ActiveCaptain® vs Pure Watercraft
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ActiveCaptain®
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.
- 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
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The free ActiveCaptain app creates a powerful connection between your compatible mobile device and Garmin chartplotter, charts, maps and the boating community. Whether you use your Garmin products for cruising, fishing, sailing or diving, this all-in-one app will help you enjoy your time on the water. Just pair the app with your compatible chartplotter to wirelessly transfer and access charts and maps, software updates, routes, waypoints and helpful feedback from the ActiveCaptain Community. And, with the purchase of the OnDeck™ hub(1), you can track and monitor your boat from virtually anywhere. Please note that this app is intended for Garmin chartplotter owners and is not recommended for use as a stand-alone navigational app. FEATURES AVAILABLE: - ONECHART™: > New Garmin Navionics+™ and premium Garmin Navionics Vision+™ cartography, featuring a Navionics® style appearance, advanced Auto Guidance+™ technology(2) and a one-year subscription to daily updates, is available now for North America and Europe, and coming soon to the rest of the world. Purchase our newest-generation charts or legacy BlueChart® g3 charts from your mobile device, and upload them to registered Garmin chartplotters on your vessel. You will get exceptional coverage, clarity and detail with charts that feature integrated Garmin and Navionics data and much more. Plus, the NOAA raster cartography(3) and premium features can be downloaded for free through the ActiveCaptain app. Visit Garmin.com/marinemaps. - PLAN A TRIP: Plan your trip, or e-scout a new fishing spot before you’re on the water. Then, transfer your data to your chartplotter where you can view your routes and waypoints. - USER DATA SYNC: Automatically back up and sync your data between your chartplotter and the ActiveCaptain app. - ACTIVECAPTAIN COMMUNITY: Join a community of boaters to get up-to-date feedback on marinas, boat ramps and other points of interest (POI). Check ratings, read reviews, and view pictures of POIs to make informed decisions on the water. Contribute your own POI, reviews and pictures from your compatible mobile device. - CONTROL YOUR CHARTPLOTTER: Using the built-in Helm™ feature, the ActiveCaptain app lets you view and control your compatible(4) chartplotter from your smartphone or tablet, even when someone else is at the helm(5). - EASY SOFTWARE UPDATES: Receive notifications about software updates from the app, and update your chartplotter wirelessly. - ONDECK HUB: Use the ActiveCaptain app to track, monitor and control any number of switches with the OnDeck system(1) from nearly anywhere. Door open? Bilge running? Peace of mind comes in the form of text alerts and updates. - GARMIN QUICKDRAWTM COMMUNITY: Download the latest 1’ HD contour maps shared by your fellow boaters, and sync with your chartplotter. You can also upload your own Quickdraw Contours map data. - SMART NOTIFICATIONS: Connect the app to your chartplotter, and turn on smart notifications(4) to see calls, text messages and more on the chartplotter display while your phone is somewhere safe and dry. FOOTNOTES 1)OnDeck hub sold separately and requires an active subscription plan 2)Auto Guidance+ is for planning purposes only and does not replace safe navigation operations 3)NOAA raster cartography cannot be viewed on echoMAP™ CHIRP and ECHOMAP™ Plus combos but can be viewed on mobile devices via the ActiveCaptain mobile app 4)Helm feature is not compatible with ECHOMAP series chartplotters 5)Check device compatibility on the ActiveCaptain app web page; visit https://www.garmin.com/c/marine/marine-apps/ End User License Agreement: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/legal/marine-mobile-eula/
Pure Watercraft
Monitor your Pure Outboard system, track past trips with detailed statistics, and manage settings via Bluetooth. Receive important software and firmware updates, and easily contact customer support.
- View trip history and statistics
- Monitor charging status
- Manage system settings
- Receive software/firmware updates
- Contact customer support
- Bluetooth connectivity
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Stay connected to your Pure Outboard system to view trip history, receive software and firmware updates, and more. - View maps of past trips and trip statistics such as top speed and energy usage. - Connect via Bluetooth to see charging status, manage system settings and receive updates containing new features and performance improvements. - Quickly contact Pure Watercraft for assistance.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Pure Watercraft at 4.5 against ActiveCaptain®'s 4.0. Pure Watercraft also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 18) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). ActiveCaptain®'s advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (5.2K vs 2). On price and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. ActiveCaptain® sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $74.99 per year. Pure Watercraft asks for nothing beyond the download.
Pure Watercraft holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ActiveCaptain® has 5.2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
ActiveCaptain® ships an update every 3 months, Pure Watercraft every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ActiveCaptain® | Pure Watercraft |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (5.2K ratings) | 4.5 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 59.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5.2K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Best chart rank | #39 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 197 MB | 120 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Garmin | Pure Watercraft, Inc. |
Customer experience
ActiveCaptain®
Pure Watercraft
Bugs and requests
ActiveCaptain®
Reported bugs
4 issues- 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
5 requests- 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
Pure Watercraft
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ActiveCaptain®
- NSUS007R-U.S. East$74.991 Year
- NSUS006R-U.S. South$74.991 Year
- g4 U.S. Lakes & Rivers Built-i$99.991 Year
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- NSUS001L-U.S. & Canada$99.991 Year
- g4 Vision U.S. South$129.991 Year
- g4 Vision U.S. East$129.991 Year
- GN+ US & Coast Canada Built-In$149.991 Year
- U.S. LakeVü Detail Map$59.99
- US+Great Lakes Detail Map$99.99
- BlueChart g3+LakeVu g3 Built-I$99.99
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- LUS100F - Download$149.99
- GN+ U.S. South$149.99
- GN+ U.S. East$149.99
- VUS010R - Download$174.99
- GN+ U.S. & Canada$199.99
- HXUS604X - Download$219.99
- GNV+ U.S. East$249.99
- GNV+ U.S. South$249.99
Pure Watercraft
No in-app purchases









