Review Insights · App Store
MarineTraffic - Ship Tracking
MarineTraffic Applications LTD · 64,933 ratings · ★ 4.8
4.8
★★★★★
64,933 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 87 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"update"
37 negative reviews mention this · 43% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Not a good update. Was fine, now sucks. I’m not going to get into why this update is junk." - Magasuxbigdix
2
"version"
27 negative reviews mention this · 31% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Dimensions??. I was finally getting used to the new design when I realized the vessel dimensions were moved to the pay version. Really? The likelihood of me paying for this just went to zero. Come on!!" - duneburds
3
"vessel"
13 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Dimensions??. I was finally getting used to the new design when I realized the vessel dimensions were moved to the pay version. Really? The likelihood of me paying for this just went to zero. Come on!!" - duneburds
4
"terrible"
13 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Terrible would be a compliment. I have at least 20 sailors who used to use Marine Traffic in its old form. After the update, either we are all so stupid that we can’t figure it out or the app is now useless to real boaters. I have one friend whose boat name is used by ot…" - Macme8
5
"years"
12 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Once a perfectly good app, now completely ruined!. I am a professional mariner and, like so many others, have used MarineTraffic daily for so many work-related functions for years. The recent overhaul of the app was quite possibly the biggest mistake the owners/developers could have made. S…" - XæX1952
6
"change"
12 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Once a perfectly good app, now completely ruined!. I am a professional mariner and, like so many others, have used MarineTraffic daily for so many work-related functions for years. The recent overhaul of the app was quite possibly the biggest mistake the owners/developers could have made. S…" - XæX1952
7
"paid"
12 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "New version has less options and visibility. I have a paid subscription. The new version does less than the free previous version. The number of strokes for visibility on each vessel has increased and provides less information. You cannot default the site to local time. You must chang…" - coffeetime17
8
"account"
12 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Don’t update version. Used to be a great app for seeing what’s out in the water near me. Now this requires a whole account setup and such nonsense. Stick with the old version and don’t fall for the shiny “improvement “" - Dan the man with the plan
9
"sucks"
11 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Not a good update. Was fine, now sucks. I’m not going to get into why this update is junk." - Magasuxbigdix
10
"longer"
11 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Once a perfectly good app, now completely ruined!. I am a professional mariner and, like so many others, have used MarineTraffic daily for so many work-related functions for years. The recent overhaul of the app was quite possibly the biggest mistake the owners/developers could have made. S…" - XæX1952
11
"better"
11 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Slow. The old app was so much better and easier to use" - BFD 113
12
"ruined"
9 negative reviews mention this · 10% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Once a perfectly good app, now completely ruined!. I am a professional mariner and, like so many others, have used MarineTraffic daily for so many work-related functions for years. The recent overhaul of the app was quite possibly the biggest mistake the owners/developers could have made. S…" - XæX1952
📋 All 87 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Once a perfectly good app, now completely ruined!
I am a professional mariner and, like so many others, have used MarineTraffic daily for so many work-related functions for years. The recent overhaul of the app was quite possibly the biggest mistake the owners/developers could have made. So many features and customizations are no longer available, while others have become paywalled. Functionality is drastically reduced and the app is considerably less useful. On top of that, the UI doesn’t even work properly, and there are touch sensitivity issues that make using the app an incredibly frustrating experience. The new system of subscription plans makes no sense and the prices advertised are so high that one would be forgiven for thinking it was a joke. This change exemplifies yet another good thing ruined by buffoons who think they’re saving the world and elect to mess with an industry they have no business being in, and leave it in a burning heap.
Terrible would be a compliment
I have at least 20 sailors who used to use Marine Traffic in its old form. After the update, either we are all so stupid that we can’t figure it out or the app is now useless to real boaters.
I have one friend whose boat name is used by others - I see no way to select the correct boat.
The recent list should be editable, it is not.
Setting up a favorites list is impossible because of the above.
If you have decided that only paying subscribers can use this app please let us know and we will happily uninstall it!! If not, please fix the access issues so that we can again find what we are looking for.
I have one friend whose boat name is used by others - I see no way to select the correct boat.
The recent list should be editable, it is not.
Setting up a favorites list is impossible because of the above.
If you have decided that only paying subscribers can use this app please let us know and we will happily uninstall it!! If not, please fix the access issues so that we can again find what we are looking for.
Can’t even text a boat to someone?!
The UI is really lost
Garbage Update
This app used to work great but not anymore
Omitted safety information
The new version omits the messages that vessels display. Critical information like CPA’s and vessel destinations no longer show up and cannot be found on the app. These messages that were prominently displayed on the older version NEED to appear on this new version. Read Reddit and Facebook. This is a huge issue! Please fix it asap!
After update, must register, for free version.
In iOS, the update has no way to use the free portion of the app without registering or linking the app to apple or google, and a third entity. Even after deleting and reloading, there is no link to “skip” this requirement and I can go no further in the app.
Don’t update version
Used to be a great app for seeing what’s out in the water near me. Now this requires a whole account setup and such nonsense. Stick with the old version and don’t fall for the shiny “improvement “
Since update
After update app is absolutely trash Will be deleting subscription. I use every day for work all day not anymore.
New update
New update is horrible. You can’t see vessels unless zoomed way in, there is no longer a measurement tool, and when you click on a vessel it’s slower and information displayed is less user friendly. Would pay just to use the old app again.
-Unlimited Master GL
-Unlimited Master GL
Absolute rubbish
Used to be an incredibly decent app until the most recent update. Now it’s completely unusable. POS developers! Use Vessel Finder instead, as another commenter suggested. Everyone should delete this app immediately.
The app has been ruined!
I’m deleting my marine traffic app after many many years of using it and loving it. The ownership changed hands and the app is now unrecognizable and unusable. The greedy new owners have destroyed it and are now charging money for pretty much everything. There are better options out there. Very sad to lose what was a great app.
Now data mining operation with a required account
Latest update has made this a data mining instrument
App Update is Not Good
I paid for this app. Why is my data being tracked on the paid version?
Invasive privacy policy
Ridiculously invasive. Do you need to know what I had for breakfast before allowing me to use the app, too? Why don’t I just give you my ss number, credit card, birth certificate, and naming rights to my first born while I’m at it? Deleted.
Nautical Maps
I paid via Apple for a full year nautical maps but the new app update doesn’t give me nautical maps now I have to upgrade to the pro account…not fair…
Another one bites the dust!
Like most apps on the iOS platform this one has become unusable. The drive to monetise and track usage and personal data is slowing killing the App Store. Not sure it is such a bad thing, maybe it will open the way for a real competitor to Apple…
Worse after update
This app was so much better before the most recent update. Now it’s terrible and almost unusable. Usually updates mean improvements. Not so with this one. I guess I’ll be looking for another one.
WTF
Used to be simple, amazing app. Now basically useless. Someone should be fired for this re-design.
The worst update ever!
This is not just the worst update of the MarineTraffic app, it is the worst change of any app that I’ve witnessed ever! You’ve ruined a beautiful and perfectly working app! Bring back the old version!!! It is not the best tracking app any more.
Sucks!
Used to be great! Update screwed up the UI, it’s basically unusable now. Sucks!
Terrible after updating
I have an account that I can no longer use. The app keeps using a different email and I can’t change to the other one
Completely failed
Completely failed
Ruined
Used to be nice- new owners ruined this app. A pitiable loss to the maritime community. Try "VesselFinder" instead; it's the better choice now.
Screwed up a great app
I and hundreds of people in my industry used this app for many years. Then a few months ago in a money grab they changed the entire app and as usual nothing was changed for the better. Why IT people think they have to change things when nobody is complaining is beyond me. It may have been ‘’the number marine traffic app’’ but not anymore.
Still bad
Besides destroying the great user interface the older version had and not having a user defined default map to always have so users don't have to create a new base map every time, they're now blocking users from the older version users liked. I have two iPad Pros, one with the older version and one always updated to the latest version to compare. The old version is no longer available. I'm now going to find a better app to replace this app on both iPads. This one isn't worth it.
I have an account why are you updating it?
Got an update on the app downloaded the update now the app sucks fix it back to what it used to be. If not, I’m going to delete it and I will recommend everybody else to delete it.
Used to be great now terrible
This app used to be my go to for monitoring vessels in my area. The updates this year have ruined it and took away features that I had paid for. Mariners across the country have complained but the company doesn’t care.
You used to be great
I relied on you every time I left the dock. As a small vessel among many large ones, you were essential. Now- I’m sorry, but it gives me nothing I recognize or need. I would have paid to keep the old, but I can’t see giving a dime for even the pro version. Shopping elsewhere after, maybe 16 years?
How did they screw it up so bad
Long time user. New update took most features away. Icons for ships look so basic compared to before. I even tried the upgrade which has a monthly fee and the pay version is still way worse than the prior free version. I feels like they took all of their capabilities and threw them out the window and hire some non-boaters to design the new app. Management took something great and completely screwed it up. I would have given zero stars but it won’t let me.
Herodotus’s
This app sucks now.
Can’t open app on iPhone.
Since recent updates it works on iPad but on iPhone
I can’t get past terms & conditions, it’s an endless loop. So can’t get in to ask for help.
I can’t get past terms & conditions, it’s an endless loop. So can’t get in to ask for help.
wow
You literally ruined an app that needed no improvements. Now it’s glitchy, everything is tiny, its accuracy is iffy and ships magically disappear when zoomed in. 🤷🏼♂️
Update Terrible
Before I was forced to update this app I was able to see info on the freighters (size, speed, how far away it was from my location, etc.), now it shows only pictures that other people took of this ship and wind direction (who cares?!?!). I’m shopping around for a new app now that will actually be informative to me. Sad because I told a lot of people this great app (used to be that is!).
Ruined the best Marine App
What a shame… This App used to be useful, colorful and mostly free for amateurs. The last update is a pale version of what it was! Barely usable, forcing to create an account in order to syphon private data and inciting to pay unreasonable subscription for amateurs. I just lost one of my hobby: watching marine traffic around the globe that made me dreaming. Friends around me having the same hobby are just giving up as well. Too bad
Data
They just want to collect all your data
Account Required Now
Dumb. Free app now requires an account. Deleted.
Have used this app for years, the new look is BAD
You guys need to listen to the feedback, sometimes a major effort is worth backing out of rather than going “down with the ship”
Terrible redesign
This app was great before the war but is now redesigned and impossible to understand or view. Please switch back to old design......
Constant logouts. Difficult to get on
They are constantly logging you out even though you pay them for their service. They make it difficult to log back on. Completely unnecessary bad user experience
Ruined App
Moved parts of free ais data to paid section, no disclosures. Removed grid view of user uploaded photos. For literally no reason the new app MOVES the center to any ship you click on. App ruined for the sake of change.
New update isn’t good
I paid for the service I used to be able to do measurements in the app, with the new update. I can no longer do that. One star
Horrible upgrade
I pay for the app. Now I have to create an acct w/my personal information that can breached when Marine Traffic gets hacked.
Don’t like the last update. The last update no longer shows the size of the ship
I don’t like this last change at all I’ll be looking for a different app
Catastrophic “upgrade”
What a shame. One of my favorite apps has been rendered practically unusable by an “upgrade” that no one wanted. Canceling my subscription and will look for a new product.
Failed lost account
Lost the account that I paid for after their update and there is not option to recover account, what a shame, just theft!
Go Back to the Original Version of This App
The original version of this app was so much better! A big thumbs down to the new version!
Was Good, Now Sucks
Not sure how you can ruin an app so fast without doing it on purpose.
Update is awful
This used to be my all-time favorite app. I recommended it to so many people. The new update makes it almost unusable. Bring back the old version I paid for!!
Can’t log in
I had the free version and then something updated somewhere and now can no longer use the app. It asked me to create an account but it won’t let me, every time I try it returns to having me create an account, endlessly. I am now using another app without problem.
Used to be good
It used to be the best, but now it’s a disappointment. I need an account to use it. The difference between tugboats and cargo ships is barely noticeable. Why would they make them the same color? I’m looking for a better alternative. Use it if you have to, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Sign in loop
The app is still broken! I paid for the app and have had it for years but now the T&C send you into a never ending loop when using Apple ID to login. They have zero support. Unfortunate for something that was nice to have.
+ 37 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
95%
Positive (4-5★)
2%
Neutral (3★)
3%
Negative (1-2★)