ActiveCaptain® vs Anchor Buddy
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/
Anchor Buddy
This app helps boaters monitor their vessel's position and safety zone while anchored. It provides continuous background tracking and critical alerts for potential issues like anchor dragging or GPS inaccuracies.
- Anchor and safe zone radius definition
- Continuous background monitoring
- Critical alerts for dragging and GPS
- GPS-based precision tracking
- User-friendly interface
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Embark with confidence using Anchor Buddy, your essential anchor watch companion. Designed for boaters who prioritize safety and simplicity, our app delivers a dependable system to monitor your vessel's position, ensuring you remain safely within your predefined zone. - Anchor & Safe Zone Radius: Easily mark your anchor location and define a safety radius for drift. - Continuous Background Monitoring: Vigilantly tracks your location when anchored, operating smoothly in the background. - Critical Alerts: Get notified about location unavailability, unsafe GPS accuracy, and potential anchor dragging. - GPS-Based Precision: Advanced GPS technology for accurate, real-time monitoring. - User-Friendly Interface: Simple, intuitive interface that caters to both experienced sailors and recreational boaters alike. Enjoy peace of mind on the water knowing that Anchor Buddy is keeping a watchful eye on your vessel. Download Anchor Buddy now for a worry-free boating experience.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: ActiveCaptain® at 56% against Anchor Buddy's 0%. ActiveCaptain® also leads on price (Free vs $4.99) and ratings volume (5.2K vs 8). Anchor Buddy's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 18). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
ActiveCaptain® is free to download; Anchor Buddy costs $4.99 up front. ActiveCaptain® sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $74.99 per year. Anchor Buddy asks for nothing beyond the download.
Anchor Buddy 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 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 56% of ActiveCaptain®'s written reviews are positive against 0% of Anchor Buddy's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
| Parameter | ActiveCaptain® | Anchor Buddy |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 4.0 (5.2K ratings) | 4.5 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 56.2% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 5.2K — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #26 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 196 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Garmin | Universal Queue LLC |
Customer experience
ActiveCaptain®
Anchor Buddy
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
Anchor Buddy
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
Anchor Buddy
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ActiveCaptain® free?
Is Anchor Buddy free?
Which has better reviews, ActiveCaptain® or Anchor Buddy?
Do ActiveCaptain® or Anchor Buddy have ads?
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