Comparison

Argo Navigation vs iHoy Captain

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

Head to head
About

Argo Navigation

This free marine navigation app provides NOAA charts, depth surveys, and points of interest for US waters. It allows users to plot routes, share locations, and access community-reported hazards. Premium features offer advanced routing, weather forecasts, and tide predictions.

Highlights
  • NOAA charts and USACE depth surveys
  • 500,000+ marinas, anchorages, and fuel docks
  • Community-reported hazards
  • Route plotting with ETA and fuel use
  • Live location sharing
  • Offline chart downloads
  • Marine weather and tides
Features
Read full description

Argo is a boat navigation app you can actually use for free. Not a trial. You get NOAA charts and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers depth surveys for US waters, 500,000+ marinas, anchorages and fuel docks, hazards reported by other boaters, and routes you plot yourself, with ETA and fuel use. On your first trip, open the map to see how deep it is and read what other boaters say about the anchorage before you drop the hook. A hundred trips in, you're checking how old the Army Corps survey is before you run a shoaling inlet, or laying out a few route options and picking one underway. Think of Argo as the boating buddy who knows every good dock bar and never asks for gas money. FREE FOR EVERY BOATER Navigate • Up-to-date NOAA charts plus Army Corps (USACE) surveys you can filter by survey date • Shoal areas, dredged channels, restricted areas and recommended tracks on the coast and inland rivers • See your GPS position and speed on the chart • Search buoys, beacons, lights, wrecks and mile markers • Record your track and use Return to follow it back • Depth shading presets, including two built for bright sun glare Plan • Search 500,000+ places, from boat ramps and moorings to non-ethanol fuel and dock bars • Read reviews from boaters who've been there • Plot your own route on the map and see distance, ETA and fuel use • A trip log of everywhere you've been Connect • See other Argo boaters on the water and share your live location with family ashore • Join your boat club, marina or rally group • Share routes, places and trips, and post photos and video • Report hazards and see the ones other boaters have reported • Keep fishing spots private or share them with your group One account works on every phone and tablet you own, free. ARGO PREMIUM, WHEN YOU WANT MORE Smarter routes • Autoroute plans around shallow water, hazards and restricted areas based on your boat's draft, height and safety buffer • Run inside or outside, or set Autoroute to stay in the marked channel • Save several routes to your chart, start a track, and choose between them underway • Have a sailboat and a powerboat? Save both, each with its own draft and height Marine weather and tides • 7-day marine forecast: weather, wind, wave height and period, tides and currents • Wind, rain and lightning overlays on your chart • 6,000+ tide and current stations on your chart, with predictions as far ahead as you want • Tide variance right next to your depth gauge On the water • Offline charts download automatically around your location and home port, for when you lose signal • Connect over NMEA (Wi-Fi gateway) for depth, speed and heading from your electronics, plus AIS targets • Custom depth shading and contours, so shallow water and fishing drop-offs stand out • Distance, time, bearing and course to your next turn, always in view Logbook and planning tools • Import and export GPX routes and tracks between Argo and your chartplotter • Download a PDF trip report to document sea time toward your captain's license Coverage: US coastal waters, the ICW, inland lakes and rivers, Canada and the Caribbean. WHO'S BEHIND ARGO Argo is family-owned. Our founder, Captain Jeff, grew up boating on the Chesapeake Bay. He built Argo so the local knowledge usually shared between friends at the dock is on the map for everyone. Many of our features started as boater requests. Send yours to support@argonav.io. Argo is a navigation aid. Always check official charts and conditions, and use your own judgment on the water. Plan. Navigate. Connect. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.argonav.io/privacy/

About

iHoy Captain

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
Read full description

We'd be happy to tell you about iHoy Captain: - iHoy Map You can easily access nautical charts. (iHoy Captain device is not required.) - Quick Installation iHoyCaptain can be installed in minutes by yourself. No need to pay for extra service fees. - Autopilot A true autopilot experience using your mobile phone that provides fuel efficiency, safety and extra comfort. User firendly dual mode screens for ease of use. - Remote Just use you phone to maneuver your boat from anywhere on board. No need to interrupt joy to go back to kokpit. - Motion mode: Just tilt your phone right and left and see your boat turns port/starboard accordingly. Yes, it is doable by iHoy. - Dual Screen You like more user friendly screens, you have it. You like machine-like screens, you have it too. Just tilt your phone 90 degrees. - Compatibility iHoy Captain is compatible with most boats 15 meters and below. Just chek you steering wheel shaft being 0,75”. - Information Check out iHoy Captain’s info page before your trip. iHoy Captain provides you main meteo information such as wind, wave, humidity, temperature. - Multiuser Buy iHoy Captain only once, then not only you but whoever you authorised can use full functionality by simply downloading iHoy Captain free of charge. - Safe iHoy Captain can be engaged/disangaged by a simple mechanical move. You can get manuel control instantly anytime. Note: iHoy Captain device required. Terms Of Use: https://ihoycaptain.com/assets/docs/terms_of_use_en.pdf

Screenshots

Argo Navigation4 screens
iHoy Captain4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iHoy Captain at 100% against Argo Navigation's 85%. Argo Navigation's advantage is chart position (#107 vs unranked). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Argo Navigation sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Argo Navigation ships an update every 4 days, iHoy Captain weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
Argo Navigation versus iHoy Captain: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArgo NavigationiHoy Captain
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (6.2K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews84.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings6.2K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#107 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size139 MB85 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperARGO TECHNOLOGIES, LLCiHoy

Customer experience

Argo Navigation

All ratings6,206 ratings
Positive97.9%
Neutral0.7%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews220 reviews
Positive84.5%
Neutral2.3%
Negative13.2%

iHoy Captain

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Argo Navigation

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Login/account creation issues
  • Slow map loading times

Requested features

3 requests
  • Improved offline map capabilities
  • Integration with marine weather data
  • Enhanced route planning tools

iHoy Captain

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Argo Navigation

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly Canada Charts14 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Argo Premium Monthly14 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Argo Canada Charts14 Days trial$9.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Argo Premium14 Days trial$39.991 Year
13 purchases

iHoy Captain

Subscriptions13
  • Montenegro Folio14 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • Germany Folio14 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • United States Folio14 Days trial$9.991 Year
Show 10 more
  • Brazil Folio$19.991 Year
  • Tonga Folio14 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Niue Folio14 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Tokelau Folio14 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Samoa Folio14 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Colombia - Caribbean Sea 214 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Colombia - Pacific Ocean 114 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Colombia - Caribbean Sea 314 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Colombia - Pacific Ocean 214 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Colombia - Pacific Ocean 314 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Argo Navigation free?
Argo Navigation 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 Argo Navigation or iHoy Captain have ads?
Neither Argo Navigation nor iHoy Captain shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Argo Navigation or iHoy Captain?
Argo Navigation ships an update every 4 days, and iHoy Captain weekly. Most recently, Argo Navigation was updated on October 31, 2026 and iHoy Captain on October 5, 2026.

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