Whether it is a Baltic Sea sailing trip, a kitesurfer on the beach or a SUP beginner on a lake, these are the apps that belong on board.
This comparison focuses on apps and prices in the German App Store. Availability and prices can differ in other regions.
Whether it is a Baltic Sea sailing trip, a kitesurfer on the beach or a SUP beginner on a lake, these are the apps that belong on board. Windy.app and Windfinder provide detailed wind forecasts for more than 160,000 spots, MarineTraffic shows ships in real time via AIS, the Ankeralarm stands watch while the crew sleeps, and NV Charts puts nautical charts for the North Sea and Baltic on the iPhone. Tide data, knot exercises and regatta tracking complete the toolbox. As of March 2026, Windy.app has a revised spot database and NV Charts ships new German coastal charts. The apps were chosen for precise local wind forecasts rather than coarse model output, official or safety-relevant charts with regular updates, offline functionality in areas without mobile coverage, low battery drain, AIS or ship-radar integration, and reliable alarms for the anchor, weather and tides.
Wing, Voile, Windsurf, Foil is a GPS tracker for water sports: it logs windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing and foiling sessions via the iPhone's GPS — speed, distance, tracks and jumps — so sessions can be compared and shared afterwards. It is freemium, with deeper analysis in the paid tier.
Windy.com visualizes professional weather data on a global map, with wind, rain, pressure and cloud layers drawn from models including NOAA, ECMWF and GFS. Several models can be displayed and compared in one place, which makes it a standard planning tool on the water. It is freemium, with higher-resolution layers in the paid tier.
Windy.app focuses on precise wind forecasts for water sports, with spot-based data, tides and wave information rather than generic city weather. Its spot database was revised by March 2026. The app is freemium and suits sailors, surfers and kiters who need conditions for a specific launch, not a whole region.
MarineTraffic tracks ships worldwide in real time via AIS, with positions, vessel details, port information and arrivals. On the water it adds situational awareness around commercial traffic; on land it serves anyone following a specific vessel. It is freemium, with fleet and notification features in paid plans.
Knoten 3D teaches more than 220 knots in animated 3D: each knot can be rotated, paused and watched step by step, covering sailing, climbing and everyday use. It is the reference app for learning or checking a knot before tying it, costs €6.99 once, needs no subscription and works offline on board.
NV Charts brings digital nautical charts for the North Sea and Baltic to the iPhone, with GPS position, AIS overlays and route navigation built in. New German coastal charts were added by March 2026. The app is freemium: chart regions are unlocked as needed, with offline use on the water in mind.
Ankeralarm is an anchor watch for iOS: set the boat's position and an allowed radius, and the app raises the alarm if the anchor drags while the crew sleeps. It is a safety tool for overnight stops, offered as freemium, with the core watch usable free and finer settings in the paid tier.
Windfinder supplies wind forecasts for around 160,000 spots worldwide for sailors, surfers and kitesurfers, with tides for about 20,000 places and live readings from weather stations. The free app shows current measurements and forecasts; Plus adds wind alarms, the hourly Superforecast and an ad-free experience.
DWD WarnWetter delivers the official severe-weather warnings of the Deutscher Wetterdienst for Germany, down to the level of an individual municipality. On the water and ashore it is the authoritative source for storms, gusts and thunderstorms; the app is free and tax-funded, with no premium tier.
Ventusky draws wind, rain, temperature and other layers on an interactive global map, showing how weather systems develop hour by hour. It suits water sports enthusiasts who want the broader picture beyond a single spot forecast. It is freemium, with additional models and ad-free use in the paid tier.
eStela is a GPS regatta tracker: boats run the app during a race and the fleet appears in real time on a map in the app or a browser, with replays afterwards. It is free and aimed at regatta sailors and race committees rather than casual cruising; the source flags it as an insider tip with a focused audience.
Download price only. In-app purchases and subscriptions may cost extra.
App library · United States App Store. Prices and availability reflect the last check.
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