# C vs ActiveCaptain®

The clearest difference is rating: C at 4.5 against ActiveCaptain®'s 4.0. C also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.5). ActiveCaptain®'s advantage is chart position (#25 vs #111). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. C sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month 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.

C holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.3K and 5.2K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 51% of C's written reviews are positive against 56% of ActiveCaptain®'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

C ships an update every 6 weeks, ActiveCaptain® every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | C | ActiveCaptain® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (2.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/c-map-boating/id967289980/reviews)** | [4.0 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activecaptain/id1116089313/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2.3K | **5.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 51.0% of reviews | **56.2% 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 | #111 | **#25** |
| Size | 169 MB | 196 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 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

### C

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/c-map-boating/id967289980)

**Currently charting:** #111 Top Grossing · Navigation (US App Store)

Access up-to-date nautical charts for global exploration and planning. Save points of interest and routes, record tracks, and view marine weather. Upgrade for offline maps, GPS, and advanced features like shaded relief and AIS.

**Highlights:** Free chart viewer, Autorouting, Personal waypoints, Track recording, Marine weather forecasts, Offline map downloads, High-resolution bathymetry

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Embark Advanced Weather | $1.99 | per month |
| Embark Offline Maps USA | $2.49 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Annual subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Region | $18.99 | per year |
| North America | $23.49 | per year |
| Maps Lakes South East USA | $25.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Caribbean | $32.99 | per year |
| Maps USA East Coast & Bahamas | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate maps and charts
- 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
- 📍 Helpful for planning trips and routes
- 🛳️ Useful for both professionals and beginners
- ⚙️ Detailed features like shaded relief and weather info

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- ⚠️ Unreliable GPS tracking and location updates
- 🔌 Offline maps and features not working as expected
- 🤔 Confusing or missing functionality (e.g. route editing)
- 💸 Expensive subscription, not worth the cost

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to save tracks or routes
- Offline maps fail to download or disappear
- Depth/contour data inaccurate or not displaying properly
- Login and authentication issues preventing access

**Requested features**

- Add mast height/clearance feature
- Improve AIS integration and functionality
- Allow more customization of map views and data
- Provide better customer support and communication


### ActiveCaptain®

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

**Currently charting:** #25 Top Grossing · Navigation, #184 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 C free?

C 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, C or ActiveCaptain®?

C is rated higher. C averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2.3K ratings, while ActiveCaptain® averages 4.0 from 5.2K ratings.

### Do C or ActiveCaptain® have ads?

Neither C nor ActiveCaptain® shows ads.

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

C ships an update every 6 weeks, and ActiveCaptain® every 3 months. Most recently, C was updated on October 13, 2026 and ActiveCaptain® on October 13, 2026.

### Which is more popular, C or ActiveCaptain®?

C currently peaks at #111 in the App Store charts, and ActiveCaptain® at #25. 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.*