CBP ROAM vs dockaboat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CBP ROAM
This app allows pleasure boaters and eligible travelers arriving at remote locations to report their arrival online. It facilitates trip creation and may offer video inspections with a CBP Officer for eligible users.
- Online arrival reporting
- Create trip details
- Add travelers
- Specify mode of travel
- Report location
- Video inspection eligibility
- Push notifications for video chat
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The official CBP ROAM App (formerly OARS) from U.S. Customs and Border Protection allows pleasure boaters and other eligible travelers who arrive at remote locations to report their arrival online. In addition to submitting a report of arrival, pleasure boaters who are not currently enrolled in a Trusted Traveler Program, Local Boater Option, or I-68 program who are currently required to report in person may be eligible for a video inspection. Disclaimer: This is a pilot version only for use in limited areas. Contact your local Port of Entry for guidance. Create a trip by adding travelers, your mode of travel, your location, and contact information. After you submit a trip, you may receive a push notification on your device to start a video chat with a CBP Officer to finish reporting your entry into the United States.
dockaboat
This platform connects dock owners with boaters for seamless dock rentals. It facilitates easy listing of docks and finding suitable spots, with built-in protection for all bookings.
- List docks with details
- Find and book boat slips
- Secure payment processing
- Booking management
- User reviews and ratings
- DockShield protection
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dockaboat — Dock Rentals Made Simple Find a private dock. Book in minutes. dockaboat connects boaters with dock owners for easy, secure dock rentals — nightly or monthly. FOR DOCK OWNERS: Create Detailed Listings — List your dock with location, amenities, accepted boat types and size limits, pricing, and availability. Nightly or Monthly Rentals — Offer short stays or monthly rentals, with automatic recurring billing handled for you. Review and Approve Requests — Accept or decline booking requests, and message boaters directly in the app before and during their stay. Get Paid Securely — Payments and payouts run through Stripe, with clear, transparent earnings tracking. Build Your Reputation — Earn reviews and ratings from boaters to attract more renters. FOR BOATERS: Find the Right Dock — Search docks by location and see instantly whether your boat's type and size are accepted — no surprises at checkout. Book with Confidence — Request or instantly book a dock, message the owner directly, and track your upcoming trips in one place. Pay Securely — Transparent pricing with no hidden fees, processed securely through Stripe. Stay in Control — Manage or cancel bookings right from the app, with clear policies for both nightly and monthly stays. Leave Reviews — Share your experience to help other boaters find the right dock.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: dockaboat at 82% against CBP ROAM's 27%. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
CBP ROAM ships an update every 3 weeks, dockaboat every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CBP ROAM | dockaboat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (125 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 26.5% of reviews | 81.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 125 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.2 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 291 MB | 111 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | US Customs and Border Protection | Dockaboat Inc |
Customer experience
CBP ROAM
dockaboat
Bugs and requests
CBP ROAM
Reported bugs
34 issues- App crashes after update
- App will not open
- App crashes within one second of opening
- App closes immediately after opening
- App not letting user login
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- App crashes when trying to enter a change of port of call
- One-time verification codes never worked
- Latest update fails to submit arrivals
- Update forces user to update, causing crash after login
- App keeps sending user to the same place despite logging in
- Waiting for agent for over two days
- App says waiting, cannot cancel or navigate
- Unable to report 'port of call'
- Port of call button missing
- Latest update dumps previously configured travelers and vessels
- No account info comes over when adding app to new device
- Updated version on App Store downloads incomplete or old version
- No copy-and-paste for phone numbers or other info
- No ability to change traveler info after initial edit
- Cannot paste existing passport photo
- Tedious manual entry of numbers
- Authentication failed on own phone, but works on others'
- Facial recognition takes multiple tries
- Stuck on login screen, does not advance to verification code
- Switching apps for PIN code results in blank screen on return
- App quits when editing or manually entering a traveler
- Cannot find support for security key setup
- Stuck in a loop requiring backup authentication setup
- Won't go past the accept button
- New update no longer works, fails to open
- App won't load
- Gets frozen on a screen
- Misspelled 'Received' on Video Chat info page
- App crashes when trip page is displayed
Requested features
11 requests- Add port of call button
- Allow letters in flight number
- Allow copy-paste for numbers
- Allow sharing travelers between users
- Add more instructions for numbers needed
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- Allow submission and approval prior to US waters entry
- Allow users to remain logged in
- Use fingerprint recognition for login
- Consider alternatives to Zoom for video calls
- Add Spanish language support (already present, but caused bugs)
- Invite users to TestFlight beta program
dockaboat
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
CBP ROAM
No in-app purchases
dockaboat
No in-app purchases
