Comparison

Aqua Map Boating vs WAVZ

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 app provides official, weekly updated nautical charts for marine navigation. It allows for offline map downloads, GPS track recording, and integration with onboard instruments. Enhance your boating safety and experience with advanced features like weather forecasts and AIS collision detection.

Highlights
  • Official NOAA nautical charts
  • Offline map downloads
  • GPS track recording
  • Tides and currents 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. > France: Warnings, Notices and Regulations from the PING > Denmark: Warnings and Notices from the DMA > 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

WAVZ

This navigation app allows users to mark hazards, police presence, and points of interest on a map for others. Users can record travel paths, customize map views, and set up an SOS feature to contact emergency contacts. It also facilitates connecting with friends for shared journeys.

Highlights
  • Pin hazards, police, and POIs
  • User-generated alerts with upvoting
  • Record and replay travel paths
  • Customizable map settings
  • SOS emergency contact feature
  • Connect with friends
Read full description

Travel-enthusiasts, come hither! The WAVZ app for iOS paves the way for hassle-free travel on land and water. Pin the presence of Hazards, Police and Points of Interest (POI) on the map to notify other users when the pins come within their notification range. Upvote and downvote on Hazard and Police pins to eventually retain only authentic pins on the map. Enjoy your journeys for a long time to come! Add Pins Pin the location of Hazards, Police and Points of Interest (POI) on the map to notify other users when they come within the notification range of such pins. Timeline Record the path of your travel to view it again on the map in future. App Settings Configure your app settings to customize your map view. SOS Set the SOS option to call your emergency contact when in need. Friends Make other users your friends and connect with them for exciting jaunts.

Screenshots

Aqua Map Boating4 screens
WAVZ4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: WAVZ at none against Aqua Map Boating's 17. WAVZ also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Aqua Map Boating's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (14K vs 2). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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 17 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. WAVZ asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

WAVZ holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aqua Map Boating has 14K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Aqua Map Boating ships an update weekly, WAVZ every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Aqua Map Boating versus WAVZ: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAqua Map BoatingWAVZ
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (14K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews64.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings14K — better2
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#54 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size174 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGEC s.r.l.Wavz LLC

Customer experience

Aqua Map Boating

All ratings13,793 ratings
Positive93.9%
Neutral3.0%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews295 reviews
Positive64.4%
Neutral9.2%
Negative26.4%

WAVZ

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

WAVZ

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

17 purchases

Aqua Map Boating

Subscriptions15
  • Florida - NOAA Nautical chart14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Alabama to Texas charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Cape Cod to Chesapeake Charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
Show 12 more
  • New England - Nautical charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Virginia to Georgia - Charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Midwest-Minnesota lake charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Michigan & Great Lakes chart14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • 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
  • 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

WAVZ

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Aqua Map Boating free?
Aqua Map Boating is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is WAVZ free?
WAVZ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Aqua Map Boating or WAVZ?
WAVZ is rated higher. Aqua Map Boating averages 4.7 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while WAVZ averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Aqua Map Boating or WAVZ have ads?
Neither Aqua Map Boating nor WAVZ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Aqua Map Boating or WAVZ?
Aqua Map Boating ships an update weekly, and WAVZ every 6 months. Most recently, Aqua Map Boating was updated on October 26, 2026 and WAVZ on October 24, 2026.

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