SailFreeGPS

Bring your own navigation instrument on your smartphone or tablet.

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SailFreeGPS is a comprehensive sailing navigation app designed for sailors who want to bring their own navigation instruments with them. It displays vital sailing data such as current location, course over ground (COG), speed over ground (SOG), max speed, trip distance, speed average, and a magnetic compass.

The app enhances your sailing experience by providing a 6-hour history of COG and SOG to help analyze sail trim effects. It applies GPS data filtering for increased accuracy and allows sharing your position with friends. Key safety features include Man OverBoard (MOB) support with location storage and navigation back to the MOB position.

SailFreeGPS shows your track using Google Maps (48h) and includes tools for regattas with a countdown timer and departure line, waypoint management with GOTO and ETA computation, distance and heading calculations, as well as anchor and course alarms. The premium version removes ads and unlocks advanced features such as extended waypoints, enhanced graphs, relative bearing displays, customizable anchor areas, and detailed regatta functionalities. This app is suitable for sailboats and motorboats alike, crafted by an experienced sailor to deliver reliable, versatile navigation on your smartphone or tablet.

By:: FredB
Downloads:: 1,239,737+ 6.92K
Rating:: 4.62
(7,251) 35 new ratings
Version:: 4.2.3 (Last updated: 2025-04-18)
Version code:: 236
Creation date:: 2019-01-20
Permissions:: android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID
android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION
android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_TOPICS
android.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION
android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE
android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_LOCATION
android.permission.INTERNET
See more
Size:: 21.56M
Email:: co*****@sailfreegps.com
URLs:: Website ,Privacy policy
Full description:: See detailed description
Source:: Google Play Store
Updated:: a day ago

Ranking

# 53,481 ▲ 92

User reviews

SailFreeGPS is praised for its comprehensive sailing features, lightweight design, and responsive developer support, making it useful for both casual and racing sailors. However, multiple users highlight the lack of start/stop recording functionality, difficulties with the user interface especially around route management, limited benefits from the paid version, occasional glitches or GPS issues, and challenges using the app offline during offshore sailing.

Pros

Packed with many useful features for sailing such as anchor alarm, MOB marker, plotting, and speed/course displays.
Lightweight app that runs smoothly even on older Android devices with clear and easy-to-read displays.
Developer is responsive and helpful to users experiencing issues.
Free version is comprehensive, offering many features without being bloated or overly complex.
Useful for racing and general sailing navigation with features tailored to sailors' needs.

Cons

Lacks important functionality like start/stop recording of sails and the ability to save detailed trip logs within the app.
User interface and user experience can be confusing or unintuitive, particularly in managing routes and navigation features.
Paid subscription offers limited benefits beyond removing ads and allowing limited data route file saving, disappointing some users expecting more.
App can be glitchy or unstable at times, including GPS dropouts and freezing after updates.
Cannot use or update the app offline or offshore, which is problematic for users at sea without internet access.

Recent reviews

I'm use many gps but this is better gps apps from another gps apps. Love you this apps maker & I suggest everyone please 🙏 use this apps.

Pradip Das, 2025-01-26

I've tried just about every sailing app and this one has the features and interface I liked best. The one glaring missing feature is the lack of an actual nautical map. Even a noaa map overlay would be a vast improvement.