Marine Navigation vs Navionics® Boating
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Offline GPS chartplotter
- One-time purchase, own forever
- Proprietary S57 engine
- Unlimited custom maps
- Global offline tides
- Fish forecast
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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.
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.
- Offline nautical charts
- HD bathymetry maps
- Dock-to-dock route planning
- Weather and tide forecasts
- Community edits and recommendations
- Track recording and sharing
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Navionics® Boating at Free against Marine Navigation's $19.99. Navionics® Boating also leads on chart position (#5 vs unranked). Marine Navigation's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 15) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). On ads, monetization model, device support and iOS requirement 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
Navionics® Boating is free to download; Marine Navigation costs $19.99 up front. Navionics® Boating sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year. Marine Navigation asks for nothing beyond the download.
Marine Navigation ships an update weekly, Navionics® Boating every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Marine Navigation | Navionics® Boating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | — | 2.9 (2.3K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 29.5% of reviews — better | 15.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 2.3K — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 6 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #5 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 107 MB | 153 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Marco Palaferri | Garmin |
Customer experience
Marine Navigation
Navionics® Boating
Bugs and requests
Marine Navigation
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
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
Marine Navigation
No in-app purchases
Navionics® Boating
- Norway$49.991 Year
- Baltic Sea3 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Australia & New Zealand7 Days trial$49.991 Year
Show 12 moreShow fewer
- 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 Marine Navigation free?
Is Navionics® Boating free?
Do Marine Navigation or Navionics® Boating have ads?
Which is updated more often, Marine Navigation or Navionics® Boating?
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