Comparison

Sailing Reference vs Sail Bristol

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

Sail Bristol

Access essential marine information for UK Harbours, Ports, and Marinas. This app provides a comprehensive guide to marine services, tidal information, weather updates, and local restrictions, all in one convenient location for recreational boaters.

Highlights
  • Marine services directory
  • Tidal information
  • Lock and tidal restrictions
  • Local weather updates
  • Information for recreational boaters
Features
Read full description

The “Sail Apps” allows you to access essential information and services focused on the marine sector in UK Harbours, Ports and Marinas. It is an invaluable source of marine information for all who enjoy recreational boating. With all the information in one App, there’s no need to look elsewhere as it’s all in one easy to use location, featuring: “Everything Marine” your guide to marine services providers, Tidal Information, Locks and tidal restrictions within the location, up to date local weather and much more. We aim to provide you with all the information you need in one place, made by Mariners for Mariners who know what’s required for you to get the most out of your visit to other locations.

Screenshots

Sailing Reference4 screens
Sail Bristol4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Sail Bristol at Free against Sailing Reference's $2.99. Sail Bristol also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sailing Reference ships an update every 3 months, Sail Bristol monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 3 level
Sailing Reference versus Sail Bristol: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSailing ReferenceSail Bristol
Price$2.99Free — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.6
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB42 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOliver ShinglerMy Home Port Limited

Customer experience

Sailing Reference

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

Sail Bristol

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

Sail Bristol

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sailing Reference free?
Sailing Reference costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Sail Bristol free?
Sail Bristol is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Sailing Reference or Sail Bristol have ads?
Neither Sailing Reference nor Sail Bristol shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sailing Reference or Sail Bristol?
Sailing Reference ships an update every 3 months, and Sail Bristol monthly. Most recently, Sailing Reference was updated on October 10, 2026 and Sail Bristol on October 8, 2026.

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