the app. SMART PANELS: Swipe from below and from side to side. Profiles of seabed relief, safety path simulator, docking. MARINE ROUTE PLANNER: Save time with integrated sea and river auto routes functionality. Safety checks is implemented along with route monitoring functionality and warning system. NO GO ZONE: Display safety area is filled up graphically on the sea map by only safe depth. Safety zone is calculated trough 3D sea bottom model. MARINE TRAFFIC: Marine traffic data can be obtained from open AIS streams over Internet to display and identify dangerous targets. COMPASS MODE: Get a quick look around while boat navigation with advanced VR option for better orientation and using visual aids for navigation effectively. SEARCH: Search all objects and information on ENC S-57 charts trough SW and data via universal search function. MARINE WEATHER: mKart online services allows to deliver highly detailed weather information and forecast. TRACKS AND WAYPOINTS: PLT and GPX import and export, recording and displaying on the chart.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: mKart Marine Navigation at 100% against Seapilot's 38%. mKart Marine Navigation also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Seapilot's advantage is rating (2.8 vs 2.3) and ratings volume (16 vs 3). 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. Seapilot sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year and mKart Marine Navigation sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Seapilot holds the better App Store score, 2.8 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Seapilot has 16 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 38% of Seapilot's written reviews are positive against 100% of mKart Marine Navigation's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Seapilot ships an update every 3 months, mKart Marine Navigation every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Seapilot | mKart Marine Navigation |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.8 (16 ratings) — better | 2.3 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 38.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 16 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.3 | 8.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 107 MB | 85 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Seapilot | GEOPHONE GROUP INTERNATIONAL Oy |
Customer experience
Seapilot
mKart Marine Navigation
In-app purchases
Seapilot
- Swedish charts with automatic updates$8.991 Year
- East Canadian charts$14.491 Year
- West Canadian$14.491 Year
Show 11 moreShow fewer
- 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
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- US-West. One year subscription.$13.99
mKart Marine Navigation
- Estonian Marine Charts$11.991 Year
- NMA$22.491 Year
Questions
Is Seapilot free?
Is mKart Marine Navigation free?
Which has better reviews, Seapilot or mKart Marine Navigation?
Do Seapilot or mKart Marine Navigation have ads?
Which is updated more often, Seapilot or mKart Marine Navigation?
Other comparisons















