# VesselFinder vs Ship Tracker

The clearest difference is rating: VesselFinder at 4.1 against Ship Tracker's 3.5. VesselFinder also leads on review sentiment (28% vs 8%) and ratings volume (232 vs 11). Ship Tracker's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, 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.

VesselFinder holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VesselFinder has 232 ratings behind it against 11, 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 8% of Ship Tracker's.

## The numbers

| Metric | VesselFinder | Ship Tracker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (232 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vesselfinder/id918080862/reviews)** | [3.5 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ship-tracker-ship-radar/id1603140458/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **232** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | **27.9% of reviews** | 8.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | — |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Best chart rank | **#193** | — |
| Size | 47 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AstraPaging Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/438160792) | [Sebastian Weiss](https://appshunter.io/developer/1594477188) |

## What reviewers say

### VesselFinder

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

**Currently charting:** #193 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


### Ship Tracker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ship-tracker-ship-radar/id1603140458)

Easily locate and track ships worldwide with live marine traffic data. View detailed vessel information, explore port maps, and access 7-day weather forecasts for passage planning. Includes a compass to help spot nearby vessels.

**Highlights:** Live ship tracking, Detailed vessel information, Port maps, 7-day weather forecasts, Integrated compass, AIS data visualization

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VesselFinder free?

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

### Is Ship Tracker free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VesselFinder or Ship Tracker?

VesselFinder is rated higher. VesselFinder averages 4.1 out of 5 from 232 ratings, while Ship Tracker averages 3.5 from 11 ratings.

### Do VesselFinder or Ship Tracker have ads?

Both VesselFinder and Ship Tracker show ads.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*