# Boat Beacon

> AIS Marine Navigation

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/id494877039](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id494877039)

## Overview

- **ID:** `id494877039`
- **Platform:** Apple
- **Type:** Apple app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Pocket Mariner Ltd.
- **Category:** Navigation
- **Rating:** 4.60 / 5 (867 ratings)
- **Version:** 5.1.6
- **Last updated:** 2026-09-16
- **First published:** 2012-02-16
- **Size:** 152 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-21
- **Store listing:** [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/boat-beacon/id494877039)
- **Website:** [http://boatbeaconapp.com](http://boatbeaconapp.com/)
- **Privacy policy:** [http://seanav.net/privacy.php](http://seanav.net/privacy.php)

## Description

Boat Beacon is an internet AIS receiver and transmitter for iPhone and iPad. It provides collision warnings, shares your boat’s position, and uses real-time AIS data to keep you aware of nearby vessels, even when the app runs in the background.

It connects to a wide network of shore receivers worldwide, offering a live ship map, CPA alarms, MOB and anchor watch, and optional add-ons like LiveView AR, group messaging, and data sharing with other apps. The app supports an Apple Watch companion, Siri voice commands, and features to export tracks and monitor your own boat’s status.

## Rankings

- #58,637 — Overall

## Review summary

Users praise Boat Beacon for anchor alarms, Navionics/AIS integration, intuitive UI, reliability, and affordable pricing. However, recurring complaints focus on crashes, incomplete data visibility, dependence on cellular service, confusing pricing, and licensing friction across devices. Overall, it's strong for safety and tracking at a good price, but stability, data completeness, offline use, and pricing transparency need improvement.

### Pros

- Anchor alarm is highly valued.
- AIS/Navionics integration allows AIS data to overlay on Navionics and feed into the Navionics Boating App.
- User-friendly UX/UI with clear visuals.
- Reliable and stable performance for cruising and planning.
- Good value for money / reasonably priced.

### Cons

- Frequent crashes and instability (crashes when paning or opening the app).
- Data coverage is inconsistent; boats sometimes do not appear or are missing compared with other apps.
- Limited offline functionality; works only with cellular service and lacks offline mode.
- Pricing/subscription can be unclear or burdensome (AIS sharing/Navionics integration requires a subscription not clearly disclosed upfront).
- Licensing issues on multiple devices (difficulty using on a second iPad or needing an additional paid copy).

## Similar extensions and apps

- [BoatNerd](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6762239759) — 4.80 / 5
- [Boat Watch Pro](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id721609826) — 4.50 / 5
- [Anchor Alarm: Boat Tracker](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6448241324) — 4.30 / 5
- [BoatAroundMe](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6753189018)
- [Sea Maps & AR: Boat GPS](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6766860755)
- [Ship Tracker - Live Radar](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6764072036)
- [Boat Instruments](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id594170910)
- [TrackaShip Universal](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id824119007) — 3.00 / 5
- [SeaNav](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id857841271) — 4.40 / 5
- [OceanTrack](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1351238883)
- [Ship Tracker: AIS Map](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6763819005)
- [Anchor Alarm: GPS Boat Watch](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6749796095)

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id494877039)