Comparison

iNavX vs Navionics® Boating

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

Head to head
About

iNavX

This app provides comprehensive marine navigation tools, including worldwide chart coverage, weather forecasts, and AIS integration. It allows users to plan routes, track their position, and connect with onboard instruments for a complete boating experience.

Highlights
  • Worldwide marine chart access
  • Real-time GPS plotting
  • Waypoint and route management
  • GRIB weather forecasts
  • AIS integration
  • Nautical instrument connectivity
Features
Read full description

Marine navigation is made easy with iNavX - the world's #1 handheld Chartplotter. Access marine charts, maps, weather, AIS and more! iNavX is the only app to give you complete worldwide chart coverage, from all your favorite charts providers, including the ALL NEW iNavX Professional+ Chart series! Fully enabled with one-touch access, iNavX gives users access to the broadest set of marine charts and maps from multiple providers including: • iNavX Professional+ Charts • Blue Latitude • CHS • Explorer • Theyr Weather • Waterway Guide • … and more How does iNavX take handheld marine navigation to the next level? • Sailors - Plan sailing routes with waypoint and route management. Get proactive sail management with GRIB weather forecasts and then keep watch with AIS overlays and integration with your onboard systems. Plus, you can remember your great sailing locations by geotagging photos. • Boaters - Stay up to date on boating conditions with forecasts that include currents, winds, and swells. Manage your boating equipment with nautical instrument integration and then save great boating routes to share with the track log. • Anglers - Discover new fishing spots by scouting out holes and inlets. Locate the best fishing conditions by identifying cold fronts and save your best fishing spots with unlimited markers. Advanced features - iNavX is the most feature rich app available for all sailing and boating needs at a great price: Advanced Chart Plotter • Plot your position in real-time using your device's built-in GPS • Pan, zoom, and rotate charts (including course up) • Print detailed charts to use in combination with the app Advanced Navigation • Create waypoints and plan routes to navigate between them • Track log allows you to record your route • Import/export data in KML (Google Earth) or GPX format Advanced Instrumentation • Supports NMEA data over TCP/IP (using Wifi) • Integrates with external GPS, AIS receivers & transponders • Connect nautical instruments: Depth, Speed, Wind, Engine, Batteries, etc. Essential Toolkit • GRIB weather forecast • Tides/currents • Anchor alarm • AIS integration • Port/navaid search Download iNavX TODAY and automatically receive a complimentary copy of the official and up-to-date high-resolution NOAA RNC United States marine raster charts. REVIEWS “iNavX is the original and still one of the best navigation apps.” – Practical Sailor “The most full-featured navigation app around and viewed by many as the standard” – Sail Magazine "The #1 recommended marine charting app" - iMarineApps iNavX is Compatible with: Theyr Weather, Waterway Guide, AIS, Brookhouse, DigitalYacht, ShipModul, vYacht, Vesper Marine, NMEA 2000, Chetco and more. NEW CHART STORE Purchase all your favorite charts. Chart subscriptions vary by chart and provider from $9.99 to $199.99 annually, charged to your iTunes Account, which will automatically renew unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Auto-renew can be turned off anytime by going to your Account Settings in iTunes after purchase. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. NOTE: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. MORE INFO Website: http://inavx.com/ User's Guide: http://inavx.com/help/ Terms of Use: http://inavx.com/terms Privacy Policy: http://inavx.com/privacy

About

Navionics® Boating

Access detailed nautical charts and advanced boating features offline on your mobile device. Plan trips with dock-to-dock guidance, check weather and tides, and connect with a community of boaters. Ideal for cruising, fishing, sailing, and diving.

Highlights
  • Offline nautical charts
  • HD bathymetry maps
  • Dock-to-dock route planning
  • Weather and tide forecasts
  • Community edits and recommendations
  • Track recording and sharing
Features
Read full description

Get up-to-date, detailed charts you can use offline plus a boatload of features on your mobile device, so they’re on hand wherever you go. The Boating app is a must-have for cruising, fishing, sailing, diving and all your activities on the water. Try it free for a limited time. To continue using charts and advanced features, you can purchase a yearly auto-renewable subscription*. A COMPLETE PACKAGE • INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED NAVIONICS® CHARTS: Use them offline along with multiple overlays, so you can be more aware of what’s above and below the water. - NAUTICAL CHART: Use this premier marine reference to study port plans, anchorages and safety depth contours, locate navaids, marine services and more. - SONARCHART™ HD BATHYMETRY MAPS: Extraordinary 1’ (0.5 meter) HD bottom contour detail is the ideal tool for locating new fishing areas. - U.S. GOVERNMENT CHARTS (NOAA): These are available within the following coverages: U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Caribbean to Brazil. - OVERLAYS: The relief shading overlay allows you to have a better understanding of bottom topography for improved fishing and diving. Sonar imagery reveals bottom hardness clearly and in vivid color on select lakes. Want more? Display satellite imagery on land and water. - MAP OPTIONS: Change chart-overlay combinations to customize chart views, activate night mode, highlight shallow areas, target multiple fishing ranges and more. - DAILY UPDATES: Benefit of thousands of daily updates worldwide. • TOOLS FOR PLANNING AND ENJOYING YOUR DAY - AUTO GUIDANCE+TM TECHNOLOGY**: Easily plan your trip with a suggested dock-to-dock path based on chart data and navigation aids. Get ETA, distance to arrival, heading to waypoint, fuel consumption and more. - WEATHER AND TIDES: Knowing conditions before heading out is crucial. Access real-time weather data, daily and hourly forecasts as well as wind, weather buoys, tides and currents. - MARKERS, TRACKS, DISTANCE: Place a marker on a good anchorage spot or where you reeled in a big fish. Record your track, take photos and videos within the app, and look back at your day anytime. Easily check distance among two points. • AN ACTIVE AND HELPFUL COMMUNITY - COMMUNITY EDITS and the ACTIVECAPTAIN® COMMUNITY: Obtain and contribute useful local knowledge along with thousands of fellow boaters, such as points of interest, navigation aids and valuable recommendations from people with firsthand experience of the local environment. - CONNECTIONS: Stay in touch with your friends and fellow boaters by sharing your live location, tracks, routes and markers to easily meet on the water or let them check out your adventures. - GPX IMPORT/EXPORT: Share your saved data outside the app or transfer it to your chartplotter. - SHARE MAP OBJECTS: Share a marina, repair shop or any other location outside the app. • EXTERNAL DEVICE-FRIENDLY FOR MORE FEATURES - PLOTTER SYNC: If you own a compatible chartplotter, sync it with the app to transfer routes and markers, activate, update or renew your Navionics chartplotter card subscription. - SONARCHART LIVE MAPPING FEATURE***: Connect with a compatible sonar/plotter, and create your own maps in real time while navigating. - AIS: Connect to a compatible AIS receiver with Wi-Fi® connectivity to see nearby marine traffic. Set a safe range, and receive visual and aural alerts to signal potential collisions. NOTES: *You can manage your subscription anytime, and you can turn auto-renewal off. **Auto Guidance+ is for planning purposes only and does not replace safe navigation operations ***Free features A tablet device with Wi-Fi connectivity locates your approximate position if it is connected to Wi-Fi. A tablet Wi-Fi + 3G model operates similarly to a phone device with GPS. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. iOS is a trademark licensed to Apple, Inc.

Screenshots

iNavX4 screens
Navionics® Boating4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: iNavX at 4.8 against Navionics® Boating's 2.9. iNavX also leads on review sentiment (44% vs 15%) and ratings volume (22K vs 2.3K). Navionics® Boating's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#5 vs #115). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. iNavX sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Navionics® Boating sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

iNavX holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iNavX has 22K ratings behind it against 2.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of iNavX's written reviews are positive against 15% of Navionics® Boating's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iNavX ships an update every 5 weeks, Navionics® Boating every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
iNavX versus Navionics® Boating: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriNavXNavionics® Boating
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (22K ratings) — better2.9 (2.3K ratings)
Positive reviews43.7% of reviews — better14.9% of reviews
Number of ratings22K — better2.3K
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#115#5 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size298 MB122 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNavX Studios LLCGarmin

Customer experience

iNavX

All ratings21,564 ratings
Positive95.9%
Neutral2.4%
Negative1.7%
Written reviews460 reviews
Positive43.7%
Neutral6.1%
Negative50.2%

Navionics® Boating

All ratings2,321 ratings
Positive42.0%
Neutral11.1%
Negative47.0%
Written reviews656 reviews
Positive14.9%
Neutral10.2%
Negative74.8%

User reviews

iNavX

From 22K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Accurate and precise navigation
  • 📊 Comprehensive charting and navigation features
  • 🛠️ Customizable instrument settings
  • 🔄 Redundancy across devices
  • 💨 Reliable performance over many years

Room to improve

  • 🤔 Clunky and unintuitive user interface
  • 🗺️ Cumbersome chart management and downloading
  • 🔋 Battery drain issues
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model for charts
  • 🐛 Stability issues and crashes

Navionics® Boating

From 2.3K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great navigation app
  • 🗺️ Detailed charts and maps
  • ⚓ Useful for boating and sailing
  • 💰 Good value for money

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔒 Login issues and unreliable offline access
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🗺️ Inaccurate or outdated map data

Bugs and requests

iNavX

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Inability to remove waypoints
  • Inconsistent behavior when transitioning International Date Line
  • Disappearing or missing chart data

Requested features

5 requests
  • Seamless chart switching and panning
  • Integrated tidal and current data
  • Support for more chart types and providers
  • Improved route planning and editing tools
  • Automatic chart updates and management

Navionics® Boating

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • GPS signal loss and position tracking issues
  • Inability to download or access previously purchased maps
  • Constant requirement to log in, even offline

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add anchor alarm feature
  • Improve route planning and waypoint functionality
  • Provide better support for multiple devices
  • Enhance user interface and customization options

In-app purchases

11 purchases

iNavX

Subscriptions11
  • Theyr Premium - Mobile (Monthly) for iOS$9.991 Month
  • iNavX Professional+ USA$29.991 Year
  • Navionics+ USA/Canada (iPhone)$29.991 Year
Show 8 more
  • Navionics+ Caribbean (iPhone)$44.991 Year
  • Theyr Premium Weather1 Year trial$49.991 Year
  • iNavX Professional+ USA Canada$59.991 Year
  • C-MAP World Chart$59.991 Year
  • Explorer Chartbooks - Bahamas$69.991 Year
  • Navionics+ USA/Canada (iPad)$79.991 Year
  • Navionics+ Caribbean (iPad)$79.991 Year
  • AIS Live$99.991 Year
15 purchases

Navionics® Boating

Subscriptions15
  • Norway$49.991 Year
  • Baltic Sea3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Australia & New Zealand7 Days trial$49.991 Year
Show 12 more
  • Africa & Middle East7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Mexico, Caribbean to Brazil7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Indian Ocean and South China7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Pacific Islands7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • US & Canada7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • UK, Ireland & Holland7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Chile, Argentina&Easter Island$49.991 Year
  • China Sea & Japan$49.991 Year
  • Central and West Europe7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Mediterranean & Black Sea7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Adriatic & Ionian Seas7 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Scandinavia S. & Germany N.$99.991 Year

Questions

Is iNavX free?
iNavX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Navionics® Boating free?
Navionics® Boating is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iNavX or Navionics® Boating?
iNavX is rated higher. iNavX averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Navionics® Boating averages 2.9 from 2.3K ratings.
Do iNavX or Navionics® Boating have ads?
iNavX shows ads; Navionics® Boating does not.
Which is updated more often, iNavX or Navionics® Boating?
iNavX ships an update every 5 weeks, and Navionics® Boating every 6 weeks. Most recently, iNavX was updated on September 25, 2026 and Navionics® Boating on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, iNavX or Navionics® Boating?
iNavX currently peaks at #115 in the App Store charts, and Navionics® Boating at #5. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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