# VesselFinder vs NAVTEXpro

The clearest difference is rating: VesselFinder at 4.1 against NAVTEXpro's 1.7. VesselFinder also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (28% vs 4%). NAVTEXpro's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NAVTEXpro sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per year. VesselFinder asks for nothing beyond the download.

VesselFinder holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VesselFinder has 232 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 28% of VesselFinder's written reviews are positive against 4% of NAVTEXpro's.

## The numbers

| Metric | VesselFinder | NAVTEXpro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (232 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vesselfinder/id918080862/reviews)** | [1.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/navtexpro/id1237127610/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **232** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **28.2% of reviews** | 3.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | — |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#126** | — |
| Size | 47 MB | 49 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AstraPaging Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/438160792) | [P8G Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1234581801) |

## What reviewers say

### VesselFinder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vesselfinder/id918080862)

**Currently charting:** #126 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Track ships and monitor maritime traffic globally in real-time. Access detailed vessel information, movement history, and predicted routes. Ideal for maritime professionals and enthusiasts alike.

**Highlights:** Real-time vessel tracking, Vessel movement history, Predicted routes and ETAs, Comprehensive vessel particulars, Port call details, My Fleet for favorite vessels, Weather overlays

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- 💰 Free version provides basic functionality
- 🗺️ Clear map display with sea blue and land green
- 📊 Comprehensive vessel information available
- ⚓ Good for casual ship tracking and hobbyists

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Severely outdated vessel position data (days old)
- 🐛 App freezes on startup/splash screen frequently
- 💸 Misleading free version with limited functionality
- 🔄 Inconsistent and unreliable data updates
- ❌ Search functionality requires paid version

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes on splash screen and won't load
- Crashes when attempting to zoom on map
- Black screen display on certain devices
- App won't open or opens after long delays
- Crashes on iOS 11 and newer versions

**Requested features**

- Real-time GPS tracking instead of delayed AIS data
- Distance measurement tool restoration
- German language support
- Destination and departure information display
- Ability to remove ads without expensive pro version


### NAVTEXpro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/navtexpro/id1237127610)

Access critical navigation warnings and safety-related messages for mariners. This app provides global coverage of NAVTEX transmissions and can also fetch navigation warnings from regions not using NAVTEX. It offers an optional APRS weather subscription as a backup system.

**Highlights:** Global NAVTEX message reception, Navigation warnings for non-NAVTEX regions, Transmission schedule and frequency details, APRS weather subscription, Notices to Mariners subscription

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| APRS Weather Yearly Subscription | $4.49 | per year |
| Navtex Yearly Subscription | $8.99 | per year |
| Notices to Mariners Yearly Subscription | $8.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VesselFinder free?

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

### Is NAVTEXpro free?

NAVTEXpro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, VesselFinder or NAVTEXpro?

VesselFinder is rated higher. VesselFinder averages 4.1 out of 5 from 232 ratings, while NAVTEXpro averages 1.7 from 6 ratings.

### Do VesselFinder or NAVTEXpro have ads?

VesselFinder shows ads; NAVTEXpro does not.

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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.*