Comparison

Sailing Reference vs HSSC App

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

Head to head
About

Sailing Reference

This comprehensive nautical navigation guide offers offline access to essential sailing information, including how-to guides, calculators for tides and courses, and flashcards for COLREGs. It also features a race timer and knot-tying animations.

Highlights
  • Offline nautical reference guide
  • Tidal stream and time calculators
  • Course to steer estimation
  • COLREGs/IRPCS flashcards
  • Race timer and lap timer
  • Nautical knot animations
Features
Read full description

Sailing Reference is the comprehensive reference guide for all of your nautical navigation needs. Ideal for beginner and seasoned sailors, the app contains information crucial to passing the various RYA Yachtmaster shorebased navigation and practical courses. All content is fully available offline so is not reliant upon a data connection at all. There are handy calculators for quickly estimating a course to steer, interpolating tidal stream data, calculating times and heights of tide at secondary ports, and estimating VHF radio transmission ranges. The in-depth reference section includes dozens of illustrated and detailed how-to guides covering: • Plotting a Course to Steer • Calculating Leeway • Calculating Set and Drift • Compass Deviation and Magnetic Variation • Estimated Positions • Interpolating Tidal Streams • Calculating Depth to Anchor • Bridge Clearances • Secondary Port Calculations • Buoyage and Beacons • Safety and Distress • VHF Radio • Weather and Shipping Forecasts • and Many More! For those who need to brush up on their knowledge of the COLREGs / IRPCS, load up the flashcards for a quick quiz. Included with the app are a set of “Rules of the Road” flashcards covering numerous collision scenarios. Additional flashcards covering vessel lights, day shapes, flags and sound signals are available to purchase in-app as a single add-on pack. For the racing community there's a handy race timer with a 5,4,1,0 countdown and lap timer. Also available are instructional animations illustrating how to tie a number of the most common nautical knots. Each knot is accompanied by a brief description outlining suitable applications. The Bowline Knot is included with the main application, with other knots available to purchase in-app as a bundled add-on.

About

HSSC App

Access essential course details, student activities, and campus information. This app also features a convenient click-and-collect school shop and local weather updates.

Highlights
  • Student activity details
  • Click and collect school shop
  • Local weather
  • Message alerts
  • Building information
  • Campus map
  • Course schedules
Features
Read full description

This app is for the students and staff of Harrow School Short Courses to provide useful course information and access to a click and collect school shop service. More information for prospective students can be found here: https://www.harrowschoolshortcourses.co.uk This app includes the following functions: - Student activity details and information - Click and collect school shop - Local weather - Message alerts - Building information and campus map - Course schedules

Screenshots

Sailing Reference4 screens
HSSC App2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: HSSC App at Free against Sailing Reference's $2.99. HSSC App also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). On update cadence, 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

HSSC App is free to download; Sailing Reference costs $2.99 up front. Sailing Reference sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. HSSC App asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sailing Reference ships an update every 3 months, HSSC App every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Sailing Reference versus HSSC App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSailing ReferenceHSSC App
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.612.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOliver ShinglerHARROW SCHOOL ENTERPRISES LIMITED

Customer experience

Sailing Reference

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

HSSC App

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Sailing Reference

One-time2
  • Flashcards$0.99
  • Knots$0.99
None

HSSC App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sailing Reference free?
Sailing Reference costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is HSSC App free?
HSSC App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Sailing Reference or HSSC App have ads?
Neither Sailing Reference nor HSSC App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sailing Reference or HSSC App?
Sailing Reference ships an update every 3 months, and HSSC App every 2 months. Most recently, Sailing Reference was updated on October 24, 2026 and HSSC App on October 7, 2026.

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