# Helmsman vs JBD BMS

The clearest difference is rating: JBD BMS at 3.1 against Helmsman's 2.0. JBD BMS also leads on ratings volume (26 vs 7). Helmsman's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

JBD BMS holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 26 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 22% and 23% positive.

Helmsman ships an update fortnightly, JBD BMS every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Helmsman | JBD BMS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helmsman/id939511674/reviews) | **[3.1 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jbd-bms/id6479194416/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **26** |
| Positive reviews | 22.2% of reviews | **23.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 57 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [无境科技](https://appshunter.io/developer/1138231168) | [Dongguan Jiabaida Electronic Science & Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1420560982) |

## What reviewers say

### Helmsman

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helmsman/id939511674)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### JBD BMS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jbd-bms/id6479194416)

Monitor and control lithium batteries in real-time via Bluetooth or WiFi. View historical data, manage charge/discharge, and update device firmware. Device sharing and language switching are also available.

**Highlights:** Real-time battery status monitoring, Historical data graphs, Charge and discharge control, Device management, Firmware upgrades, Bluetooth/WiFi connectivity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Helmsman free?

Helmsman is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is JBD BMS free?

JBD BMS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Helmsman or JBD BMS?

JBD BMS is rated higher. Helmsman averages 2.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while JBD BMS averages 3.1 from 26 ratings.

### Do Helmsman or JBD BMS have ads?

Neither Helmsman nor JBD BMS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Helmsman or JBD BMS?

Helmsman ships an update fortnightly, and JBD BMS every 3 weeks. Most recently, Helmsman was updated on September 27, 2026 and JBD BMS on October 9, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*