Comparison

SeaSat vs GeoNames Map Explorer

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

Head to head
About

SeaSat

Access near real-time data on Sea Surface Temperature, water transparency, and chlorophyll concentration directly on your smartphone. This application provides essential environmental information for users interested in marine conditions.

Highlights
  • Sea Surface Temperature data
  • Water transparency information
  • Chlorophyll concentration readings
  • Near real-time updates
  • Smartphone accessibility
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SeaSat provides near real time Sea Surface Temperature, Water transparency and Chlorophyll concentration to smartphone users.

About

GeoNames Map Explorer

Features
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GeoNames Map Explorer turns your iPhone or iPad into an offline-first field GIS for mapping, navigation, data collection, surveying, travel awareness, and team coordination. WORLDWIDE PLACE INTELLIGENCE • Search NGA foreign and USGS domestic geographic names online or from downloaded data • Find addresses, nearby places, map features, U.S. embassies and consulates • Hear supported place-name pronunciations and review weather, travel advisories, emergency contacts, and field references • Translate place information and supported chat content when language tools are enabled POWERFUL ONLINE AND OFFLINE MAPS • Use open MapLibre maps, downloadable areas of interest, and local map packages • Organize online and offline layers, change styles, reorder overlays, and inspect attributes • Work with GeoPackage, MBTiles, GeoJSON, GPX, KML, and other configured GIS sources • Display raster, feature, and vector-tile content with configurable styles and labels • Use MGRS/GARS grids, time zones, boundaries, an inset map, compass, measurement tools, weather, gridded reference graphics, military symbols, placemarks, bookmarks, and geotagged photos • Export map images and manage files through the iOS Files workflow SEARCH, MEASURE, AND ANALYZE • Go directly to a coordinate or convert between common geographic and grid systems • Run offline spatial searches and filter supported attribute tables to the visible map • Find nearby records by map center, typed coordinate, or current location • Convert supported vector GIS data to GeoJSON, GeoPackage features, or MBTiles vector tiles when the DuckDB Spatial build is enabled FIELD DATA AND PROFESSIONAL POSITIONING • Record GPX tracks, waypoints, time, distance, and activity details • Design and complete forms with geometry, attributes, notes, and photos • Create survey sessions, classify points, retain accuracy and GNSS provenance, and export field data • Connect to compatible Bluetooth GNSS receivers • Relay validated NTRIP/CORS corrections to compatible RTK receivers and monitor receiver-reported RTK Fixed, RTK Float, DGPS, and autonomous states TAK AND CONNECTED OPERATIONS • Connect to a configured TAK Server using secure credentials and certificates • Share position information, view team members and map markers, and exchange GeoChat messages • Support Cursor on Target position, chat, marker, and emergency workflows • Connect to supported Meshtastic or Traccar services when those integrations are enabled • Visualize configured real-time feeds for aircraft, vessels, transit, sensors, drones, GeoJSON, KML, and Esri streams AI-ASSISTED, WITH OFFLINE OPTIONS • Import a compatible on-device Gemma model for supported translation and entity extraction • Dictate supported GeoChat messages with Apple speech recognition and listen with text to speech • Extract locations, coordinates, callsigns, dates, routes, urgency, and other structured details from supported messages • Keep TAK text and audio workflows local when the on-device language feature is used PROFESSIONAL AND MISSION WORKFLOWS The solution includes configurable mission planning, tactical graphics, standardized message handling, terrain, training, collaboration, direct GIS service exchange, and cloud-data modules. Availability depends on the release configuration, connected services, organizational authorization, and device capabilities. Some features require downloaded data, an internet connection, a configured server, third-party credentials, a compatible external receiver or radio, or a separately imported AI model. RTK accuracy depends on receiver capability, correction service, conditions, and workflow. This app is a situational-awareness and field-data tool, not a substitute for official emergency, navigation, aviation, maritime, or life-safety systems. Continued background location and Bluetooth use can reduce battery life.

Screenshots

SeaSat2 screens
GeoNames Map Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: GeoNames Map Explorer at monthly against SeaSat's every 8 months. SeaSat's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SeaSat ships an update every 8 months, GeoNames Map Explorer monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SeaSat versus GeoNames Map Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSeaSatGeoNames Map Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB150 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperProambiente SCRLTech Maven GeoSpatial LLC

In-app purchases

None

SeaSat

No in-app purchases

None

GeoNames Map Explorer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SeaSat free?
SeaSat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is GeoNames Map Explorer free?
GeoNames Map Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SeaSat or GeoNames Map Explorer have ads?
Neither SeaSat nor GeoNames Map Explorer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SeaSat or GeoNames Map Explorer?
SeaSat ships an update every 8 months, and GeoNames Map Explorer monthly. Most recently, SeaSat was updated on September 25, 2026 and GeoNames Map Explorer on October 3, 2026.

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