Comparison

CMonster vs RipaLip University

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

Head to head
About

CMonster

Control your Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchor with this app via Bluetooth LE. It offers advanced boat control for sport fishing. Requires ownership of compatible Power-Pole devices.

Highlights
  • Bluetooth LE control
  • Power-Pole device operation
  • Advanced boat control
  • Sport fishing enhancement
Features
Read full description

Over the past decade the Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchor has changed the world of sport fishing by offering the most technologically advanced boat control system ever invented. The C-Monster application is designed exclusively for controlling the operations of Power-Pole devices using Bluetooth LE connection. You must own Power-Pole devices to use this application. Currently, the iOS app is only compatible with Power-Pole hydraulic models built late January 2015 or after. This can be confirmed if the serial number ends in “AC” for the 8’ Blade or “AA” for any other hydraulic model. An add-on iOS module will soon be available to allow existing C-Monster equipped Power-Pole models not matching the criteria listed to utilize this app.

About

RipaLip University

This app provides anglers with quick access to setup, tweak, and dial-in marine electronics. It offers guides, tips, and personalized settings for over 150 pieces of equipment, eliminating the need for lengthy manuals or online searches.

Highlights
  • Quick Start Guides
  • Advanced Reference Guides
  • Installation and Networking Info
  • How-To Videos
  • Personalized 'My Rig' section
  • Custom Cheatsheets with settings
  • Notes and waypoint saving
Features
Read full description

Learn how to quickly and easily setup, tweak and dial-in your marine electronics with RipaLip University! WHAT YOU'LL GET: · Access – The RipaLip University app helps you setup, tweak and dial-in your marine electronics by making it convenient for anglers to retrieve technical information, tips, and settings while they are on the water, when and where they need it the most. · Education – Browse through more than 150 pieces of marine electronics equipment. Begin with the Quick Start Guide for step-by-step instructions to make sure your electronics are ready for fishing and navigation. If you need more details, review the Advanced Reference Guide, Installation and Networking information, FAQs, How-To Videos and more! Eliminate the need to review cumbersome and lengthy manufacturer owner’s manuals or search YouTube for more information. · Personalization – RipaLip University’s My Rig section allows you to customize the app by adding quick access to all the gear on your boat. As you dial-in your electronics for a particular body of water, create a custom Cheatsheet and fill in your settings. Use the add custom settings option to include any additional information, water clarity, moon phase, water temp, spawn phase, lure, wind, whatever helps you. Lastly the notes section gives you a place to put in more details, waypoints, etc. You can save, edit and add information as often as you like · Cost-effective – RipaLip University offers two versions of the app. The Angler version gives you access to all guides and features for one piece of gear. The Pro version offers unlimited access to all gear in the app. “Regardless of your expertise level, anglers rely on some type of marine electronics for navigation, fish and structure location. But after spending thousands of dollars on marine electronics, anglers are oftentimes frustrated with the complexity of settings and choices that vary based on electronics manufacturer. RipaLip University will end anglers’ frustration and deliver piece-of-mind to anglers right there on the water, in the palm of their hands.” - David Janiszewski, RipaLip Owner and Founder. SUBSCRIPTION AND PRICING TERMS: RipaLip Angler subscription: $4.99 per year, auto-renewing RipaLip Pro subscription: $9.99 per year, auto-renewing Each subscription starts with a 2-week free trial. This price is for United States customers. Pricing in other countries may vary and actual charges may be converted into your local currency depending on the country of residence. The subscription will automatically renew unless turned off in your iTunes Account Settings at least 24 hours before the current or trial period ends. You can go to your iTunes Account Settings to manage your subscription and turn off auto-renew. Your iTunes Account will be charged $4.99 (Angler) or $9.99 (Pro) at the end of your trial period and at the time of renewal. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription to RipaLip University, where applicable.

Screenshots

CMonster4 screens
RipaLip University4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: RipaLip University at 3.4 against CMonster's 2.1. RipaLip University also leads on review sentiment (54% vs 13%). CMonster's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. RipaLip University sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. CMonster asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RipaLip University holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 2.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 101 and 39 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 13% of CMonster's written reviews are positive against 54% of RipaLip University's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
CMonster versus RipaLip University: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCMonsterRipaLip University
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.1 (101 ratings)3.4 (39 ratings) — better
Positive reviews13.0% of reviews54.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings101 — better39
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJL Marine SystemsRipalip LLC

Customer experience

CMonster

All ratings101 ratings
Positive20.8%
Neutral10.9%
Negative68.3%
Written reviews46 reviews
Positive13.0%
Neutral2.2%
Negative84.8%

RipaLip University

All ratings39 ratings
Positive56.4%
Neutral5.1%
Negative38.5%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive54.2%
Neutral4.2%
Negative41.7%

Bugs and requests

CMonster

Reported bugs

53 issues
  • Cannot connect to server
  • App crashes constantly
  • App does not find the micro anchor
  • App does not work with micro power pole on IOS
  • App will not stay linked up with iPhone
Show 48 more
  • App randomly stopped working
  • App crashes when adjusting speed
  • App connects then crashes
  • App recognizes only one of the two poles
  • App cannot find pole via Bluetooth
  • App only found one of my two poles
  • Both poles can not be found
  • Cannot get the app to pair with the charge
  • App does not show charge direction arrows
  • App won't show charge direction arrows
  • Firmware update issues
  • Cannot connect to server
  • No such settings to allow battery info input
  • App crashes constantly
  • App crashes when adjusting speed
  • App connects to power poles then crashes
  • App does not find the micro anchor
  • App does not work with micro power pole on IOS
  • App will not stay linked up with iPhone
  • App randomly stopped working
  • App does not show charge direction arrows
  • App won't show charge direction arrows
  • App is super glitchy
  • App won't connect
  • App doesn't show why it won't pair
  • App is unreliable
  • App is useless
  • App is junk
  • App does not work with micro anchor
  • App does not read right for the charge
  • App stopped working
  • Bluetooth connectivity issues
  • Cannot get it to connect to poles
  • Not connecting to one pole
  • Cannot get out of demo mode (ISO)
  • Cannot get the app to pair with the charge
  • App/phone no longer recognizes poles
  • Will not pair at all
  • Recognizes only one pole
  • App on iOS does no good for Micro
  • Does not work with micro power pole
  • Does not find the micro anchor
  • Doesn’t work anymore
  • App crashes constantly
  • App crashes when adjusting speed
  • App connects then crashes
  • App doesn't see the powerpoles
  • App doesn't connect

Requested features

6 requests
  • Improve Bluetooth connectivity
  • App compatibility for Micro anchor
  • Fix ISO version issues
  • Add battery information settings
  • Improve app compatibility for iOS
Show 1 more
  • Update app to fix bugs

RipaLip University

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

CMonster

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

RipaLip University

Subscriptions2
  • RipaLip Angler14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • RipaLip Pro14 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is CMonster free?
CMonster is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is RipaLip University free?
RipaLip University is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, CMonster or RipaLip University?
RipaLip University is rated higher. CMonster averages 2.1 out of 5 from 101 ratings, while RipaLip University averages 3.4 from 39 ratings.
Do CMonster or RipaLip University have ads?
Neither CMonster nor RipaLip University shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CMonster or RipaLip University?
CMonster ships an update every 3 months, and RipaLip University every 3 months. Most recently, CMonster was updated on November 1, 2026 and RipaLip University on November 2, 2026.

Other comparisons