Best Anchor Alarm Apps Compared (2026): 9 for iPhone & Android
Choosing the right anchor alarm app can mean the difference between a peaceful night at anchor and a dangerous situation. We compared nine anchor watch apps on what actually separates them: which phones they run on, what they really cost, and whether anyone can check on the boat from ashore. One of the nine is the app people search for that turns out not to be an anchor alarm at all.
We make one of these. Safety Anchor Alarm is ours, and it is marked as ours below rather than quietly placed first. We earn nothing if you download any of the others, and each entry lists what the app is called in the App Store, because several of them are easier to find by their listing name than by their brand. Prices and features were checked against each App Store and Google Play listing on October 10, 2026 (US prices). Store listings change, so confirm before you buy.
What to Look for in an Anchor Alarm App
Before diving into individual apps, here are the essential features every good anchor alarm should have:
- Reliable background GPS — the app must continue tracking when the screen is off and the phone is locked
- Loud, persistent alarm — it needs to wake you from sleep, not just show a notification
- Adjustable safe radius — different anchorages need different alarm distances
- Low battery consumption — it needs to run all night without killing your phone
- Simple, quick setup — when you're tired after a day of sailing, you don't want to fight with complicated settings
Anchor Alarm Apps at a Glance
| App | Runs on | Price (US) | Watch from ashore | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety Anchor Alarm(ours) | iPhone, iPad & Apple Watch | Free; optional premium | No | A free alarm that reaches you on Apple Watch |
| Ankeralarm | iOS & Android | Free; $3.99 sub or $22.99 once | Yes (Pro) | Crews mixing iPhone and Android |
| Anchor Pro | iOS, Apple Watch & Android | Free with ads; $6.99/yr | Telegram & email alerts | Alerts sent to someone ashore |
| HoldFast | iOS | Free; $4.99/yr or $9.99 once | Live web link (premium) | Custom-shaped alarm zones |
| Anchor Watch | iOS | 10 free alarms, then $4.99/yr | Yes (via iCloud) | An alarm that sounds even on silent |
| Anchor Alarm with Late Set | iOS & Apple Watch | Free | Yes | Setting the anchor point after the fact |
| Anchor Sentry | iOS & Android | $3.99 | Yes (paired devices, web map) | Shore lines, prohibited zones, NMEA data |
| Anchor Alert (PredictWind) | iOS & Android | Free; DataHub for full features | — | Boats already on PredictWind with N2K |
| Navionics Boating | iOS & Android | Subscription | Not an anchor alarm | Charts, not anchor watch |
The Anchor Alarm Apps, One by One
Safety Anchor Alarm
Pros
- Free to download — core alarm features included
- Background GPS monitoring with the screen locked
- Apple Watch alerts by sound and haptic
- Lock screen widget and Dynamic Island
- Night mode
- Anchor points library
- Anchoring calculators
- Configurable update intervals
Cons
- iOS only — no Android
- No remote watch: you cannot follow the boat from ashore yet
- Newer app, so a smaller user base than the long-established options
- Some features require premium
Verdict: Ours, so weigh it accordingly. The case for it is a genuinely usable free tier, an Apple Watch alert that reaches a sleeping crew, and no account to create. The case against it is the smallest user base here and no remote watch.
Download Safety Anchor Alarm — FreeAnkeralarm
Pros
- Large anchorage database
- Cross-platform — the main option if anyone aboard is on Android
- Community features
- Remote monitoring (Pro)
- One-time purchase option
Cons
- Pro features need a subscription or one-time unlock
- Anchorage search is an extra purchase
- More to learn than a single-purpose alarm
Verdict: The established all-rounder, and the one to pick if you need Android. Search the store for its listing name rather than the brand.
Anchor Pro
Pros
- Apple Watch companion app
- Telegram and email alerts, and a status update on request via Telegram
- Alerts on GPS signal and battery level, not just position
- Swing zone with two radii for tight spots
- Free trial of premium
Cons
- Ad-supported unless you subscribe
- More data on screen than a simple alarm
Verdict: A mature single-purpose alarm with a useful trick: Telegram alerts, so a crew member ashore or in another cabin gets the message too.
HoldFast
Pros
- Core alarm free
- Progressive alarm: a nudge near the edge, then a loud alarm
- You set how long GPS can drop out before it alarms
- Draw custom alarm zones around rocks or moorings (premium)
- Track history replay (premium)
- Lifetime purchase option
Cons
- iOS only
- New app with very few ratings so far
- Remote watch needs premium
Verdict: A thoughtful newcomer built by liveaboard sailors. The progressive alarm and the GPS-dropout setting go straight at false alarms, the most common reason people stop using an anchor alarm.
Anchor Watch
Pros
- Critical Alerts: sounds even with the phone on silent
- Remote Watch through your own iCloud account
- Set the anchor by pointing the phone at it
- Dynamic Island and lock screen
- Anchorage history
- No third-party analytics or ads
Cons
- iOS only
- Needs a subscription after 10 alarms
Verdict: A polished, privacy-first alarm made on a boat in Norway. Cheap to keep running, but only free for the first ten nights.
Anchor Alarm with Late Set
Pros
- Late set: place the anchor afterwards if you forgot to set it
- Draw a custom alarm area
- Remote monitoring from a second device
- Find My Boat for getting back by dinghy
- Map of more than 8,000 anchorages
- Apple Watch app
Cons
- iOS only
- Fewer ratings than Anchor Pro or Ankeralarm
Verdict: Its name is its best feature: if you only remember the alarm an hour after anchoring, you can still put the anchor where it actually is.
Anchor Sentry
Pros
- Shore-line mode that watches heading instead of position
- Prohibited zones that alert when entered
- Pair several devices and follow the boat ashore
- Navionics charts with a Navionics subscription
- Barograph, GPX export and NMEA echo sounder data
- Warns when a neighbouring Anchor Sentry boat drags
Cons
- Paid up front, no free tier
- Many settings to learn
Verdict: The toolbox for sailors who anchor in unusual ways. If you tie to shore in Norway or Turkey, the heading mode is the reason to buy it.
Anchor Alert (PredictWind)
Pros
- Weather integration
- NMEA 2000 instrument data
- AIS target display
- Backed by PredictWind
Cons
- Full features require DataHub hardware
- More than most people need for anchor monitoring alone
Verdict: Makes sense if you are already in the PredictWind ecosystem with N2K instruments. Overkill if you only want an alarm.
Navionics Boating
Pros
- Excellent charts — the reason to have it
Cons
- It is not an anchor alarm and does not have one
Verdict: Listed only because so many people search for a Navionics anchor alarm. The Boating app does not have one — the “Anchor Drag” alarm people remember belongs to Garmin chartplotters, not the phone app. Use it for charts, and run an alarm alongside it.
Watching the Boat From Ashore
The biggest difference between these apps is not the alarm itself, which every one of them does, but what happens when you take the dinghy in for dinner. Remote watch means one phone stays on the boat and a second phone (or a browser) follows it. Ankeralarm, Anchor Watch, Anchor Alarm with Late Set and Anchor Sentry pair devices; HoldFast shares a private live web link on its premium plan; Anchor Pro sends alerts by Telegram or email instead.
Two things are true of all of them. The phone left aboard needs a data connection (mobile data, marina Wi-Fi or Starlink), and an alert ashore only helps if someone can get back to the boat in time. Safety Anchor Alarm does not have remote watch yet, so if you regularly leave the boat at anchor, pick one that does.
Anchor Alarm Apps for Android
Five apps here run on Android: Ankeralarm (listed as “Anchor Alarm” in Google Play), Anchor Pro, Anchor Sentry, PredictWind and SailGrib's “Anchor Alarm - SailGrib AA”, which is Android only. If your crew mixes iPhone and Android, Ankeralarm or Anchor Pro lets everyone run the same app. Safety Anchor Alarm, HoldFast, Anchor Watch and Anchor Alarm with Late Set are iPhone only.
Phone App vs. Chartplotter Anchor Alarm
Many chartplotters (Garmin, Raymarine, B&G) have built-in anchor alarm features. How do they compare to phone apps?
- Phone apps are louder — your phone is typically in the cabin with you, while the chartplotter is at the helm. A phone alarm is more likely to wake you.
- Phone apps are more portable — you can take the alarm ashore if you dinghy to a restaurant.
- Chartplotters have better GPS — external GPS antennas on chartplotters are generally more accurate than phone GPS.
- Phone apps don't drain boat batteries — no need to leave the chartplotter and instruments running all night.
The best approach is to use both: set the chartplotter alarm as a backup and rely on a phone app as your primary alert.
Tips for Using Any Anchor Alarm App
These tips apply regardless of which app you choose. For a complete guide on overnight anchoring, including alarm setup, see our dedicated article.
- Keep your phone plugged in. GPS tracking drains battery. Plug in to a USB charger for overnight use.
- Set the right radius. Too tight and you'll get false alarms from normal boat swinging. Too wide and you won't be alerted early enough. Start with 40-50 meters for a typical anchorage.
- Wait for the anchor to set. Don't activate the alarm immediately after dropping anchor. Let the boat settle on the hook first, then set your alarm position.
- Test the alarm sound. Make sure the volume is up and the alarm is loud enough to wake you. Some phones have Do Not Disturb modes that can silence alarms.
- Use it alongside good seamanship. An app is a tool, not a substitute for proper anchoring technique, adequate scope, and awareness of conditions. Learn what causes anchors to drag so you can prevent it.
Our Recommendation
We are biased, so here is the recommendation by need rather than a single winner.
- You want a free alarm on iPhone and Apple Watch, tonight: Safety Anchor Alarm, our anchor alarm app. The alarm is free; premium is optional.
- Someone aboard uses Android: Ankeralarm or Anchor Pro, both on Android and iPhone.
- You often leave the boat at anchor: an app with remote watch, such as Ankeralarm, Anchor Watch or HoldFast premium.
- You want alerts sent to someone else: Anchor Pro, with Telegram and email alerts.
- You anchor with shore lines or near hazards: Anchor Sentry or HoldFast, which watch heading or custom-drawn zones.
- You already have PredictWind and NMEA 2000 instruments: Anchor Alert, inside the PredictWind app.
Regardless of which app you choose, the most important thing is to actually use one. Too many sailors skip the anchor alarm and rely on hoping for the best. A simple app on your phone could save your boat, your safety, and your peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free anchor alarm app for iPhone?
Which anchor alarm apps work on Android?
Can an anchor alarm app alert me when I am ashore?
Do anchor alarm apps work with the screen locked?
Are anchor alarm apps reliable enough for overnight use?
Do I need internet for an anchor alarm app to work?
Try Safety Anchor Alarm Free
Free to download. Core alarm features included. Optional premium for advanced tools.
Download for iOS