# Navionics® Boating vs ActiveCaptain®

The clearest difference is rating: ActiveCaptain® at 4.0 against Navionics® Boating's 2.9. ActiveCaptain® also leads on review sentiment (57% vs 15%). Navionics® Boating's advantage is chart position (#5 vs #32). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Navionics® Boating sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $49.99 per year 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.

ActiveCaptain® holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.3K and 5K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of Navionics® Boating's written reviews are positive against 57% of ActiveCaptain®'s.

Navionics® Boating ships an update every 6 weeks, ActiveCaptain® every 3 months. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Navionics® Boating | ActiveCaptain® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.9 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/navionics-boating/id744920098/reviews) | **[4.0 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2.3K | **5K** |
| Positive reviews | 14.9% of reviews | **56.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | #32 |
| Size | 122 MB | 195 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) | [Garmin](https://appshunter.io/developer/411046952) |

## What reviewers say

### Navionics® Boating

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/navionics-boating/id744920098)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Grossing · Navigation, #120 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Offline nautical charts, HD bathymetry maps, Dock-to-dock route planning, Weather and tide forecasts, Community edits and recommendations, Track recording and sharing

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Norway | $49.99 | per year |
| Baltic Sea | $49.99 | per year |
| Australia & New Zealand | $49.99 | per year |
| Africa & Middle East | $49.99 | per year |
| Mexico, Caribbean to Brazil | $49.99 | per year |
| Indian Ocean and South China | $49.99 | per year |
| Pacific Islands | $49.99 | per year |
| US & Canada | $49.99 | per year |
| UK, Ireland & Holland | $49.99 | per year |
| Chile, Argentina&Easter Island | $49.99 | per year |
| China Sea & Japan | $49.99 | per year |
| Central and West Europe | $59.99 | per year |
| Mediterranean & Black Sea | $59.99 | per year |
| Adriatic & Ionian Seas | $69.99 | per year |
| Scandinavia S. & Germany N. | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great navigation app
- 🗺️ Detailed charts and maps
- ⚓ Useful for boating and sailing
- 💰 Good value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Login issues and unreliable offline access
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🗺️ Inaccurate or outdated map data

**Reported bugs**

- GPS signal loss and position tracking issues
- Inability to download or access previously purchased maps
- Constant requirement to log in, even offline

**Requested features**

- Add anchor alarm feature
- Improve route planning and waypoint functionality
- Provide better support for multiple devices
- Enhance user interface and customization options


### ActiveCaptain®

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

**Currently charting:** #32 Top Grossing · Navigation, #148 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 Navionics® Boating free?

Navionics® Boating 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, Navionics® Boating or ActiveCaptain®?

ActiveCaptain® is rated higher. Navionics® Boating averages 2.9 out of 5 from 2.3K ratings, while ActiveCaptain® averages 4.0 from 5K ratings.

### Do Navionics® Boating or ActiveCaptain® have ads?

Neither Navionics® Boating nor ActiveCaptain® shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Navionics® Boating or ActiveCaptain®?

Navionics® Boating ships an update every 6 weeks, and ActiveCaptain® every 3 months. Most recently, Navionics® Boating was updated on September 25, 2026 and ActiveCaptain® on September 25, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Navionics® Boating or ActiveCaptain®?

Navionics® Boating currently peaks at #5 in the App Store charts, and ActiveCaptain® at #32. 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.*