# VesselFinder vs MyShipTracking

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: VesselFinder at none against MyShipTracking's 4. VesselFinder also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and chart position (#203 vs unranked). MyShipTracking's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.4 vs 4.1). On price, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MyShipTracking sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $17.99 per month. VesselFinder asks for nothing beyond the download.

MyShipTracking holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MyShipTracking has 4.5K ratings behind it against 232, 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 40% of MyShipTracking's.

VesselFinder ships an update fortnightly, MyShipTracking every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VesselFinder | MyShipTracking |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (232 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vesselfinder/id918080862/reviews) | **[4.4 (4.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/myshiptracking/id1403038386/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 232 | **4.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 27.9% of reviews | **39.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#203** | — |
| Size | 47 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AstraPaging Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/438160792) | [Nativity](https://appshunter.io/developer/496945983) |

## What reviewers say

### VesselFinder

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

**Currently charting:** #203 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


### MyShipTracking

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/myshiptracking/id1403038386)

Monitor global maritime traffic using real-time Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. Access detailed vessel information, port data, and weather overlays. Manage your fleet and receive alerts for movements within custom areas.

**Highlights:** Real-time ship tracking, Extensive vessel database, Port database and calls, Fleet management, Custom area tracking, Real-time notifications, Weather overlays

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chief Officer | $17.99 | per month |
| Captain | $22.99 | per month |
| Chief Officer | $49.99 | per year |
| Captain | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Real-time tracking
- 🔍 Detailed ship information
- 📍 Accurate location data
- 💡 Useful for ship enthusiasts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate or outdated ship positions
- 📵 Lack of real-time updates
- 🔍 Missing ship details
- 📺 Excessive advertisements
- 🔒 Login issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes
- Inability to add ships to fleet
- Incorrect ship locations or information

**Requested features**

- Improved map view with more features
- Ability to track specific ships
- Notification system for ship arrivals/departures
- Offline mode or caching for better performance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VesselFinder free?

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

### Is MyShipTracking free?

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

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

MyShipTracking is rated higher. VesselFinder averages 4.1 out of 5 from 232 ratings, while MyShipTracking averages 4.4 from 4.5K ratings.

### Do VesselFinder or MyShipTracking have ads?

VesselFinder shows ads; MyShipTracking does not.

### Which is updated more often, VesselFinder or MyShipTracking?

VesselFinder ships an update fortnightly, and MyShipTracking every 2 months. Most recently, VesselFinder was updated on September 23, 2026 and MyShipTracking on September 24, 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.*