Comparison

Marine Navigation vs Argo Navigation

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

Head to head
About

Marine Navigation

This app offers a one-time purchase offline GPS chartplotter, giving you lifetime ownership of your maps without subscriptions or data tracking. It provides reliable navigation for sailors and fishermen, with an optional PRO subscription for advanced features.

Highlights
  • Offline GPS chartplotter
  • One-time purchase, own forever
  • Proprietary S57 engine
  • Unlimited custom maps
  • Global offline tides
  • Fish forecast
Features
Read full description

MARINE NAVIGATION — Offline GPS Chartplotter You Own Forever Tired of apps renting your maps every year? Worried about your secret fishing spots being tracked or sold? It’s time to take back control. Marine Navigation is the GPS chartplotter you buy once and own for life. No hidden fees, no forced subscriptions. Since 2009, sailors, fishermen, and sea lovers have trusted us for reliable, offline navigation that respects their privacy. CHOOSE YOUR WAY TO NAVIGATE - Try Free: Download Marine Navigation Lite to explore the basics. - Full Version (One-Time Purchase): Get the complete offline chartplotter that’s yours forever. - Go PRO (Optional Subscription): Unlock professional-grade tools and navigate without limits. Your choice: own it once, or subscribe for more — total freedom. GO PRO — THE ULTIMATE NAVIGATION For the serious navigator, we built something extraordinary. The PRO version is more than just features; - PROPRIETARY S57 ENGINE: This is our masterpiece. Our custom S57 renderer brings official Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) to your device with a speed and detail once reserved for systems costing thousands. - UNLIMITED CUSTOM MAPS: Our most revolutionary feature, supercharged. Scan a paper chart, import a satellite image of a wreck, or even use a treasure map. Our powerful georeferencing tool lets you turn any image into a fully navigable, offline chart in minutes. Your knowledge, mapped. - GLOBAL OFFLINE TIDES: Accurate tidal data for any point on the map, calculated on your device. No internet needed, powered by the high-precision FES2022b global model. - ADVANCED TOOLS: Overlay multiple maps, adjust transparency, and gain a level of control that competitors simply cannot match. - FISH FORECAST (NEW): Fish Forecast helps you plan fishing trips with an Activity Score, built from Solunar, plus real fishing weather and ocean conditions. YOUR DATA IS SACRED We respect your privacy. We don’t track you. We don’t analyze your locations. We never sell your data. Everything you save stays safely on your device. Your fishing spots remain yours — always. FULL VERSION — EVERYTHING YOU NEED - RELIABLE OFFLINE MAPS: Download your charts and navigate with confidence far from shore. Our entire download system has been rebuilt from the ground up based on user feedback for total clarity and control. - COMPLETE GPS NAVIGATION: Create routes, record tracks, set a visual anchor alarm, use the compass (true/magnetic), and monitor your speed and direction. - NEW! ADVANCED VISUAL WAYPOINTS: Take total control of your map. Organize your spots with a library of custom icons and colors, then go beyond a simple pin: turn your chart into an intelligent log. Tag any location with the exact bait that worked, the type of fishing, catch details, and other crucial conditions. - WIDE CHART SELECTION: Access NOAA Raster & ENC, ESRI Satellite Imagery, OpenSeaMap, Bathymetric Maps, and more. - USEFUL TOOLS: Basic weather, moon & sun phases, GPX import/export. WHY CHOOSE MARINE NAVIGATION? - Freedom of Choice: Buy once for life, or subscribe to PRO — you decide. - Privacy First: Your data stays on your device, period. - Unmatched Control: From official S57 charts to your own custom maps. - Trusted by Navigators Worldwide: Reliable and independent since 2009. IMPORTANT NOTICE Good seamanship requires the use of official charts. Marine Navigation is for use with other charts and cannot replace official charts. Use at your own risk. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION - The PRO subscription renews automatically unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - You can manage or disable auto-renew in your iTunes Account Settings after purchase. --- Learn more on our official website: www.fishpoints.net Terms of Use: http://www.fishpoints.net/eula/ Privacy Policy: http://www.fishpoints.net/privacy-policy/ Try Marine Navigation and take the helm of your journey. The sea is yours.

About

Argo Navigation

This app provides comprehensive navigation and planning tools for boaters, offering features like chart plotting, route planning, and weather forecasts. It aims to be user-friendly for all skill levels, from beginners to experienced cruisers, with a focus on safety and connectivity on the water.

Highlights
  • Web/Desktop planning with auto-sync
  • Autorouting for multi-stop trips
  • 7-day marine weather forecast
  • Unlimited nautical charts (NOAA/USEACE)
  • Record and save tracks
  • Real-time NMEA/AIS data
  • Location and route sharing with groups
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/

Screenshots

Marine Navigation4 screens
Argo Navigation4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Argo Navigation at 85% against Marine Navigation's 30%. Argo Navigation also leads on price (Free vs $19.99) and chart position (#72 vs unranked). Marine Navigation's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On update cadence, ads, monetization model and device support 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

Argo Navigation is free to download; Marine Navigation costs $19.99 up front. Argo Navigation sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Marine Navigation asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Marine Navigation ships an update weekly, Argo Navigation every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Marine Navigation versus Argo Navigation: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMarine NavigationArgo Navigation
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating—4.9 (6.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews29.5% of reviews84.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings—6.2K — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#72 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size107 MB138 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperMarco PalaferriARGO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Customer experience

Marine Navigation

Written reviews44 reviews
Positive29.5%
Neutral9.1%
Negative61.4%

Argo Navigation

All ratings6,203 ratings
Positive97.9%
Neutral0.7%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews220 reviews
Positive84.5%
Neutral2.3%
Negative13.2%

Bugs and requests

Marine Navigation

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or 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

In-app purchases

None

Marine Navigation

No 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

Questions

Is Marine Navigation free?
Marine Navigation costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Argo Navigation free?
Argo Navigation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Marine Navigation or Argo Navigation have ads?
Neither Marine Navigation nor Argo Navigation shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Marine Navigation or Argo Navigation?
Marine Navigation ships an update weekly, and Argo Navigation every 4 days. Most recently, Marine Navigation was updated on October 26, 2026 and Argo Navigation on October 26, 2026.

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