Comparison

Dogskin vs ActiveCaptain®

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

Head to head
About

Dogskin

Navigate and log fishing trips on Dogskin Lake with detailed bathymetric maps and offline functionality. Track catches, view weather forecasts, and utilize solunar feeding predictions. Integrates with Apple Watch and Siri for hands-free logging.

Highlights
  • Offline bathymetric depth contours
  • Live depth and weather readout
  • Solunar feeding forecast
  • One-tap catch logging
  • Photo capture with location/depth
  • Waypoint creation and sharing
  • Apple Watch and Siri integration
Features
Read full description

Plan, navigate, and remember every catch on the legendary fishing waters of Dogskin Lake and the surrounding outposts of Dogskin Lake Lodge in Manitoba. Built by the lodge for its guests and guides, the Dogskin Fishing app turns your phone into a fully-loaded fishing computer that works on the water with no cell signal. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT • Custom bathymetric depth contours for 5 lakes (Dogskin, Mannifrank, Black Lake, Noname, South Eagle), built from years of sonar surveys and fused into 1-foot and 5-foot contour layers • 100% offline after a single map download. No cell signal needed once you push off the dock. • Live depth readout under your boat from your GPS position • Live weather and wind forecast right at your dock — temperature, sky, precipitation, wind direction, and a wind map • Solunar feeding-period forecast for every day of your trip CATCH LOGGING THAT GETS OUT OF YOUR WAY • One-tap catch buttons for Walleye, Northern Pike, and Other • Auto-save with a 3-second countdown so you can keep fishing • Master Angler detection (Walleye 28+ inches, Northern 41+ inches) • Photo capture from camera or library, with location and depth recorded automatically • Lure tracking remembers your last lure per species WAYPOINTS AND TRIPS • Drop a waypoint anywhere with a tag, color, and notes • Lodge guides share waypoints across all guests via your lodge code • Auto-detect when you arrive at the lodge and start a trip • Group catches by trip and review the season APPLE WATCH AND SIRI • Log a catch from your wrist with a single tap, no need to pull out your phone • See current depth on your watch face complication • Say "Hey Siri, add a walleye" to log hands-free PRIVACY FIRST • Your data stays on your device first, syncs to your account only when you have WiFi • No tracking, no ads, no third-party data sharing • Delete your account and all data anytime from Settings Built for the guests and guides of Dogskin Lake Lodge. Tight lines.

About

ActiveCaptain®

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
Read full description

The free ActiveCaptain app creates a powerful connection between your compatible mobile device and Garmin chartplotter, charts, maps and the boating community. Whether you use your Garmin products for cruising, fishing, sailing or diving, this all-in-one app will help you enjoy your time on the water. Just pair the app with your compatible chartplotter to wirelessly transfer and access charts and maps, software updates, routes, waypoints and helpful feedback from the ActiveCaptain Community. And, with the purchase of the OnDeck™ hub(1), you can track and monitor your boat from virtually anywhere. Please note that this app is intended for Garmin chartplotter owners and is not recommended for use as a stand-alone navigational app. FEATURES AVAILABLE: - ONECHART™: > New Garmin Navionics+™ and premium Garmin Navionics Vision+™ cartography, featuring a Navionics® style appearance, advanced Auto Guidance+™ technology(2) and a one-year subscription to daily updates, is available now for North America and Europe, and coming soon to the rest of the world. Purchase our newest-generation charts or legacy BlueChart® g3 charts from your mobile device, and upload them to registered Garmin chartplotters on your vessel. You will get exceptional coverage, clarity and detail with charts that feature integrated Garmin and Navionics data and much more. Plus, the NOAA raster cartography(3) and premium features can be downloaded for free through the ActiveCaptain app. Visit Garmin.com/marinemaps. - PLAN A TRIP: Plan your trip, or e-scout a new fishing spot before you’re on the water. Then, transfer your data to your chartplotter where you can view your routes and waypoints. - USER DATA SYNC: Automatically back up and sync your data between your chartplotter and the ActiveCaptain app. - ACTIVECAPTAIN COMMUNITY: Join a community of boaters to get up-to-date feedback on marinas, boat ramps and other points of interest (POI). Check ratings, read reviews, and view pictures of POIs to make informed decisions on the water. Contribute your own POI, reviews and pictures from your compatible mobile device. - CONTROL YOUR CHARTPLOTTER: Using the built-in Helm™ feature, the ActiveCaptain app lets you view and control your compatible(4) chartplotter from your smartphone or tablet, even when someone else is at the helm(5). - EASY SOFTWARE UPDATES: Receive notifications about software updates from the app, and update your chartplotter wirelessly. - ONDECK HUB: Use the ActiveCaptain app to track, monitor and control any number of switches with the OnDeck system(1) from nearly anywhere. Door open? Bilge running? Peace of mind comes in the form of text alerts and updates. - GARMIN QUICKDRAWTM COMMUNITY: Download the latest 1’ HD contour maps shared by your fellow boaters, and sync with your chartplotter. You can also upload your own Quickdraw Contours map data. - SMART NOTIFICATIONS: Connect the app to your chartplotter, and turn on smart notifications(4) to see calls, text messages and more on the chartplotter display while your phone is somewhere safe and dry. FOOTNOTES 1)OnDeck hub sold separately and requires an active subscription plan 2)Auto Guidance+ is for planning purposes only and does not replace safe navigation operations 3)NOAA raster cartography cannot be viewed on echoMAP™ CHIRP and ECHOMAP™ Plus combos but can be viewed on mobile devices via the ActiveCaptain mobile app 4)Helm feature is not compatible with ECHOMAP series chartplotters 5)Check device compatibility on the ActiveCaptain app web page; visit https://www.garmin.com/c/marine/marine-apps/ End User License Agreement: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/legal/marine-mobile-eula/

Screenshots

Dogskin3 screens
ActiveCaptain®4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Dogskin at 100% against ActiveCaptain®'s 56%. Dogskin also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 18). ActiveCaptain®'s advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 84 months) and ratings volume (5.2K vs 7). On price, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dogskin 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 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Dogskin's written reviews are positive against 56% of ActiveCaptain®'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dogskin ships an update every 84 months, ActiveCaptain® every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Dogskin versus ActiveCaptain®: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDogskinActiveCaptain®
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (7 ratings) — better4.0 (5.2K ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better56.2% of reviews
Number of ratings75.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 84 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#32 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.5 — better18.5
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB196 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNVISION TECHNOLGY LLCGarmin

Customer experience

Dogskin

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ActiveCaptain®

All ratings5,159 ratings
Positive72.9%
Neutral3.7%
Negative23.4%
Written reviews909 reviews
Positive56.2%
Neutral4.7%
Negative39.1%

Bugs and requests

Dogskin

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

ActiveCaptain®

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

In-app purchases

None

Dogskin

No in-app purchases

18 purchases

ActiveCaptain®

Subscriptions7
  • NSUS007R-U.S. East$74.991 Year
  • NSUS006R-U.S. South$74.991 Year
  • g4 U.S. Lakes & Rivers Built-i$99.991 Year
Show 4 more
  • NSUS001L-U.S. & Canada$99.991 Year
  • g4 Vision U.S. South$129.991 Year
  • g4 Vision U.S. East$129.991 Year
  • GN+ US & Coast Canada Built-In$149.991 Year
One-time11
  • U.S. LakeVü Detail Map$59.99
  • US+Great Lakes Detail Map$99.99
  • BlueChart g3+LakeVu g3 Built-I$99.99
Show 8 more
  • LUS100F - Download$149.99
  • GN+ U.S. South$149.99
  • GN+ U.S. East$149.99
  • VUS010R - Download$174.99
  • GN+ U.S. & Canada$199.99
  • HXUS604X - Download$219.99
  • GNV+ U.S. East$249.99
  • GNV+ U.S. South$249.99

Questions

Is Dogskin free?
Dogskin 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, Dogskin or ActiveCaptain®?
Dogskin is rated higher. Dogskin averages 5.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while ActiveCaptain® averages 4.0 from 5.2K ratings.
Do Dogskin or ActiveCaptain® have ads?
Neither Dogskin nor ActiveCaptain® shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dogskin or ActiveCaptain®?
Dogskin ships an update every 84 months, and ActiveCaptain® every 3 months. Most recently, Dogskin was updated on September 29, 2026 and ActiveCaptain® on October 16, 2026.

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