Comparison

ActiveCaptain® vs Shore Watch

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

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
Read full description

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/

About

Shore Watch

Read full description

Nobody on shore knows where your boat is right now. You tell someone you'll be back around five. Then the wind picks up, or the motor doesn't, and five turns into seven — and the one person who could do something about it has no idea anything is wrong. Shore Watch closes that gap. HOW IT WORKS Start a trip and put your phone away. Your Safety Circle — your wife, a friend, whoever you choose — watches your boat move in real time on a map. Screen locked, app closed, phone in a dry bag: tracking keeps running. If something goes wrong, hit SOS. Everyone in your circle gets a text, an email, and a push notification with your exact coordinates and a live tracking link. WHAT YOU GET - Live position sharing during an active trip - One-tap SOS with coordinates sent to your whole circle - Background tracking that survives a locked screen - Departure and arrival alerts so shore knows when you left and when you're back - Automatic check-in prompts if you stop moving - Signal-loss alerts if your phone drops off the network - Trip history with route, speed, and duration - Two-way messages between captain and watchers during an emergency BUILT FOR REAL BOATING This was built by a boater in South Florida, tested off Black Point Marina, and broken on purpose until it stopped breaking. The hard part was never the map — it was making the boring parts hold when your phone is in a pocket six hours into a run. Shore Watch is not a replacement for a VHF radio, an EPIRB, or filing a float plan. It's the layer between "I'll text you when I'm back" and calling the Coast Guard. LOCATION AND PRIVACY Shore Watch uses your location only during a trip you start, and shares it only with the people you add to your Safety Circle. Background location is required so tracking continues when your screen is off — that's the entire point. End the trip and sharing stops. Free while in early access.

Screenshots

ActiveCaptain®4 screens
Shore Watch4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shore Watch at none against ActiveCaptain®'s 18. Shore Watch also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.5). ActiveCaptain®'s advantage is chart position (#33 vs unranked). On price, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ActiveCaptain® sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $74.99 per year. Shore Watch asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ActiveCaptain® ships an update every 3 months, Shore Watch every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
ActiveCaptain® versus Shore Watch: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterActiveCaptain®Shore Watch
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (5.2K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews56.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings5.2K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#33 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.515.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size196 MB47 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGarminBoat Video Productions LLC

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

Shore Watch

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

18 purchases

ActiveCaptain®

Subscriptions7
  • 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 more
  • 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
One-time11
  • U.S. LakeVü Detail Map$59.99
  • US+Great Lakes Detail Map$99.99
  • BlueChart g3+LakeVu g3 Built-I$99.99
Show 8 more
  • 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
None

Shore Watch

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ActiveCaptain® free?
ActiveCaptain® is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shore Watch free?
Shore Watch is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ActiveCaptain® or Shore Watch have ads?
Neither ActiveCaptain® nor Shore Watch shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ActiveCaptain® or Shore Watch?
ActiveCaptain® ships an update every 3 months, and Shore Watch every 2 days. Most recently, ActiveCaptain® was updated on October 16, 2026 and Shore Watch on September 30, 2026.

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