Comparison

Aqua Map Boating vs WinGPS Marine

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Aqua Map Boating

This marine navigation app provides official, weekly updated nautical charts for offline use. It offers features like route planning, GPS track recording, tide and current predictions, and anchor alarms. Advanced subscriptions unlock marine forecasts, NMEA instrument connectivity, and local data for enhanced safety and navigation.

Highlights
  • Official NOAA nautical charts
  • Offline map downloads
  • GPS track recording
  • Tide and current predictions
  • Anchor alarm
  • NMEA instrument connectivity
  • AIS with collision detection
Features
Read full description

Free 14-day trial for all subscriptions   Aqua Map offers weekly updated OFFICIAL NAUTICAL CHARTS (NOAA) for marine navigation. Purchase a chart subscription for the area of your interest, download the map areas for offline use, and connect your onboard instruments for a complete experience. ● BASIC FEATURES - Switch between manual and auto route planning modes - Record your GPS tracks - Store and share your navigation data (markers, routes, and recorded tracks) - Display tides and currents predictions and simulations - Increase your safety with Anchor Alarm - Enable Live Sharing to interact with the Aqua Map community - Display points of interest from the "ActiveCaptain" and "Waterway Guide" communities ● EXPERT SUBSCRIPTION Note: this subscription does not include charts; it must be paired with a chart subscription. - Marine forecasts (wind, waves, currents, gusts, salinity, sea surface temperature + weather information for any point on the map) - Overlay satellite images on the charts - Advanced AnchorLink with anchorage mirroring and email/telegram notifications for greater peace of mind while anchored, even if you are away from the boat - Connect your NMEA instruments via WiFi (autopilot, depth sounder, wind sensor, compass, GPS) and use their data on the app - AIS with automatic collision detection - Route Explorer for real-time information on all elements along your route ● MASTER SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE BEST NAVIGATION EXPERIENCE Note: this subscription does not include charts; it must be paired with a chart subscription. - All features of the EXPERT subscription are included in the MASTER subscription. + LOCAL DATA: > US: Army Corps of Engineers surveys for safe navigation in shallow waters > US: LNMs and "List of Lights" navaids from the Coast Guard. > Canada: NAVWARNs from the Coast Guard. > Denmark: Warnings and Notices from the DMA > France: Warnings, Notices and Regulations from the PING > Italy: Ordinanze from the Italian Coast Guard > Portugal: Navigational Warnings from the IHPT for Portugal and islands > Western Australia: temporary Notices from the Transport WA   ● PURCHASE OPTIONS To access the charts, you need to purchase a chart subscription for the area of interest. Optionally, you can add the Expert subscription or the Master subscription to unlock extra navigation features and additional data. Subscription payments will be made through your account (Apple ID). The annual subscription will automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before expiration. You can manage your subscription and disable automatic renewal in the account settings section after purchase. Terms of use: https://www.aquamap.app/terms-and-conditions Privacy policy: https://www.aquamap.app/privacy-policy

About

WinGPS Marine

This app provides onboard navigation for various watercraft. It displays your GPS position, speed, and course, and allows you to download nautical charts with depth information and navigational aids. Set waypoints and sail to your destination with guidance on course and distance.

Highlights
  • Real-time GPS position, speed, and course tracking
  • Downloadable nautical charts with depth and aids
  • Waypoint navigation with Course to Go
  • Waterway network information (bridges, locks)
  • View sailed tracks on charts
  • Distance circles around GPS position
Read full description

Ideal for navigation onboard of your sailing yacht, motorship, canoe or longboat: - Always know where you are, how fast you go and what your course is using a GPS receiver (internal or Bluetooth). - Download the chart of your sailing area and check the current depths, buoys and other nautical information. - Place a navigation waypoint and sail to your destination using the course line, Course to Go and Distance to Go. - Waterway network: View the information of the bridges, locks and waterways. - View your sailed track on the chart. - Show the distance circles around your GPS position. At the first start-up of the app, you will be asked to log in with your account. The free default online charts from Apple are available in the app for orientation. The DKW-charts of 2018 and newer, which are connected to your account, can be downloaded directly in this app and be used for navigation.

Screenshots

Aqua Map Boating4 screens
WinGPS Marine4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Aqua Map Boating at 65% against WinGPS Marine's 0%. Aqua Map Boating also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.3) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). WinGPS Marine's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (13.1 vs 15.0). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Aqua Map Boating sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. WinGPS Marine asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Aqua Map Boating holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aqua Map Boating has 14K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Aqua Map Boating's written reviews are positive against 0% of WinGPS Marine's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Aqua Map Boating ships an update weekly, WinGPS Marine every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Aqua Map Boating versus WinGPS Marine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAqua Map BoatingWinGPS Marine
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (14K ratings) — better1.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews64.9% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14K — better3
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#80 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size176 MB60 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGEC s.r.l.Stentec Software

Customer experience

Aqua Map Boating

All ratings13,854 ratings
Positive93.9%
Neutral2.9%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews299 reviews
Positive64.9%
Neutral9.0%
Negative26.1%

WinGPS Marine

All ratings3 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Aqua Map Boating

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Inconsistent GPS tracking and positioning
  • Compatibility issues on older devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved route planning and optimization
  • Offline map caching and seamless downloads
  • Tidal and wind data overlays
  • Sync capabilities across devices

WinGPS Marine

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Aqua Map Boating

Subscriptions8
  • US - Nautical & Lakes charts14 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • Canada - nautical charts14 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • US & Canada - nautical charts14 Days trial$14.991 Year
Show 5 more
  • Caribbean South Nautical chart14 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Bermuda - nautical charts14 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Aqua Map Expert14 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Aqua Map Master14 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Bahamas - Explorer Charts14 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time2
  • US & Canada - Nautical chart$49.99
  • Bahamas - Explorer Chartbooks$139.99
None

WinGPS Marine

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Aqua Map Boating free?
Aqua Map Boating is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is WinGPS Marine free?
WinGPS Marine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Aqua Map Boating or WinGPS Marine?
Aqua Map Boating is rated higher. Aqua Map Boating averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while WinGPS Marine averages 1.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Aqua Map Boating or WinGPS Marine have ads?
Neither Aqua Map Boating nor WinGPS Marine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Aqua Map Boating or WinGPS Marine?
Aqua Map Boating ships an update weekly, and WinGPS Marine every 2 months. Most recently, Aqua Map Boating was updated on November 6, 2026 and WinGPS Marine on November 2, 2026.

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