Comparison

qtVlm vs WayPointMaster

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

Head to head
About

qtVlm

This navigation software is designed for sailing boats, offering a free version with basic GRIB viewing and an optional full version with advanced weather routing, chart modules, and communication features. It supports various chart formats and NMEA data sources, with a simulation mode for learning.

Highlights
  • GRIB viewer with advanced functions
  • Weather routing and route modules
  • Support for Raster, Vector, and MBTiles charts
  • Harmonic file support for tides and currents
  • AIS and Iridium GO! communication
  • Anchor Alarm module
  • Simulation Mode for learning
Features
Read full description

qtVlm is a navigation software for Sailing Boats. The application has a free version with basic features and a full version available through in-app purchase. The free version of qtVlm is a full grib viewer displaying all types of gribs and providing many advanced grib functions. It supports basics charts and some simple instruments. It includes also an Anchor Alarm module, a viewer for shapefiles, for instance those coming from SHOM, and can be configured to receive boat position either from internal GPS or from an external NMEA source connected through tcp, udp or gpsd. The full version adds many functions and features: - Weather routing and route modules, - A complete set of navigation Instruments, - Charts modules for Raster charts, Vector charts (S57, S63 and CM93) and mbtiles, - Support for Harmonic files (tides and currents), - Iridium GO! communication - AIS, - Start line mode, - Access to Great Circle gribs, qtVlm can also be used in Simulation Mode, which allows you to simulate a navigation through our server. This is the best way to learn using qtVlm. Once activated the full version will be available on all your iOS devices.

About

WayPointMaster

Read full description

WayPointMaster is an offline GPS instrument for the helm. It shows live course and speed, stores waypoints, records tracks, and steers you to a mark or along a saved route — with no account and without sending your location to a server. Built for small-craft and coastal work: large monospaced readouts, day and night screens, and everything stored on the iPhone. THE BRIDGE (FREE) • Course over ground (COG) and speed over ground (SOG), with compass heading when the GPS course is stale • Bearing (BRG), distance (DST), time to go, and ETA while navigating • Coordinates in decimal degrees, degrees–decimal minutes (DDM), or degrees–minutes–seconds (DMS) • GPS status you can trust: OK, weak, poor, lost, plus horizontal accuracy and a warning when the fix is old • If Location is denied, a clear screen explains why GPS is needed and opens iOS Settings • Mark a waypoint from a live, accurate fix — not from a dead last-known position • Waypoints listed as WP (name), with categories (anchorage, fishing, pier, hazard, other), notes, search, and sort • Navigate to a waypoint: steering arrow, arrival alarm (default 50 m, adjustable) • Follow a saved track along its recorded points • Record tracks with time and distance intervals; average speed ignores time spent stopped • Export waypoints and tracks as GPX via the system Share sheet • Day / night display, optional auto day–night, optional keep-screen-on • GPS modes: Precise (navigation accuracy) or Economy (saves battery) • Speed in km/h or knots; distance in kilometres or nautical miles • Languages: English, Ukrainian, German, French, Italian, Greek, Spanish, Hindi, Simplified Chinese, or follow the iPhone LIFETIME (ONE-TIME IN-APP PURCHASE) • Import GPX: waypoints (wpt), tracks (trk), and routes (rte) • Optional background GPS so the live fix and an open track can continue when the app is not in front A 7-day trial of the extra features starts on first launch. After it ends, the bridge, your waypoints, and your tracks stay fully usable. Restore Purchases is in Settings and on the paywall. PRIVACY AND LOCATION WayPointMaster has no developer backend, no ads, and no tracking. Precise location is used only on the device for course, speed, marks, navigation, and logs. Background / Always access is off until you turn on Settings → GPS → Background GPS. While it is on, iOS shows the system location indicator. Coordinates stay on the phone unless you yourself export or share a GPX file. Support and the privacy policy are in Settings 1. WayPointMaster is an instrument, not a chartplotter: it does not include nautical charts or official notices to mariners. Use it with your own paper or electronic charts and good seamanship.

Screenshots

qtVlm4 screens
WayPointMaster4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: WayPointMaster at none against qtVlm's 1. On price, 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

Both are free to download. qtVlm sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. WayPointMaster asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
qtVlm versus WayPointMaster: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterqtVlmWayPointMaster
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews79.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size124 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMeltemus SASIvan Sekretariuk

In-app purchases

1 purchases

qtVlm

One-time1
  • Full version$49.99
None

WayPointMaster

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is qtVlm free?
qtVlm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is WayPointMaster free?
WayPointMaster is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do qtVlm or WayPointMaster have ads?
Neither qtVlm nor WayPointMaster shows ads.

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