# FuelScout vs ActiveCaptain®

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ActiveCaptain® at 59% against FuelScout's 0%. ActiveCaptain® also leads on ratings volume (5.2K vs 1) and chart position (#31 vs unranked). FuelScout's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 18). 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. FuelScout asks for nothing beyond the download.

FuelScout holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ActiveCaptain® has 5.2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 0% of FuelScout's written reviews are positive against 59% of ActiveCaptain®'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FuelScout | ActiveCaptain® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fuelscout/id582275335/reviews)** | [4.0 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **5.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **59.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#31** |
| Size | 5 MB | 196 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 18.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MobileMate.me](https://appshunter.io/developer/323297353) | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) |

## What reviewers say

### FuelScout

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fuelscout/id582275335)

Find and share the cheapest fuel prices in your area. Compare prices, discover nearby stations, and get automatic updates to save money on every fill-up. Join a community dedicated to finding the best fuel deals.

**Highlights:** Find cheapest fuel near you, Compare fuel prices, View stations on map or list, Get automatic fuel updates, Report fuel prices, Add favorite stations, Suggest new stations

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### ActiveCaptain®

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

**Currently charting:** #31 Top Grossing · Navigation, #165 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 FuelScout free?

FuelScout 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, FuelScout or ActiveCaptain®?

FuelScout is rated higher. FuelScout averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while ActiveCaptain® averages 4.0 from 5.2K ratings.

### Do FuelScout or ActiveCaptain® have ads?

Neither FuelScout nor ActiveCaptain® shows ads.

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

FuelScout ships an update every 3 months, and ActiveCaptain® every 3 months. Most recently, FuelScout was updated on October 16, 2026 and ActiveCaptain® on October 17, 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.*