# VesselFinder vs Pilot Dispatch

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pilot Dispatch at 100% against VesselFinder's 28%. Pilot Dispatch also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.1) and ads (none vs shown). VesselFinder's advantage is ratings volume (232 vs 4) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Pilot Dispatch holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VesselFinder has 232 ratings behind it against 4, 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 100% of Pilot Dispatch's.

VesselFinder ships an update fortnightly, Pilot Dispatch every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VesselFinder | Pilot Dispatch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (232 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vesselfinder/id918080862/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pilot-dispatch/id1496238884/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **232** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 27.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#206** | — |
| Size | 47 MB | 76 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AstraPaging Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/438160792) | [Coe & Company, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1496238883) |

## What reviewers say

### VesselFinder

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

**Currently charting:** #206 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


### Pilot Dispatch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pilot-dispatch/id1496238884)

This software streamlines pilot dispatching with 24/7 reliability. It's designed with pilot input for maximum flexibility and customization, currently serving over 400 pilots across 12 organizations.

**Highlights:** 24/7/365 uptime, Streamlined dispatching process, Pilot-involved design, Flexible and customizable, Used by over 400 pilots

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VesselFinder free?

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

### Is Pilot Dispatch free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VesselFinder or Pilot Dispatch?

Pilot Dispatch is rated higher. VesselFinder averages 4.1 out of 5 from 232 ratings, while Pilot Dispatch averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do VesselFinder or Pilot Dispatch have ads?

VesselFinder shows ads; Pilot Dispatch does not.

### Which is updated more often, VesselFinder or Pilot Dispatch?

VesselFinder ships an update fortnightly, and Pilot Dispatch every 6 weeks. Most recently, VesselFinder was updated on September 23, 2026 and Pilot Dispatch on June 1, 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.*