# ActiveCaptain® — user reviews > 890 indexed App Store user reviews of ActiveCaptain® by Garmin, rated 4.00/5 from 5,011 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 3,251 · 4★ 403 · 3★ 185 · 2★ 248 · 1★ 924 ## What do users think of ActiveCaptain®? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 👍 Easy to use - 🚀 Seamless integration with Garmin devices - 💡 Useful for planning trips and managing waypoints - 🚀 Convenient for updating software and charts - 👍 Great app for Garmin users **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and connection issues - 🔍 Limited chart and mapping functionality compared to competitors - 🤔 Difficult to transfer data between devices - 🤔 Confusing and not very intuitive user interface - 💰 Expensive for the features provided **Commonly reported bugs** - Charts and maps not loading properly - Waypoints and routes not syncing correctly - Constant prompts to purchase additional charts - Compatibility issues with older Garmin devices **Most requested features** - Ability to duplicate and edit existing routes - Sync user data across multiple devices - Improved chart detail and coverage - Animated tides and currents - Better integration with other navigation apps ## Newest reviews (10 of 890) ### 4/5 — Convivial *2026-08-09, version 44.0* Pour travailler, comme planifier ses routes, mettre les waypoints, suivre sur une tablette quand quelqu’un d’autre conduit votre bateau, c’est merveilleux. C’est beaucoup plus facile de travailler sur une tablette dans ActiveCaptain que sur le traceur Garmin directement et on peut faire ça à distance et/ou l’hiver. Ce qui manque, c’est de ne pas être capable de l’utiliser sur mon ordinateur portable. Et sur mon cellulaire c’est trop petit. Je dois donc emprunter l’iPad de mon conjoint, ce qui le prive de son iPad. ### 5/5 — User friendly *2026-08-08, version 44.0* I love how everythingGarmin interfaces so nicely together and works so well together and is user friendly ### 3/5 — Garmin Active Captian App *2026-08-08, version 44.0* I’m sure this app is useful if you have a degree in computer science- I can’t seem to figure out simple tasks within the app, Garmin needs to dumb this down for the novice - it would also be useful if all the settings were aligned between their models of plotters, 4 of my friends and I were out on our boats and all had Garmin plotters of similar vintage and not one of them were the same when navigating the settings. To much complexity ruins a product. ### 5/5 — C Hart *2026-08-07, version 44.0* Fabulous kit ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-08-05, version 44.0* Awesome to use easy to navigate so impressed with all Garmin products ### 1/5 — Pretty sucky lately *2026-08-03, version 44.0* Refuses to download the charts. Gotten worse in recent years as I have added more devices. Not impressed with the app at all ### 5/5 — The humbled man *2026-08-01, version 44.0* Really like everything about my Active Captain App, and my Garmin ChartPlotter! Super nice, although a bit difficult for an old guy like me. All in all, Garmin has NAILED IT! Coupled with LiveScope and other accessories you can’t beat it! ### 4/5 — Cool App *2026-08-01, version 44.0* Really good app. I would rate it 5 stars if it were a little more intuitive to get around in. ### 1/5 — Appalling *2026-08-01, version 44.0* So badly designed… a “user hostile “ frustrating waste if time ### 5/5 — Captain *2026-07-31, version 44.0* Great easy to navigate ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Many Issues *2026-08-23, version 44.0* It refuses to stay connected to each other at the boat. Routes dont transfer. The whole idea of the app i assumed was to NOT have to spend time at the screen console once your on the boat. Its not intuitive and no robust sync connection. I hate ot frankly. Lol. The app Its garbage. ### 1/5 — It sucks *2026-08-21, version 44.0* Not as good as the boat app . Clunky needs much improvements ### 1/5 — Garbage *2026-08-15, version 44.0* Really the worst app and interface to devices I have ever dealt with. ### 1/5 — Sucks *2026-08-12, version 44.0* Spent 200 bucks on a chart to download on my sd card…but the files won’t copy to sd card so I got this app per instructions and now my download is on my phone and not a sd card and I can’t connect to my Garmin plotter to upload because it is older….scam…should have just order the disk and had it mailed ### 1/5 — Non user friendly *2026-08-10, version 44.0* No sign off option ### 1/5 — CONFUSING *2026-08-09, version 44.0* This is ridiculously confusing. It’s not intuitive in any way shape or form. It’s an all day affair to update maps after paying hundreds of dollars for various optional Maps. It’s the most frustrating experience ever. ### 1/5 — Junk app *2026-08-09, version 40.1* Spent hours trying to update software on my chartplotter and radar through this app only to finally use sd card instead. Unreliable, useless, flaky, and poor user experience — same feedback for any other garmin product I tried. Raymarine and B&G are a million times better. ### 1/5 — Shocking *2026-08-08, version 44.0* Hard to use and no help from Garmin ### 1/5 — Sucks Deeeeyack! *2026-08-08, version 44.0* Can’t believe this POS plotter is so hard to get relief shading on. Bought so I didn’t have to use my (navionics) phone app….here we are using the phone app over the brand new 9210 xsv. Wtf ### 1/5 — my data is missing *2026-08-06, version 44.0* too many updates and clunky ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Cory *2026-09-04, version 44.0* Very user friendly! ### 5/5 — Great way to stay up to date!! *2026-09-04, version 44.0* The UHD chartplotter with Active Captain is the bomb!! easy update straight from cell to the unit! ### 5/5 — Great application *2026-08-31, version 44.0* Works seamlessly with our GPSMAP 923xsv with Ondeck system - keep up the good work and enhancements please!!! ### 5/5 — Don’t leave the dock without it! *2026-08-30, version 44.0* Great companion with my Livescope. Allows preplanning on unfamiliar lakes, and perfect to uploaded fish attractant ares to boat database ### 5/5 — Great app *2026-08-26, version 44.0* So far it’s all very easy to understand, easy to use and I’m sure going to be great on the water. ### 5/5 — Fishy Finder *2026-08-23, version 44.0* It is very easy to use and the data and track or exact and help find fish and your way to the fish ### 5/5 — Fantastic guide *2026-08-17, version 44.0* Activated my Echomap in conjunction with the app and this works wonders. I can use it by itself to which I’ve done and works as advertised. ### 5/5 — Excellent *2026-08-14, version 44.0* Easy to understand , very friendly and powerful ### 5/5 — Excelente *2026-08-11, version 44.0* Muy útil ### 5/5 — Crystal Clear *2026-08-09, version 44.0* This display is magnificent. I’m glad I switched from my 21-yr-old FURUNO display. I also like having a radar overlay option on foggy days. My AIS transponder syncs nicely with the output as well. Best choice I’ve made in a while. I learned it’s not necessary to have two identical GPS 8616xsv. A better option would have been one cab and one without transducer interfacing. Active Captan app works very well. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-10.*