# ActiveCaptain® vs Wavve Boating

The clearest difference is rating: Wavve Boating at 4.7 against ActiveCaptain®'s 4.0. Wavve Boating also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ActiveCaptain® sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $74.99 per year and Wavve Boating sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Wavve Boating holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5K and 6.5K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of ActiveCaptain®'s written reviews are positive against 51% of Wavve Boating's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

ActiveCaptain® ships an update every 3 months, Wavve Boating weekly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ActiveCaptain® | Wavve Boating |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313/reviews) | **[4.7 (6.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavve-boating-gps-map-chart/id1241140495/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5K | **6.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **56.5% of reviews** | 51.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #27 | **#16** |
| Size | 195 MB | 201 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [Wavve Boating INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1241140494) |

## What reviewers say

### ActiveCaptain®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313)

**Currently charting:** #27 Top Grossing · Navigation, #148 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

This app connects your mobile device to compatible Garmin chartplotters, enabling wireless chart and map transfers, software updates, and route planning. It also provides access to a community of boaters for reviews and information on marinas and points of interest.

**Highlights:** Wireless chart and map transfer, Route and waypoint planning, ActiveCaptain Community for POI reviews, Chartplotter control via Helm feature, Easy software updates, OnDeck system monitoring, Garmin Quickdraw Community map sharing

**In-app purchases (18)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NSUS007R-U.S. East | $74.99 | per year |
| NSUS006R-U.S. South | $74.99 | per year |
| g4 U.S. Lakes & Rivers Built-i | $99.99 | per year |
| NSUS001L-U.S. & Canada | $99.99 | per year |
| g4 Vision U.S. South | $129.99 | per year |
| g4 Vision U.S. East | $129.99 | per year |
| GN+ US & Coast Canada Built-In | $149.99 | per year |
| U.S. LakeVü Detail Map | $59.99 | one-time |
| US+Great Lakes Detail Map | $99.99 | one-time |
| BlueChart g3+LakeVu g3 Built-I | $99.99 | one-time |
| LUS100F - Download | $149.99 | one-time |
| GN+ U.S. South | $149.99 | one-time |
| GN+ U.S. East | $149.99 | one-time |
| VUS010R - Download | $174.99 | one-time |
| GN+ U.S. & Canada | $199.99 | one-time |
| HXUS604X - Download | $219.99 | one-time |
| GNV+ U.S. East | $249.99 | one-time |
| GNV+ U.S. South | $249.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**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

**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


### Wavve Boating

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wavve-boating-gps-map-chart/id1241140495)

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Grossing · Navigation, #125 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Navigate waterways with detailed nautical charts, tide predictions, and weather forecasts. Connect with a community of boaters to share points of interest and track friends on the water. Enjoy simplified GPS navigation tailored to your boat's draft.

**Highlights:** Simple GPS navigation, Customizable nautical charts, Community points of interest, Tide predictions, 7-day weather forecasts, Friend tracking (Fleets)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription (No Data) | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $11.99 | per month |
| Best Value - Wavve Boating | $69.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription (No Data) | $69.99 | per year |
| Best Value - Wavve Boating | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate navigation
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Helpful features like weather and wave data
- 🚢 Great for new and experienced boaters
- 🤝 Good customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate depth charts
- 🚫 Limited coverage for certain areas
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Forced to sign up before trying
- 🤯 Confusing login/account issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when accessing depth data
- Logged out unexpectedly, unable to log back in
- Subscription charges despite cancellation

**Requested features**

- Add more inland lake and river coverage
- Improve auto-routing capabilities
- Allow editing of saved routes
- Integrate with more boat displays
- Add social features to share trips with friends


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ActiveCaptain® free?

ActiveCaptain® is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Wavve Boating free?

Wavve Boating is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ActiveCaptain® or Wavve Boating?

Wavve Boating is rated higher. ActiveCaptain® averages 4.0 out of 5 from 5K ratings, while Wavve Boating averages 4.7 from 6.5K ratings.

### Do ActiveCaptain® or Wavve Boating have ads?

Neither ActiveCaptain® nor Wavve Boating shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ActiveCaptain® or Wavve Boating?

ActiveCaptain® ships an update every 3 months, and Wavve Boating weekly. Most recently, ActiveCaptain® was updated on September 25, 2026 and Wavve Boating on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, ActiveCaptain® or Wavve Boating?

ActiveCaptain® currently peaks at #27 in the App Store charts, and Wavve Boating at #16. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*