Comparison

Helmsman vs Ballistics

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

Head to head
About

Helmsman

Control your boat's navigation and speed with this app. It offers waypoint navigation, cruise control for consistent speed, route recording for future trips, and an anchor function to maintain position.

Highlights
  • Waypoint navigation with online maps
  • Cruise control for set speed
  • Record and reuse routes
  • One-button anchor function
Features
Read full description

This application is highly integrated into our Helmsman Navigation System, which is a boat controller designed to do four major things: Navigation: Accurate waypoint navigation thanks to an excellent GPS receiver using online maps. Cruise Control: For efficient sailing or trolling with a set speed, even in bad conditions. Record Route: You can record your routes so you can re-use them on your next trip. Anchor: With a push of button your boat will stay where it is, convenient and reliable.

About

Ballistics

This app provides advanced ballistics calculations for riflemen, featuring multiple calculation methods, a comprehensive bullet database, and real-time adjustment updates. It offers custom virtual meters for environmental data and supports unlimited rifle/ammo configurations.

Highlights
  • Multiple ballistics calculation methods (Point Mass, Siacci, Pejsa)
  • Comprehensive bullet database (3500+ entries)
  • Real-time elevation/windage adjustment updates
  • Custom virtual meters (Anemometer, Inclinometer, etc.)
  • Unlimited rifle/ammo configuration storage
  • Airgun mode with muzzle energy input
  • Stadiametric reticles with aiming pointers
Read full description

Every smart rifleman needs Ballistics... Nimoh® Ballistics is unique across the entire smartphone marketplace in terms of practical features not found in any other ballistics application in the world and a professional smartphone user interface unrivalled in versatility. Aside from all of the standard features expected of a ballistics application, all the following unparalleled features included: 1. All three main modern ballistics methods – Point Mass, Siacci, and Pejsa, implemented correctly and accurately 2. Single System Console where all important data variables, turret adjustments, and sight picture are displayed 3. Custom virtual meters for input variables, beautifully crafted, including Anemometer, Wind Direction Indicator, Inclinometer, Compass and Hygrometer/thermometer 4. Up-to-date, 3500+ strong Bullet Database, all from manufacturer’s catalogues only – stored with manufacturer’s catalogue numbers and manufacturer only data – no spurious information from unofficial sources 5. Number selection dials for quick and easy input of numerical data – no cumbersome text boxes 6. Airgun mode which amongst other things, allows for muzzle energy input, accounting for the subsequent change in muzzle velocity, and allow when pellet is changed to another of a differing weight 7. Full user enable/disable help documentation available from all primary application pages to ensure correct operation 8. Instant elevation/windage adjustment value updates in real-time when any input variable is changed – no clumsy, extra-step ‘Done’, ‘OK’ or ‘Calculate’ etc. buttons 9. Instant saving of all variables to the application database – no inconvenient ‘Save’, ‘Close’, or ‘Store’ etc. buttons to be remembered. When the application is started, it starts where last left 11. Store an unlimited number of rifle/ammo configurations 12. Inline reformatting of range table plot intervals to facilitate easy reading – long range shooters can set intervals up to 500 yards or metres – air gunners as low as 1 yard or metre 13. Supports both portrait and landscape mode with neat navigable layout! 14. Aiming pointers on (low-cost, in-app purchased) stadiametric reticles for real-time target acquisition. Don’t simply take our word for it – try it! After all it’s free!

Screenshots

Helmsman4 screens
Ballistics4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Ballistics at 4.4 against Helmsman's 1.9. Ballistics also leads on review sentiment (45% vs 22%) and ratings volume (71 vs 8). Helmsman's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 15) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). 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. Ballistics sells 15 one-off in-app purchases. Helmsman asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ballistics holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 1.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ballistics has 71 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of Helmsman's written reviews are positive against 45% of Ballistics's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Helmsman ships an update fortnightly, Ballistics every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Helmsman versus Ballistics: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHelmsmanBallistics
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.9 (8 ratings)4.4 (71 ratings) — better
Positive reviews22.2% of reviews45.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings871 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size57 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer无境科技Nimoh Scientific

Customer experience

Helmsman

All ratings7 ratings
Positive14.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative85.7%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive22.2%
Neutral33.3%
Negative44.4%

Ballistics

All ratings69 ratings
Positive87.0%
Neutral4.3%
Negative8.7%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive45.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative54.5%

In-app purchases

None

Helmsman

No in-app purchases

15 purchases

Ballistics

One-time15
  • Primary Arms$2.99
  • Generic$2.99
  • Burris Optics$2.99
Show 12 more
  • Leupold & Stevens$2.99
  • SWFA SS$2.99
  • Vortex Optics$2.99
  • Hawke Optics$2.99
  • Nightforce$2.99
  • Athlon Optics$2.99
  • Sightron USA$2.99
  • Vector Optics$2.99
  • Zeiss$2.99
  • Schmidt & Bender$2.99
  • Steiner$2.99
  • March$2.99

Questions

Is Helmsman free?
Helmsman is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ballistics free?
Ballistics is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Helmsman or Ballistics?
Ballistics is rated higher. Helmsman averages 1.9 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Ballistics averages 4.4 from 71 ratings.
Do Helmsman or Ballistics have ads?
Neither Helmsman nor Ballistics shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Helmsman or Ballistics?
Helmsman ships an update fortnightly, and Ballistics every 2 months. Most recently, Helmsman was updated on October 24, 2026 and Ballistics on October 26, 2026.

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