# ActiveCaptain® vs iHoy Captain

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iHoy Captain at 100% against ActiveCaptain®'s 56%. iHoy Captain also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.5). ActiveCaptain®'s advantage is chart position (#29 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ActiveCaptain® sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $74.99 per year and iHoy Captain sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ActiveCaptain® ships an update every 3 months, iHoy Captain weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ActiveCaptain® | iHoy Captain |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5.2K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 56.2% of reviews | **100.0% 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 | **#29** | — |
| Size | 196 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **16.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [iHoy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1720531982) |

## What reviewers say

### ActiveCaptain®

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

**Currently charting:** #29 Top Grossing · Navigation, #178 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


### iHoy Captain

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ihoy-captain/id6474068271)

Control your boat's autopilot and navigate with nautical charts directly from your mobile device. Enjoy features like remote maneuvering, motion control, and dual screen modes for a user-friendly experience. It also provides essential weather information for your trips.

**Highlights:** Nautical chart access, Mobile autopilot control, Remote boat maneuvering, Motion-based steering, Dual screen display options, Meteo information, Multi-user functionality

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Montenegro Folio | $9.99 | per year |
| Germany Folio | $9.99 | per year |
| United States Folio | $9.99 | per year |
| Brazil Folio | $19.99 | per year |
| Tonga Folio | $19.99 | per year |
| Niue Folio | $19.99 | per year |
| Tokelau Folio | $19.99 | per year |
| Samoa Folio | $19.99 | per year |
| Colombia - Caribbean Sea 2 | $39.99 | per year |
| Colombia - Pacific Ocean 1 | $39.99 | per year |
| Colombia - Caribbean Sea 3 | $39.99 | per year |
| Colombia - Pacific Ocean 2 | $39.99 | per year |
| Colombia - Pacific Ocean 3 | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ActiveCaptain® free?

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

### Is iHoy Captain free?

iHoy Captain is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do ActiveCaptain® or iHoy Captain have ads?

Neither ActiveCaptain® nor iHoy Captain shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ActiveCaptain® or iHoy Captain?

ActiveCaptain® ships an update every 3 months, and iHoy Captain weekly. Most recently, ActiveCaptain® was updated on October 15, 2026 and iHoy Captain on October 5, 2026.

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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.*