Comparison
Both plot charts on a computer you control. OpenCPN is the open-source helm plotter with a plugin ecosystem. qtVlm is a navigation app whose distinguishing feature is weather routing on GRIB files.
| OpenCPN | qtVlm | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Desktop App | Desktop App |
| Pricing | open-source | freemium |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| License | GPL-2.0 | — |
| GitHub stars | 1.5k | — |
| Last commit | today | — |
| Categories | navigation | navigation, weather-routing |
| Platforms | windows, macos, linux, android | windows, macos, linux, ios, android |
| Languages | — | — |
| API style | — | — |
Choose OpenCPN if…
Choose OpenCPN if you want a free, self-hosted plotter and you will add weather or AIS through plugins and other tools.
Full OpenCPN profileChoose qtVlm if…
Choose qtVlm if routing against GRIB weather is the main job and you are fine with a proprietary app and a paid upgrade path.
Full qtVlm profile