# ActiveCaptain® vs Savvy Navvy

The clearest difference is rating: Savvy Navvy at 4.7 against ActiveCaptain®'s 4.0. Savvy Navvy also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.5). 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 Savvy Navvy sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $99.00 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Savvy Navvy holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.2K and 8.4K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 59% of ActiveCaptain®'s written reviews are positive against 53% of Savvy Navvy'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, Savvy Navvy weekly. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ActiveCaptain® | Savvy Navvy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313/reviews) | **[4.7 (8.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/savvy-navvy-boat-navigation/id1479182650/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5.2K | **8.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **59.0% of reviews** | 53.2% 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 | **#45** | #63 |
| Size | 197 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [savvy navvy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1305055457) |

## What reviewers say

### ActiveCaptain®

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

**Currently charting:** #45 Top Grossing · Navigation, #144 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


### Savvy Navvy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/savvy-navvy-boat-navigation/id1479182650)

**Currently charting:** #63 Top Grossing · Navigation, #139 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

This app provides comprehensive marine navigation, integrating charts, weather, tides, and GPS tracking. It simplifies route planning and offers real-time safety data to ensure confident and enjoyable time on the water for various boating activities.

**Highlights:** Clutter-free nautical charts, Smart route planning with weather and tide integration, Real-time GPS tracking, Departure scheduler, AIS data for vessel tracking, Marine weather forecasts, Tide and current information, Marina and anchorage finder

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $99.00 | per year |
| Premium | $99.00 | per year |
| Premium (US-only charts) | $99.00 | per year |
| Premium | $99.00 | per year |
| Premium (US-only charts) | $129.00 | per year |
| Premium (US-only charts) | $129.00 | per year |
| Elite (with Denmark) | $129.00 | per year |
| Premium Plus (global charts) | $129.00 | per year |
| Premium Plus (global charts) | $169.00 | per year |
| Premium Plus (global charts) | $169.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful for navigation
- 🌊 Accurate charts and data
- 💡 Useful features like weather and tide info
- 👍 Great for planning routes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and crashes
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🗺️ Missing chart data for some areas
- 🤔 Confusing to set up
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes or becomes unresponsive
- Inaccurate weather and tide information
- Issues with syncing data across devices
- Problems with downloading charts and maps

**Requested features**

- Add more chart coverage for different regions
- Improve route planning and navigation features
- Allow offline use without internet connection
- Integrate with other boating apps and devices
- Provide more customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ActiveCaptain® free?

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

### Is Savvy Navvy free?

Savvy Navvy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ActiveCaptain® or Savvy Navvy?

Savvy Navvy is rated higher. ActiveCaptain® averages 4.0 out of 5 from 5.2K ratings, while Savvy Navvy averages 4.7 from 8.4K ratings.

### Do ActiveCaptain® or Savvy Navvy have ads?

Neither ActiveCaptain® nor Savvy Navvy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ActiveCaptain® or Savvy Navvy?

ActiveCaptain® ships an update every 3 months, and Savvy Navvy weekly. Most recently, ActiveCaptain® was updated on November 1, 2026 and Savvy Navvy on November 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, ActiveCaptain® or Savvy Navvy?

ActiveCaptain® currently peaks at #45 in the App Store charts, and Savvy Navvy at #63. 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.*