# Link vs ActiveCaptain®

The clearest difference is rating: ActiveCaptain® at 4.0 against Link's 2.2. ActiveCaptain® also leads on review sentiment (56% vs 25%) and ratings volume (5.2K vs 148). Link's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 18) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.5). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ActiveCaptain® sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $74.99 per year. Link asks for nothing beyond the download.

ActiveCaptain® holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ActiveCaptain® has 5.2K ratings behind it against 148, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Link's written reviews are positive against 56% of ActiveCaptain®'s.

Link ships an update every 4 months, ActiveCaptain® every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Link | ActiveCaptain® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.2 (148 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/link-connect-your-boat/id565848636/reviews) | **[4.0 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 148 | **5.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 24.6% of reviews | **56.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#27** |
| Size | 60 MB | 196 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Navico Norway AS](https://appshunter.io/developer/842162153) | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) |

## What reviewers say

### Link

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/link-connect-your-boat/id565848636)

Control your Simrad, Lowrance, or B&G marine electronics remotely from your smartphone or tablet. Duplicate your display's screen, manage charts, sonar, radar, and entertainment, and back up your data wirelessly. Stay connected to your boat's systems from anywhere on board.

**Highlights:** Remote display mirroring, Control charts, sonar, and radar, Manage entertainment systems, View engine and instrument data, Wireless waypoint backup and restore, Wireless settings backup and restore

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to set up and use once connected
- 📱 Allows remote viewing of chart plotter on iPad/iPhone
- 🎮 Remote control functionality for chart plotter
- 📡 WiFi connectivity to marine devices
- 🖥️ Screen mirroring capability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection drops and disconnections
- 🐛 Login failures with Genesis and single sign-on systems
- 📱 Portrait mode only - no landscape/full screen support
- 🔌 Incompatible with cellular data when connected to WiFi
- ⚠️ Poor compatibility with newer iOS versions

**Reported bugs**

- App won't connect to Genesis after Simrad SSO update
- Connection drops when cellular data is enabled
- Sonar log uploads fail with 'Can't Login' error
- Screen mirroring shows lower resolution than expected
- App crashes when taking screenshots

**Requested features**

- Apple Watch compatibility and autopilot control
- Dark mode for night boating
- Full screen landscape mode support
- Autopilot remote control capability
- Sound/audio alerts for alarms


### ActiveCaptain®

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

**Currently charting:** #27 Top Grossing · Navigation, #164 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 Link free?

Link is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ActiveCaptain® free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Link or ActiveCaptain®?

ActiveCaptain® is rated higher. Link averages 2.2 out of 5 from 148 ratings, while ActiveCaptain® averages 4.0 from 5.2K ratings.

### Do Link or ActiveCaptain® have ads?

Neither Link nor ActiveCaptain® shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Link or ActiveCaptain®?

Link ships an update every 4 months, and ActiveCaptain® every 3 months. Most recently, Link was updated on October 14, 2026 and ActiveCaptain® on October 14, 2026.

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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.*