maritime travel app

MarineTraffic - Ship Tracking 4+

World's #1 ship tracking app‪‬, marinetraffic applications ltd, designed for ipad.

• #196 in Travel
• 4.8 • 53.2K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

MarineTraffic displays near real-time positions of ships and yachts worldwide. Using the largest network of land-based AIS receivers, the app covers most major ports and shipping routes. • View VESSELS ON THE LIVE MAP, search for ships, boats and seaports and see what's near you! • More than 300,000 VESSELS PER DAY report their positions via MarineTraffic AIS • View live wind and 48-hour WIND FORECASTS on the map • ANIMATED PLAYBACK of vessel's track • PORT ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES live for over 4,000 ports and marinas, current conditions in ports and estimated time of arrival for the boats & ships. • Manage your list of vessels ("MY FLEET"), shared with all your devices and MarineTraffic.com • Browse 4.5 MILLION PHOTOS of ships, harbours, lighthouses and more! • Upload photos to MarineTraffic directly from your device. • Identify and track vessels sailing beyond the range of land-based AIS receiving stations, using satellite tracking, with ACCESS PLUS 24 (in-app purchase) • Identify vessels around you at a glance with the AUGMENTED REALITY tool Just point your device's camera to the horizon and get all the information you need about vessels, ports and lighthouses in your area: name, flag, speed, distance from you and a lot more. • Use the ROUTE PLANNER tool to plan a route on the map, measure distances and calculate ETA • MarineTraffic now offers auto-renewable subscriptions for Starter Plan, Nautical Charts, Weather Maps and Advanced Density Maps: Starter Plan - Unlock unlimited features like extended vessel and port details, vessel track, Advanced Search, Vessels near me, Augmented Reality and more Subscription name: Starter Plan Annual Cost: $9.99 (USD) Renewed every year i.e. you will be charged annually Get access to the marine environment with Nautical Maps - Pilotage information such as sea bed, sea marks and landmarks - Port details such as berths, dry docks and terminal location - Position and characteristics of buoys, lights, lighthouses - Depths of water and heights of land Subscription name: Nautical Charts Monthly Cost: $6.99 (USD) Renewed every month i.e. you will be charged monthly Subscription name: Nautical Charts Annual Cost: $66.99 (USD) Renewed every year i.e. you will be charged annually Unlock real-time & forecast weather information with Weather Maps - Wind contours - Wind flow & gusts - Temperature - Wave metrics - Clouds and Precipitation - Ocean currents - More than 20 key metrics - 7-days sea meteogram Subscription name: Weather Maps Layers Monthly Cost: $8.99 (USD) Renewed every month i.e. you will be charged monthly Subscription name: Weather Maps Layers Annual Cost: $95.99 (USD) Renewed every year i.e. you will be charged annually Advanced Density Maps - Dig into global shipping traffic data, filtering by vessel type. Subscription name: Advanced Density Maps Monthly Cost: $1.99 (USD) Renewed every month i.e. you will be charged monthly Subscription name: Advanced Density Maps Annual Cost: $17.99 (USD) Renewed every year i.e. you will be charged annually For all the above subscriptions: • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable Terms of Use: https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/p/terms Privacy Policy: http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/p/privacy-policy Join the great MarineTraffic community!

Version 4.0.102

- Additional viewing options in distant zoom levels - Bug fixes and improvements

Ratings and Reviews

53.2K Ratings

Indespensible

I just sailed from Chesapeake Bay to NYC. I don't have AIS on my boat, and was concerned about boat traffic in the C&D canal, the Delware river, and Ambrose channel into the Hudson. I DO HAVE cellular service on my Ipad. We remained within 10 miles of the coastline at all times, and this app identified all the freighters, both near us, and I could also look ahead and behind us. I was then able to hail them and discuss course and direction with them. There were a few times we needed to adjust our course a tiny bit, and avoid issues well in advance. This app was a life saver for our voyage. Even when I upgrade to onboard AIS, I will still use this app to see the freighters that are outside of the VHF line of site range to predict CPA. Thanks Marine Traffic!!!!

Free unlocks expire when app closed

I was looking for an app to track my vehicle shipment. This app does a great job of that and more. There’s a catch for free accounts, however. You get three “past route” and three “vessel info” unlocks before having to register and pay. No problem, I thought. Just want to track one ship over a period of 3-5 days. So day one I unlock the past route and vessel info for my ship. Very cool info! Day two I go to check on the vessel and… I have to use another unlock for both the past route and vessel info. Now day two again, but I closed the app and it wants to use my final unlock for both the route and vessel info. It’s the same ship on the same route. If you’re going to subscribe, this won’t matter to you. If you’re like me and only have a single, one-off use of the app, go for it but don’t close the app! You’ll have to use your limited unlocks again and quickly run out. I hope the app dev will consider allowing each unlock to last for the current sailing of the selected ship instead of what seems to expire as soon as I close the app.

Developer Response ,

Thank you so much for your lovely review. It means a lot to us! Should you have any suggestions on what could be improved, please let us know in our Community Help:https://bit.ly/3qEQGUa Have a great day!

Was good, recent update made it useless.

This app used to be good for what I needed it for, which was seeing the names of ships near me (I work on ships and frequently need to do this for various reasons). Now, the app doesn’t show any vessel names unless you specifically search for a specific vessel, even when the “vessel names” option is checked. Furthermore, the app used to show you a picture of the vessel for free, which is very useful if you have to visit a specific ship and you don’t know what it looks like. Now when you tap on a ship, you don’t even get a picture. So this app is trying to force me to pay for things that it used to do for free, and it still is possible to do for free if I use google or other apps, so there is literally no reason to use this app anymore. On an unrelated note, the old logo was completely fine. The new logo looks nothing like a ship unless you know in advance that it’s trying to look like a ship viewed from the front. Simpler isn’t always better. It’s an app logo, not a company logo. It should quickly convey what the app is for so that it stands out on a page with 27 other app logos.

We are sorry to hear that you feel this way. We always appreciate customers who take the time to give us their feedback and will definitely pass this on to the relevant team for review. If you have any questions, please contact us at https://bit.ly/3dzeALs

App Privacy

The developer, MarineTraffic Applications LTD , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Identifiers
• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• Access Plus 24 $0.99
• Starter Plan Annual $9.99
• Nautical Charts Monthly $2.99
• Weather Maps Layers Monthly $8.99
• Nautical Charts Monthly $6.99
• Augmented Reality $2.99
• Advanced Density Maps Monthly $1.99
• Nautical Charts Annual $29.49
• Route Planner $0.99
• Weather Maps Layers Annual $95.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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Argo is a free easy-to-use navigation and social boating app that helps you find and route to new destinations, share local knowledge, and connect with other boaters..

4.9/5 • 5,000+ App Ratings

See What the Internet is Buzzing About!

Free to Download, Free to Use

With Argo you get easy-to-use navigation and routing, local boating knowledge, and social boating features all in one app!

Available on iOS and Android phones and tablets. Argo coverage includes the United States, Canada, and Caribbean. 

Boating Made Easy

All the navigation features you need.

Navigation Capability

Find and route to new destinations within the U.S. and Canada with our clean, easy-to-use interface.

Customized Chart Data

You control what you see on your map. From map data to points of interest you are in control!

Community-Focused Boating

Get local boating knowledge and share your experiences with friends in your social feed.

Custom Autorouting

Plan your trip before you get out on the water. Simply let Argo know where you want to go or just tap the map and go. Argo will calculate the shortest and safest route customized based off your boat’s draft.

Captain’s Log

Automatically save places you’ve visited or trips you have taken. Add reports, places, photos and comments along the way. Then share with friends and family so they can see where you went or follow your same route.

Popular Destinations

Find the best spots to visit on or near the water with recommendations from other boaters. Places are continually updated with reviews, current pictures, descriptions and comments. These include local beaches, anchorages, marinas, restaurants, dock bars and more.

Real-Time Reporting

Get the latest on water hazards, weather and other potential issues to put you on the safest route. Create your own or comment on other reports to ensure accuracy. Customize your map so you only see pins that are most important to you.

Connect with Boaters

Connect with other boaters by adding your current friends and meeting new ones. Message them on the water, create or comment on a post, and share your trips and experiences with the boating community.

Get More With

Argo premium.

• All FREE Argo Features
• 7-Day Weather, Wind, Tides
• Offline Charts
• Custom Depth Shading
• Captain’s Log Reports
• Import/Export GPX Files
• Multiple Vessels
• Display Routes/Tracks

COMING SOON:

• AIS Traffic

See why Argo is trusted

By over 300,000 boaters, “best boating app”.

This marine navigation app is the easiest & amazingly totally free! Give it a try, I know you’ll agree the ease of use and clean interface will meet your needs.

“Perfect App!!”

Everything I really wanted for a simple GPS-based smartphone app with nautical chart integration. Highly recommend!

“User Friendly”

Love the app! Easy to learn, visually clear with several layout options for customizing info, terrain views, etc.

“Best New Boating App”

I love the intuitive autorouting function and my wife enjoys the social/community features for connecting with other boating friends.

“Best App for Daily Boaters for Just Occasional Fishers”

My father takes very frequent trips on his boat for the past 5-6 years and I showed him this app a few days ago & he LOVES it. He hasn’t stopped using it.

“Simple, Great Features, Excellent Support!”

 It’s straightforward, uncomplicated, has a clean interface/display that isn’t overloaded, is easy to learn, and performs reliably. 

“This App Beats All the Others!”

This app needs to be in every boaters arsenal. I absolutely love it. What a service the creator has done for us and for FREE!

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Boat Better Together

Argo is an easy-to-use navigation & boating app., partnerships.

Copyright © 2024 Argo Navigation, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Release Notes . Privacy Policy . Terms of Use .

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Tracking Ships (and Sharks) and Tying Knots: Apps to Enrich Your Seaside Vacation

With the right software on your phone you can turn a getaway on the water into an opportunity for discovery, from deciphering signal flags to forecasting tides.

By Stephanie Rosenbloom

Of all summer’s pleasures, few are as irresistible as a getaway by the water, be it an ocean, lake or city harbor. You can swim, sail, fish and partake of the age-old tradition of lazing around.

But a coastal vacation is also an opportunity for discovery. Maybe you’d like to learn how to tie fishing and boating knots? Or decipher those colorful signal flags you see on ships and in seaside shops? With the right app you can turn a holiday on the water into something deeper: identify the fish you’ve just caught or the ship that’s passing by, find out about the seashell you’ve spotted or the lake you’re diving into, explore nearby shark migrations, and study the rhythms of the moon and tides, all while keeping your toes in the sand.

Track Ships on the Horizon

Watching a ship glide into a harbor one evening I wondered aloud where it might have been. “Let’s find out,” said a friend, who then pulled out his phone and opened MarineTraffic — Ship Tracking , an app that can identify vessels near and far.

The app’s live map lets you zoom in and out of major ports and shipping routes around the world to see ships, their details and voyage routes. Each vessel is represented by a colored icon, including dark blue for passenger vessels, orange for fishing vessels, and purple for yachts and pleasure craft. For example, while looking at a Norwegian cruise ship on the Hudson River in New York, I opened the map (there’s a desktop version at MarineTraffic.com ), tapped on the corresponding icon, and was immediately shown a photo of the ship with information such as its name, flag, last known port (it had been at Kings Wharf in Bermuda two days earlier), speed and status (it was moored as opposed to, say, underway, using an engine). Later, when the ship was departing, I opened the app and saw with a glance that it was now on its way to Norfolk, Va. (You can also search for a particular vessel by name.)

Cost: free; $9.99 a year for a “starter” subscription with more vessel and port information, and features like an augmented reality tool to identify ships using your smartphone camera. Note: The app uses a network of coastal Automatic Identification System (AIS) receivers to show vessel positions. It costs extra to unlock details for a vessel that’s out of its AIS range.

Try Your Hand at Boating and Knots

Planning on boating, fishing or camping this summer? Knots 3D uses color animations to teach you how to tie more than 150 knots, from those that might help you catch a fish to those that might help save your life. Read about the usage and history of the knots, adjust the speed of the animations or pause them, rotate a knot for a different perspective and use your finger to tie and untie it. There are several ways to search for knots you want to master, including by category (such as boating , fishing and camping ) or knot type (like anchor hitch , bowline and fisherman’s eye ). Plus, the app doesn’t require internet service, so you can practice even while you’re in the backcountry.

Cost: $5.99.

Follow Sharks From Your Beach Chair

You never know what creatures might be sharing the waters with you on your summer vacation. Or do you?

This app from Ocearch , a nonprofit that facilitates ocean and fish research worldwide, allows users to follow the migrations of sharks (and some other marine animals, like turtles) that have been tagged with satellite tracking technology. For instance, in July I could see on the app’s map that an 883-pound white shark more than 11 feet long was in the Atlantic Ocean off a nearby beach. The app enables you to follow such sharks as they travel thousands of miles (select “all pings” on the app’s map to view both historical and recent tracking activity). Meanwhile, data gathered from tracking helps scientists understand the sharks’ migration patterns and life cycle to better help protect them and, ultimately, the oceans, too.

Cost: free.

Dive Into the History of Oceans and Lakes

Open Earth 3D — World Atlas for a virtual globe that spins with the swipe of a finger, allowing you to investigate wherever you are — or long to be. On a Great Lakes vacation in Wisconsin? Tap on Lake Superior to read about the first people who came to the region thousands of years ago. On the coast of South Carolina? Tap the Atlantic Ocean to find out just how big it is. Or touch the Caribbean Current to discover where it flows. Vacationing in a major city? Tap a monument or landmark, like the Key West Lighthouse in Florida, to learn about it.

The information about the places comes from Wikipedia, which is easily accessible on the web. And Earth 3D lacks the granularity of, say, the Google Earth app . Nonetheless, it’s a charming, eye-pleasing way to spark interest in geography and history, especially in young people.

Cost: $2.99.

(For a quirkier compendium, try the Atlas Obscura Travel Guide app where you can discover lesser-known points of interest around you or elsewhere in the world on an interactive map. And you can’t beat the price: free.)

Identify Shells and Other Seaside Finds

Let’s say you’re strolling along the shore when you spot an unfamiliar object. Whether it’s a shell, piece of coral, plant or bug, try consulting Google Lens . Just point your smartphone camera at whatever it is you’d like to know about and Lens will search the internet for visual matches and information. When recently aimed at a shell, for example, it found pages with photos that revealed it was likely a moon snail .

You can also direct your camera toward a building or a statue to discover its history. And you don’t have to do it in real-time either: Lens works on images in photos, too. Some objects turn up more useful results than others, but undoubtedly Lens is a powerful tool. Available as an app for Android; iOS users can download the Google app , which enables you to search with images using Lens.

Decode the Sights and Sounds of the Harbor

This digital reference manual for boaters offers information about essential matters like preventing collisions. But even beachgoers who never set foot on board can use Navigation Rules Pro to decode the sights and sounds of a vacation by the sea. For example, you can find out what those colorful flags and pennants mean (and how each one corresponds to a letter) with the app’s guide to the International Code of Signals, a system that vessels use to communicate. Just type “ICS” in the search function to read about the ways signals can be sent, and to see flag images, their meanings, associated letters and phonetic alphabet letters.

Or maybe you want to study International Morse code by using the app’s charts of dots and dashes (just search for “Morse”), or learn more about the earth and its coordinates by selecting the “nautical charts” section. A lot of this information can be found free online, though the app houses it in one place. So you can sit at a harborside bar and peruse things you’re curious about — like how waves form at sea — with one hand while nursing a beer with the other. For iOS only.

Cost: $4.99.

Get in Tune With the Moon and Tides

Keeping track of time may not be necessary on every type of vacation, but if you’re hoping to catch the sunrise or to cross a sandbar before high tide, a bit of planning is in order. Tides Near Me makes it a breeze to check currents and to get the time of the next tide, sunset or moonrise. Look further ahead by tapping the “week” tab. Cost: free.

For a more refined experience, consider spending a few dollars on Tide Alert (NOAA) - USA , which has an inviting, interactive interface and uses tide forecast data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A chart with an undulating line represents high and low tides. A yellow dot on the line indicates the current time and tide height. You can use your finger to drag the yellow dot forward or backward, virtually traveling back in time to see what the tides were, or forward to see what they are forecast to be. Moon and sun icons on the chart show you sunrise, sunset, moonrise and moonset times. You can also see that information at a glance by tapping “rise & set.” To see monthly moon phase calendars, touch the calendar icon. iOS only. Cost: free trial period, then $3.99 for three months; $11.99 a year.

Surfers may also want to take a look at the MSW Surf Forecast app by Magicseaweed for forecasts that include surf and swell height. Cost: free. An ad-free, pro version with features like live surf cams from around the world is available for $12.99 a month; $99.99 a year (free pro trial available).

And if you’re planning to go fishing, check out the FishAngler app to explore fishing spots and see tide phase and barometric pressure charts, weather and wind conditions, sun and moon states, as well as a “fish forecast” that suggests the best times to fish based on Solunar Tables (how the moon and sun may affect anglers). Even if you don’t manage to catch anything, you can use the app to learn about top species in your region, be it an American anglerfish or a Yellowtail snapper. Cost: free.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places list for 2022 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

The Maritime Travel App provides important contact and travel services information to both our corporate and leisure customers:

• Access to all the most important information in a single app. No need to track down and go to multiple websites while you are on the go.
• Emergency Travel Service – all channels of contacting our Emergency Travel Service are available within the app itself, including phone numbers based on location and Email. So when you need to contact someone right away, you have one spot to go to.
• Shop Online – Looking to book your next trip? Get easy access to a number of our booking channels right within our app. Our online booking service offers many advantages including our 24/7 assistance, numerous booking options, and the ability to designate an agent – all for no fee!
• Save your upcoming Maritime Travel trips within our app and view while you’re on the go (*viewing trip information requires internet connection). See your flight, hotel, and car rental information. You’ll get to see your flight times, hotel details and confirmation number, car pick up and drop off locations and much more. You can also add your trip itinerary to your calendar on your device. Powered by Travelport ViewTrip.
• Access to our Concur Online Booking Tool, along with our Concur Online Support service. All channels of contact available within the app.
• Access to our Business Travel Management team via Email or phone, right in the app.
• Also includes great features for our leisure customers to find branches closest to them, find their favorite agent, get directions, along with phone and Email information for individual agents
• We will be continually adding more features into the app in the future.

After hours assistance Anywhere in the world, anytime!

We offer 24 hour Emergency and After Hours travel assistance from anywhere in the world In Canada and USA – Please call 902-423-3806 or 1-888-551-1181 Outside Canada – Please call 902-423-3806 direct

Email [email protected]

Maritime Travel

Provides important contact and travel services information to our customers.

About Maritime Travel

More data about maritime travel, related apps.

Google Play Rating history and histogram

Downloads over time.

Maritime Travel has been downloaded 4.3 thousand times. Over the past 30 days, it has been downloaded 90 times.

Developer information for Maritime Travel Inc.

Maritime Travel Inc.

[email protected]

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5 Best Marine Navigation Apps for Boaters

If you have a boat (or you're thinking about buying a boat ) and you have a cell phone, you’re probably interested in learning all about the best boating apps . And among the many types of boating apps out there, marine navigation apps are some of the most useful. With the best marine navigation apps you can quite literally turn your phone or your tablet into a full-blown chartplotter. That means you have a valuable back-up to the electronics at your helm, and you can carry your tech with you even when aboard small boats with no electrical systems.

We’ve put a number of marine navigation apps to the test through the years, and these are our favorites (in alphabetical order):

C-Map Embark

Maptech iplot.

C-Map has been creating digital charts for years and has had other nav apps in the past, but Embark recently replaced previous offerings. The concept behind developing this next-gen nav app was to make it as simple and easy to use as possible. It’s a goal C-Map reached, and although this does by design make it one of the more simplistic apps in our round up, that’s one of the reasons why we love it – it’ll take you all of 30 seconds to figure out how to accomplish essential navigational tasks like going from point A to point B. Nifty bonus feature: the app can “see” the lighting situation you’re in and automatically adjust color and contrast for the best viewing.

Price: Free basic version with in-app purchases of varying costs for some map access and weather data.

Click here to download.

iNavX provides you with amazing latitude in the charts you choose to navigate with, and has eight different providers in their in-app chart store (NOAA charts come free). This app also allows you to do much more than simple navigational tasks, with quite advanced functionality like overlaying GRIB files (a form of current weather data) on your chartplotter screen, or connecting with NMEA (National Marine Electronics Association) compatible instruments on your boat via WiFi to display things like engine data and AIS (Automatic Information System, which uses transponders on commercial ships and boats to broadcast information regarding things like identification, speed, course, and destination) data. Figuring out the navigational basics isn’t made overly-complex by the additional features, but using the advanced functions will take some studying up.

Price: $4.99 for Apple plus in-app purchases; free for Android’s basic version, $19.99/year for the enhanced Pro version.

If you have an apple device (there’s no Android version) Maptech’s iPlot is a navigation app you’ll love for its intuitive nature. The app’s amazingly easy to figure out and thanks to the use of raster charts (digitized NOAA paper charts) when you zoom in you can make the hard-to-read depth sounding and marker numbers as large as you’d like. Plus “quilting,” (digitally stitching charts together) happens quickly so you don’t lose the view while zooming, a problem you may encounter with some other apps. What really sets this one apart from the pack, however, is its facility locator feature. Marinas, yacht clubs, and other waterfront facilities are not only detailed on-screen, but when you tap on them, it takes you to their website—an ability those going on an overnight or weekend getaway to unfamiliar ports will definitely enjoy.

Price: $39.99 with basic charts; $9.99 for additional charts.

Navionics lays claim to being the most popular boating app available, and its navigational features and functions are comprehensive, to say the least. In fact, it offers many features that some modern chartplotters can’t match. Dock-to-dock auto-routing, for example, creates a route from point A to point B taking things like nav aids and your boat’s draft constraints into account, when you merely tap the beginning and end points. The Sonarchart Live function lets you create bathymetric maps of the area you’re boating in, in real time. User-generated community edits can be displayed with daily updates. And these are just some of the highlights in a long list of unique features.

Price: A two-week trial comes free, then the subscription varies depending on the chart region(s) you want ($14.99 to $54.99).

Seapilot is a fairly comprehensive navigation app (though some of the more advanced features, like routing and weather forecasting, require upgrading to the premium version), which introduces a different twist into the mix: Facebook integration. Connected friends are displayed like AIS targets on the app, so finding each other and linking up on the water is easier. Seapilot is also unusual in that it can offer polar diagrams (which show the theoretical attainable speed depending on wind direction and speed) for over 300 boats, to determine the ideal path to steer a sailboat taking wind and current forecasts into account.

Price: Free basic three-day-trial version, $7.99 to $64.99 depending on chart area subscriptions.

Looking for more boating apps to try?

Hey, you anglers, wait a sec—don’t put that phone back into your pocket just yet, because when you’re out fishing it’s good for more than just navigation. Also be sure to check out the Best Apps for Fishing so the next time you hit the water you catch more fish.

Read Next: How to Navigate a Boat

You Might Also Like:

• Best Boating Apps
• How to Use a VHF Radio
• Weather Safety for Boaters: Understanding Marine Forecasts
• Boat Owner's Guide
• Find the Right Boat for Your Lifestyle

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Top 8 Apps For Marine Navigation (Judged By A Navigator)

Having spent the last 10 years using sophisticated ECDIS systems on commercial ships, I was curious as to whether I could have a similar experience on my own boat, using just a tablet and a mobile phone.

It quickly became apparent that there were plenty of potential apps that might be able to live up to the challenge.

In the end, I decided to buy 8 of the best, so that I could independently put them to the test, and ultimately compare them to find the best.

I must say, overall I was pleasantly surprised, but I was able to find a winner.

Navionics (Overall Winner)

iOS & Android

Cost: Free app, with in-app purchases for charts. Chart subscriptions include advanced app features.

Navionics is probably the most popular boating app, and for good reason. Chart subscriptions include access to all of the app’s features like route monitoring, currents & tides, NMEA integration, data overlays and additional unique features like community edits, which are only possible due to its immense popularity.

The navigation experience is very pleasant and has clearly been well optimised for use by recreational boaters. You get just the right amount of information around the screen, displayed in a very unobtrusive way.

The main weakness with Navionics is its lack of customisation options in comparison to other apps. Given the obvious thought that has gone into its design, however, you won’t feel like you need to change anything.

Click here to read my full Navionics review.

iSailor (Very Close Second)

Cost: Free app, with in-app purchases for charts and advanced features.

iSailor is the most advanced marine navigational app, with professional-level features included as standard. For example, when passage planning, iSailor was the only app that gave full control over cross-track-distance (XTD) and turn radius on waypoints.

The navigation experience is fantastic, with an optional pull-out at the side of the screen containing all the relevant data you would need for a passage.

The main weakness with iSailor was the additional in-app purchases required to activate all of its features. If you want to add every feature, the app can quickly become very expensive.

Click here to read my full iSailor review.

C-Map (Best Worldwide Value)

Cost: Free app, with an in-app purchase to save charts to your device and activate Premium features.

C-Map is the best value charting application for worldwide use. With an internet connection, you can access worldwide charts for free, then a single in-app purchase will activate Premium features so that you can download up to 1000 charts to your device.

Navigation with C-Map is great because there is excellent chart customisation, and it is incredibly intuitive to create and follow routes. It also felt strangely familiar, having used the same charts on passenger ships. The C-Map app is a great translation of their commercial product to the pleasure boating market.

The main weakness with C-Map is that navigational information on the screen can be hard to read, especially if you are only using a small tablet.

Click here to read my full C-Map review.

iNavX (Most Comprehensive)

Cost: Free app on Android (paid on iOS), with in-app purchases for charts. US charts are free.

iNavX is the most customisable navigational app and the only one that I tested that is capable of displaying almost every NMEA data type imaginable. 

Users in the US will be able to find free NOAA charts, but the rest of the world will need to use the in-app store to buy local charts. iNavX offers a vast choice of charts, easily eclipsing its competition in terms of variety.

The extensive customisation makes navigating with iNavX a fantastic experience, although it can take a while to get it looking how you want.

The main weakness with iNavX is its complexity. Performing simple actions is a lot more complicated than in other apps. With regular use though, you would become familiar with it and find it quick and easy.

Click here to read my full iNavX review.

Cost: Free basic app, with an in-app purchase for the Premium app. Charts are available as additional in-app purchases.

Seapilot is a comprehensive marine navigation app, providing a whole range of different capabilities in its Premium version.

The charts look great and have some of the best shadings out of all the apps I tested. You will find scrolling around them is a seamless experience, without overwhelming and distracting data.

The navigation screen is customisable, so you can display most of the data you need in an overlay at the top.

Its main weakness is that it does not display all the data that you need on the main screen, so you will need to open the side menus to get at everything you need.

Click here to read my full Seapilot review.

SeaNav pushes the boundaries of mobile technology with innovative features like its Augmented Reality view, helping you to identify charted navigational features and other vessels in your vicinity.

Its navigation screen is simple, and easily customisable, with plenty of control over the layers that you select on your chart.

The main weakness with SeaNav is that your own boat is quite hard to see on the chart due to its small size and lack of contrast. The same issue applies to the text, although the contrast is much better due to its dark underlay.

Click here to read my full SeaNav review.

Cost: Free app, with in-app purchases for charts and advanced features. Alternatively, you can purchase the UK or US version of the app which comes will charts and additional features.

NavLink is Digital Yacht’s navigation app, which makes full use of advanced features such as its Augmented Reality view.

Its navigation screen is unobstructed, giving a clear view of charted features which are all controllable through an extensive layer selection menu.

The main weakness with NavLink is there is minimal contrast between your own vessel and the underlying chart, making it hard to see, especially in bright light. The same issue applies to text around the screen, albeit to a lesser extent due to its dark underlay.

Click here to read my full NavLink review.

Memory Map (Best For Non-Sailors)

Cost: Free app, with in-app purchases for maps.

Memory Map is a fantastic raster chart app, capable of displaying nautical charts as well as USGS and OS maps. As such, it is a top choice for users wishing to explore their coastline on foot as well as by boat.

In navigation mode, Memory Map will feel familiar for anyone used to navigating on paper charts as it literally places a digital position fix on an image of a traditional paper chart.

Memory Map’s main weakness is that it uses raster charts, which are not well optimised for digital use. Essential navigational information is not always visible because notes on the chart will be beyond the edge of the screen.

Click here to read my full Memory Map review.

Comparing Top Marine Navigation Apps By Price

Winner: iSailor

The easiest comparison to make between the top marine navigation apps is their price.

Unfortunately, it is not quite as simple as it seems. Each app has a different pricing structure.

Some charge for the app, and others charge only for the charts. Often different features cost more as well.

In the end, I decided to just add up what I spent on each app. I shopped in the app stores and purchased each one for a pre-planned sailing trip on the South Coast of the UK.

I did not need any extra features and did not want to go shopping around for discount codes.

I wanted to have cross-platform functionality between my iPad and Android phone, but I was not willing to spend extra to get it.

iSailor came out on top in terms of price, however, that is primarily because their pricing structure means they charge you extra for each feature within the app. 

Other apps include more features within their base cost, but I did not factor that in on this crude comparison of cost per app.

It should also be noted that apps like iNavX may perform better in the USA where charts might be available for free. For me though, I can only compare based on what I spent.

Comparing Top Marine Navigation Apps For Charts

Winner: iNavX

The primary function of a marine navigational app is to display digital versions of maritime charts to assist a user in navigation.

We could compare how each chart performed based on some statistics, but primarily it is about that feeling while using the app itself.

Do the charts feel good when you are scrolling around them, and does that translate into a safer navigational experience for the user?

Therefore, I decided to compare the type of chart, customisation available, and a “feeling” rank for how safe it felt to me based on my industry experience.

The overall winner for charts was iNavX, simply because their chart store allows you to purchase charts from a number of different providers.

For example, you could purchase C-Map or Navionics charts within iNavX if you wanted to.

Customisation between the apps varied considerably, however, more customisation is not necessarily a good thing.

The important thing with marine navigational apps is to be able to clearly see all the information on the screen.

When the screen gets too cluttered, it is nice to be able to customise more layers to make the most important information easy to see.

The apps with less customisation never actually felt too cluttered anyway. I could confidently say that each app does have enough customisation for its own performance.

As for the feeling, most of them felt good and safe to use. The reason that SeaNav and Navlink are rated lower is that both of them felt like they were missing information when I ran the apps.

In both cases, after some tweaking, I did become more comfortable using them, but my first impression was that the charts looked a little sparse. I found it hard to shake that first impression during my test.

In addition to that, SeaNav and NavLink both had the slowest loading charts.

Overall though, all apps did perform well. 

In terms of comparing the different charts, it was just about finding the rather minimal differences between 8 good choices.

Comparing Top Marine Navigation Apps For Passage Planning

To efficiently use a marine navigation app, one of the crucial first steps is planning your passage.

Most of the apps perform the process in the same way, with some offering additional controls over some elements of passage planning.

In the end, I decided to compare how easy it was to complete the passage plan, and what sort of features were included.

In the end, most of the apps performed passage planning in a comparable way.

The stand out winner, however, was iSailor. In iSailor, you get advanced features such as XTD (cross-track-distance) and turn radius, to precisely control your routes.

Admittedly, these are not features that will be used by most users, but they are enough to allow iSailor to clinch the top spot in terms of passage planning.

Seapilot is then slightly above the rest because it offsets the position of waypoints from the position you tap on the screen. This allows you to precisely place the waypoint as you are not blocking your view with your finger.

In last position was iNavX because it was the most complicated for passage planning. All the rest of them allow you to tap along your route to create a series of waypoints. iNavX gets you to first create the waypoints, then pick them from a list to make your route.

For me, there were just too many steps in the process for it to be an efficient way of planning passages.

Comparing Top Marine Navigation Apps For Navigation Ability

Winner: Navionics

The primary purpose of a marine navigation app is to use it for navigation. I want it to clearly show me my position on a chart, along with supplementary information that would be useful for my passage.

To compare the apps for navigation, I rated the visibility of your own vessel as well as additional useful information around the edge of the screen.

The stand-out winner was Navionics because the app displayed my own vessel clearly, as well as all the essential information around the edge of the screen.

iSailor was a close second place, with the main difference between the two being that iSailor displays all the relevant data on a sidebar which takes up some chart space. Navionics places the relevant data in the corners of the screen instead.

Most of the other apps require you to open an additional menu to see some of the data that I would deem to be essential. The extra interaction became a bit of a distraction when I was trying to navigate.

Comparing Top Marine Navigation Apps By Features

While not strictly necessary, extra features are a great distinguishing factor between different marine navigation apps.

I did not buy any app for their extra features, but I understand other users will be likely to use them.

I decided to compare whether each app offered NMEA connectivity, as well as my overall impression of the additional features based on my experience with the app.

The overall winner in terms of features was Navionics. When I subscribed to my local chart area, all features (like tides, currents & weather) were activated as standard.

I found that when the app just gave them to me, I did use them and I did enjoy using them.

iSailor was second because it offers similar features to Navionics, but as additional in-app purchases.

iNavX deserves a special mention because its NMEA interface is the best out of all the apps. It allows you to display almost every possible instrument feed, in-app. The only reason it did not rank higher was its extensive feature set adds a lot of complexity, making the app harder to use.

Comparing Top Marine Navigation Apps By Usability

My final comparison between marine navigation apps was to determine how user-friendly the app is.

To undertake this test, I attempted to do everything in each app without consulting the user manual.

I wanted to know how many features I would be able to find, and how easy I would find using them.

To compare, I decided to give each app a difficulty rating out of 10, with 10 meaning that the app was fully intuitive and optimised for my use, and 0 meaning I could not work out anything in the app.

Ratings are also based on comparison with other apps, just to distinguish which are harder and which are easier to use.

Again, the overall winner was Navionics. It was simple to use, and I discovered a lot of features that I was able to fully use, without needing to look at any of its documentation.

iSailor was a close second place but narrowly beaten because I kept making the same mistake when passage planning. I kept clicking “route complete” when I was trying to “add waypoint”. The user-friendliness of the rest of the app made me place it high in my ranking.

The rest were all very close and overall were very simple to use. The differences were minor and came from trying to discover different features, toggle chart layers etc.

iNavX was the most difficult one to use and was the only one where I needed to consult the user manual. It was mainly because of the way it makes you place waypoints, then create a route by selecting waypoints from a list.

I used to do that on old GPS systems, but on modern charts I have always just clicked along the route, scanning it for dangers as you go.

Overall though, by the end of the testing, I could use all of the apps reasonably confidently.

No matter which app you choose, as long as you practise with it regularly, you will find it easy to use.