# PRO CHARTS vs ActiveCaptain®

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ActiveCaptain® at 57% against PRO CHARTS's 17%. ActiveCaptain® also leads on chart position (#24 vs #143). PRO CHARTS's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PRO CHARTS sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and ActiveCaptain® sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $74.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PRO CHARTS holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8.5K and 5K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 17% of PRO CHARTS's written reviews are positive against 57% of ActiveCaptain®'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PRO CHARTS ships an update every 2 months, ActiveCaptain® every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PRO CHARTS | ActiveCaptain® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (8.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pro-charts-marine-navigation/id451093694/reviews)** | [4.0 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.5K** | 5K |
| Positive reviews | 17.2% of reviews | **56.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #143 | **#24** |
| Size | 48 MB | 195 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MiraTrex, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/814855898) | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) |

## What reviewers say

### PRO CHARTS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pro-charts-marine-navigation/id451093694)

**Currently charting:** #143 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

Navigate marine environments with detailed nautical charts and route planning. Track your location, find friends on the water, and share your trip details for safety. Offline chart access ensures reliable navigation even without an internet connection.

**Highlights:** High-resolution NOAA nautical charts, Offline chart access, Waypoint and route creation, Buddy tracking, Float plan sharing, Point-and-steer navigation, Track recording

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Year Auto Renewing Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| 1 Year Auto Renewing Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Brazil - Nautical Charts | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1 Year Subscription | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for navigation
- 🗺️ Helpful for coastal areas
- 👍 Useful app overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- ⚠️ Subscription issues and hidden costs
- 🌐 Lacks coverage for non-US regions
- 🔒 Poor account management and support

**Reported bugs**

- Charts not loading or disappearing
- Subscription not recognized
- Login/account issues

**Requested features**

- Offline map downloads
- Depth and hazard data
- Better route planning tools


### ActiveCaptain®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313)

**Currently charting:** #24 Top Grossing · Navigation, #146 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

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

**In-app purchases (18)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NSUS007R-U.S. East | $74.99 | per year |
| NSUS006R-U.S. South | $74.99 | per year |
| g4 U.S. Lakes & Rivers Built-i | $99.99 | per year |
| NSUS001L-U.S. & Canada | $99.99 | per year |
| g4 Vision U.S. South | $129.99 | per year |
| g4 Vision U.S. East | $129.99 | per year |
| GN+ US & Coast Canada Built-In | $149.99 | per year |
| U.S. LakeVü Detail Map | $59.99 | one-time |
| US+Great Lakes Detail Map | $99.99 | one-time |
| BlueChart g3+LakeVu g3 Built-I | $99.99 | one-time |
| LUS100F - Download | $149.99 | one-time |
| GN+ U.S. South | $149.99 | one-time |
| GN+ U.S. East | $149.99 | one-time |
| VUS010R - Download | $174.99 | one-time |
| GN+ U.S. & Canada | $199.99 | one-time |
| HXUS604X - Download | $219.99 | one-time |
| GNV+ U.S. East | $249.99 | one-time |
| GNV+ U.S. South | $249.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Seamless integration with Garmin devices
- 💡 Useful for planning trips and managing waypoints
- 🚀 Convenient for updating software and charts
- 👍 Great app for Garmin users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and connection issues
- 🔍 Limited chart and mapping functionality compared to competitors
- 🤔 Difficult to transfer data between devices
- 🤔 Confusing and not very intuitive user interface
- 💰 Expensive for the features provided

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PRO CHARTS free?

PRO CHARTS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ActiveCaptain® free?

ActiveCaptain® is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PRO CHARTS or ActiveCaptain®?

PRO CHARTS is rated higher. PRO CHARTS averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8.5K ratings, while ActiveCaptain® averages 4.0 from 5K ratings.

### Do PRO CHARTS or ActiveCaptain® have ads?

Neither PRO CHARTS nor ActiveCaptain® shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PRO CHARTS or ActiveCaptain®?

PRO CHARTS ships an update every 2 months, and ActiveCaptain® every 3 months. Most recently, PRO CHARTS was updated on September 25, 2026 and ActiveCaptain® on September 27, 2026.

### Which is more popular, PRO CHARTS or ActiveCaptain®?

PRO CHARTS currently peaks at #143 in the App Store charts, and ActiveCaptain® at #24. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*