ActiveCaptain®

ActiveCaptain®

Garmin · 4.0 ★ · FREE

Screenshots

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/

Developer

Garmin

Developer ID: 411046952

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What's New

Version 43.0 · Apr 1, 2026

- Improved chart handling: The lake level can now be set independently from the vessel position - Bug fixing and optimization

Ratings & Reviews

App Store

4.0

4,790 ratings

N/A downloads

Google Play

4.0

6,746 ratings

1,000,000+ downloads

5★
70%
4★
4%
3★
4%
2★
3%
1★
18%

Recent Reviews

G.W..

App Store

Worth every penny

It’s like having a chart plotter but on your cell phone. Extremely convenient way to navigate for boats without a GPS. It takes time to learn how to use it, and some minor buggy problems but if you’re jumping on a boat without a chart plotter in unfamiliar water, this app can save your butt.

May 31, 2026

Sal Ma

Google Play

Cant upload gpx or waypoint files directly. Should have gone with Lawrance. Perhaps if your programmers actually tried to use the app...

May 31, 2026

Terrible either

App Store

Horrible controls

Seems to be no way to stop synching QuickDraw community. I don’t need this and takes forever to synch, making me wait for software updates to synch.

May 30, 2026

Knot-normal

App Store

Great

Love the app

May 29, 2026

pekramer0765

App Store

Great Nav. App

Garmin Active Captain is a user friendly indispensable application for boating. The information contained goes well beyond just navigation. This includes community input, marina information and smart notifications. I recommend it highly.

May 29, 2026

Jose Suarez

Google Play

Great app

May 28, 2026

tuefel

App Store

Really helpful networking all my Garmin marine products

I love how the app makes software updates seemingly automatic.

May 28, 2026

Hanan Benhayon

Google Play

worst app ever Garmin dropped the ball on this. need to do better. WiFi continues to drop no full screen helm. it's like they're stuck in 2014

May 27, 2026

Joseph Pimentel

Google Play

excellent

May 23, 2026

Graham Tindall

Google Play

Simply doesnt work. It will not talk to the Garmin unit and does nothing on my phone. It does however prevent me from connecting my Garmin via hotspot, saying it will only use Active Captain....which is doesnt!

May 23, 2026

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