# Cortex Monitor — user reviews > 25 indexed App Store user reviews of Cortex Monitor by Garmin New Zealand Ltd, rated 1.90/5 from 14 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-monitor/id1456678376/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-monitor/id1456678376.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 2 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 8 ## Newest reviews (6 of 25) ### 1/5 — Big disappointment *2023-12-10* I got into the Cortex just few months into the Garmin buy out. The monitor app showed some promise and I tolerated the issues to see if updates would help. They didn’t. Now I just get a blank screen after logging in. No way am I paying premium for this junk. Garmin, anybody home? ### 1/5 — App no longer works :/ *2023-11-30, version 1.7.6* Now when booting I only get a blank white screen. It’s a shame to pay so much for a unit that can do remote monitoring just to find the feature disabled! ### 1/5 — A Delight to Use! *2023-11-20, version 1.7.6* This is one of those rare products that is just fun to use. Easy install, no problems or surprises, and it does more than than advertised. Easy interface with our iPad and phones is very convenient, especially when using the Cortex anchor watch. Cortex texts me if my battery voltage is low, and allows me to see the voltage history. Peace of mind when I’m away from the boat, and peace of mind when off-shore is invaluable. I love being able to hail a boat by name without getting the binoculars out. We regularly cross paths with old friends who see us on AIS. I did have a wireless handset volume malfunction. Vesper actually answers their phone and customer service was excellent. I couldn’t be happier with Cortex. UPDATE: The monitor app doesn’t even open for me any more. This was 5 star before Garmin. Now it’s one star but I can’t change the rating. Garmin, if you’re listening, I used to love you. Now It seems you buy out your competition, double the subscription prices, and don’t care about quality or support. You’ve lost me in aviation, marine, and as soon as I find a replacement for my InReach, that’s gone too. Sick of being bent over by you guys. ### 1/5 — Glitchy to the point of unusable *2023-04-20* What are they thinking developing an app for CRUISERS that does not allow monitoring when outside a geographical area?!? Just plain stupid, but that will be the least of your problems, you won’t even get the app working due to intolerable glitches. ### 1/5 — No longer works *2023-03-11* No longer works. No updates in a long time. ### 1/5 — Dismal *2022-08-23, version 1.7.3* Was great, but I’m unable to get it to work since the Garmin takeover. Support slow to respond and not helpful. Not going to let Garmin waste any more of my time with a detailed review, but remote access was a key feature that drew me to Cortex, and now it’s useless to me. I’m now planning to abandon this equipment and replace it with something better. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Super Glitchy - OK When it works *2026-03-04, version 1.7.14* The average rating says it all - a solid concept - just works poorly. Do not depend on this app and the system for crucial info. ### 1/5 — Does not work *2026-02-25, version 1.7.14* Doesn’t work. When I open it, there is no option to “create an account” No product support. Clearly a broken app forgotten by Garmin ### 1/5 — Annoying! *2025-12-05, version 1.7.14* After a recent update, the app now requires you to type in your email address and password EVERY TIME you open the app. There no reason for this. Please let use stay logged in when the app is closed. Also, how about enabling Face ID? Garmin is a big company that can do much better than this. ### 1/5 — Can’t sign in *2024-12-01, version 1.7.9* Neither iPhone nor iPad running IOS 18.1 can sign in. Not since Garmin acquired this system. Email response is “we’ll report it”. Garbage. ### 1/5 — Another Garmin disaster *2024-07-27, version 1.7.9* Total disaster since Garmin took over. Once again, Garmin has screwed up an excellent device. ### 1/5 — Upgrade on 04/22/24 is a Clown Show *2024-04-24, version 1.7.8* The latest update seems to have forgotten my account settings. After entering email address, it hangs up on a screen indicating it needs location data but there is no app setting to enable this. Finally, I deleted and reinstalled the app and it starts up with a camera request to see the QR code on the AIS. For now, I have no way to monitor my boat. ### 1/5 — Upgrade on 04/22/24 is a Clown Show *2024-04-23* I was forces to update the app (or do without). It seems to have forgotten my log in - don't you test these releases. I entered my account email and a new password; got an activation email; the got a pop-up saying the app needs location data. The app is not even listed under Location Services, so I can't enable it. Don't you test these releases? FYI, the previous version was workinng fine. Now, nothing! Don't you test these releases? ### 1/5 — 1.7.8 login error *2024-04-23, version 1.7.8* Updated to 1.7.8, now get error determining location. ### 1/5 — Ready for a Lawsuit *2023-12-19* Complete pile of crap. Nothing works. I mean NOTHING works. You sell an item for remote monitoring and then release this??? ### 1/5 — Shame it doesn’t work anymore. *2023-12-15, version 1.7.6* Since Garmin took over it no longer works. I could REALY use this right now too which is a big reason I purchased the cortex. Their support is very good but this app just goes to white screen when logging in. ## Most praised reviews (9 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Works great *2024-12-22* I’ve been using this on my NorSea 27 over the past year, and it has worked great. Thank you! ### 5/5 — Version 1.7.9 fixes problem with location hang up. *2024-04-25* The previous version 1.7.8 failed to run due to being unable to determine my location. This version 1.7.9 has rectified the problem and I was impressed that the previous problem was fixed so quickly. Overall this a useful tool to check on boat location and system parameters when away from the boat. ### 5/5 — A Delight to Use! *2021-12-16, version 1.7.3* This is one of those rare products that is just fun to use. Easy install, no problems or surprises, and it does more than than advertised. Easy interface with our iPad and phones is very convenient, especially when using the Cortex anchor watch. Cortex texts me if my battery voltage is low, and allows me to see the voltage history. Peace of mind when I’m away from the boat, and peace of mind when off-shore is invaluable. I love being able to hail a boat by name without getting the binoculars out. We regularly cross paths with old friends who see us on AIS. I did have a wireless handset volume malfunction. Vesper actually answers their phone and customer service was excellent. I couldn’t be happier with Cortex. ### 5/5 — Awesome app *2021-10-11, version 1.7.2* Works as advertised, great way to get boat data when remote! ### 5/5 — Impressive *2020-12-07, version 1.6.20* For the first generation of vessel monitoring by Vesper this app is extremely impressive and is constantly improving. ### 3/5 — Seriously needs some documentation. Great app otherwise *2026-03-12, version 1.7.14* Needs documentation. I cannot figure out what the wind direction is try to tell me when I click on 2 hours and 24 hours. The colors have no meaning without documentation. And Garmin tech support has no idea either. ### 3/5 — Keeps ‘Breaking’ *2022-10-11* App works well when it’s working; but, often after the version upgrades you only get a blank screen until the next update comes along. V.159 is what I have at the moment and have waited several days for another update! ### 2/5 — What Happened? *2024-04-23, version 1.7.8* After multiple emails, finally got it to work. Now with an update it’s all gone again and the app locks up. Whoever is doing your app programming, it’s not good and seems very untested. ### 2/5 — Garmin! *2022-11-27, version 1.7.3* Sadly Vesper sold to Garmin, product support is as bad as it gets. This product does not support roaming- the very thing that we do as cruisers! Now down in Mexico (part of Cortex North American plan) we get an out of supported cortex region and no help from Garmin to resolve. When we move south, out of Mexico, all possibility of cellular monitoring will no longer work. This is a major fail for a cruiser. Look elsewhere for boat monitoring! --- *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 2026-06-09.*