Comparison

iNavX vs Aqua Map 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

Aqua Map Boating

This app provides official, weekly updated nautical charts for marine navigation. It allows for offline map downloads, GPS track recording, and integration with onboard instruments. Enhance your boating safety and experience with advanced features like weather forecasts and AIS collision detection.

Highlights
  • Official NOAA nautical charts
  • Offline map downloads
  • GPS track recording
  • Tides and currents predictions
  • Anchor Alarm
  • NMEA instrument connectivity
  • AIS with collision detection
Features
Read full description

Free 14-day trial for all subscriptions   Aqua Map offers weekly updated OFFICIAL NAUTICAL CHARTS (NOAA) for marine navigation. Purchase a chart subscription for the area of your interest, download the map areas for offline use, and connect your onboard instruments for a complete experience. ● BASIC FEATURES - Switch between manual and auto route planning modes - Record your GPS tracks - Store and share your navigation data (markers, routes, and recorded tracks) - Display tides and currents predictions and simulations - Increase your safety with Anchor Alarm - Enable Live Sharing to interact with the Aqua Map community - Display points of interest from the "ActiveCaptain" and "Waterway Guide" communities ● EXPERT SUBSCRIPTION Note: this subscription does not include charts; it must be paired with a chart subscription. - Marine forecasts (wind, waves, currents, gusts, salinity, sea surface temperature + weather information for any point on the map) - Overlay satellite images on the charts - Advanced AnchorLink with anchorage mirroring and email/telegram notifications for greater peace of mind while anchored, even if you are away from the boat - Connect your NMEA instruments via WiFi (autopilot, depth sounder, wind sensor, compass, GPS) and use their data on the app - AIS with automatic collision detection - Route Explorer for real-time information on all elements along your route ● MASTER SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE BEST NAVIGATION EXPERIENCE Note: this subscription does not include charts; it must be paired with a chart subscription. - All features of the EXPERT subscription are included in the MASTER subscription. + LOCAL DATA: > US: Army Corps of Engineers surveys for safe navigation in shallow waters > US: LNMs and "List of Lights" navaids from the Coast Guard. > Canada: NAVWARNs from the Coast Guard. > France: Warnings, Notices and Regulations from the PING > Denmark: Warnings and Notices from the DMA > Western Australia: temporary Notices from the Transport WA   ● PURCHASE OPTIONS To access the charts, you need to purchase a chart subscription for the area of interest. Optionally, you can add the Expert subscription or the Master subscription to unlock extra navigation features and additional data. Subscription payments will be made through your account (Apple ID). The annual subscription will automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before expiration. You can manage your subscription and disable automatic renewal in the account settings section after purchase. Terms of use: https://www.aquamap.app/terms-and-conditions Privacy policy: https://www.aquamap.app/privacy-policy

Screenshots

iNavX4 screens
Aqua Map Boating4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Aqua Map Boating at none against iNavX's shown. Aqua Map Boating also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 5 weeks) and review sentiment (64% vs 44%). On price, rating, ratings volume 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. iNavX sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Aqua Map Boating sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for iNavX against 4.7 for Aqua Map Boating. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22K and 14K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 44% of iNavX's written reviews are positive against 64% of Aqua Map Boating's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iNavX ships an update every 5 weeks, Aqua Map Boating every 6 days. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
iNavX versus Aqua Map Boating: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriNavXAqua Map Boating
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (22K ratings) — better4.7 (14K ratings)
Positive reviews43.7% of reviews64.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings22K — better14K
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 6 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#113#76 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size298 MB171 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNavX Studios LLCGEC s.r.l.

Customer experience

iNavX

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

Aqua Map Boating

All ratings13,587 ratings
Positive93.9%
Neutral2.9%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews290 reviews
Positive64.5%
Neutral9.0%
Negative26.6%

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

Aqua Map Boating

From 14K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent navigation tool
  • 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
  • 🗺️ Detailed and accurate charts
  • 💡 Helpful features like AIS, weather, and fuel prices
  • 🤝 Responsive and helpful customer support

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional issues with map downloads and disappearing charts
  • 🔍 Lack of intuitive route planning functionality
  • 🔍 Slow map loading and tracking issues in certain areas
  • 💰 Subscription model with additional costs for map downloads

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

Aqua Map Boating

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Inconsistent GPS tracking and positioning
  • Compatibility issues on older devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved route planning and optimization
  • Offline map caching and seamless downloads
  • Tidal and wind data overlays
  • Sync capabilities across devices

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
17 purchases

Aqua Map Boating

Subscriptions15
  • Florida - NOAA Nautical chart14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Alabama to Texas charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Cape Cod to Chesapeake Charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
Show 12 more
  • New England - Nautical charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Virginia to Georgia - Charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Midwest-Minnesota lake charts14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • Michigan & Great Lakes chart14 Days trial$4.991 Year
  • US - Nautical & Lakes charts14 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • Canada - nautical charts14 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • US & Canada - nautical charts14 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Caribbean South Nautical chart14 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Bermuda - nautical charts14 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Aqua Map Expert14 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Aqua Map Master14 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Bahamas - Explorer Charts14 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time2
  • US & Canada - Nautical chart$49.99
  • Bahamas - Explorer Chartbooks$139.99

Questions

Is iNavX free?
iNavX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aqua Map Boating free?
Aqua Map Boating is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iNavX or Aqua Map Boating?
iNavX is rated higher. iNavX averages 4.8 out of 5 from 22K ratings, while Aqua Map Boating averages 4.7 from 14K ratings.
Do iNavX or Aqua Map Boating have ads?
iNavX shows ads; Aqua Map Boating does not.
Which is updated more often, iNavX or Aqua Map Boating?
iNavX ships an update every 5 weeks, and Aqua Map Boating every 6 days. Most recently, iNavX was updated on September 24, 2026 and Aqua Map Boating on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, iNavX or Aqua Map Boating?
iNavX currently peaks at #113 in the App Store charts, and Aqua Map Boating at #76. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons