Marine and river navigation apps

A selection of best nav applications for boating

54.99€ iOS only (+ 37.99€ optional subscription for 38 weather and oceanic models)

Weather4D Routing and Navigation is the most complete version of the Weather4D application suite. In addition to previous versions dedicated solely to weather and routing, this version also includes access to marine cartography and the datalink with on-board instrumentation. In doing so, it becomes an ultra-complete application, either for the preparation of your navigation, on the way or even until the review of the recorded tracks once your destination is reached.
 
List of major features :
- Weather and routing: functions identical to the Weather4D Routing app with the possibility to compare several weather models (and thus several routings) on a split screen
- Cartography: access to various raster-type map catalogues exclusively, issued by the major international hydrographic services (this access is obtained by subscription to Geogarage service). Possibility to display several types of charts in split screen, with different zoom levels (for example: wide view of the weather situation, close view of the nautical chart)
- Link with instruments: display of NMEA data from a Wi-fi transmitter, with the ability to control the autopilot from the navigation data. Fully customizable instrument panel. AIS support
- Native support for Iridium GO!™ for direct download of all GRIB weather models, and automatic request via SailDocs of GFS/WW3 model with all other satellite phones.
 
The application is full of ergonomic tricks: moving the map under a cursor for ultra-precise waypoint positioning, ease of correcting a route (inserting, deleting waypoints), view of the boat on the chart with its course vector, heading line, and apparent wind, repetition on the Apple Watch, etc... And several improvements are already announced: automatic filling of a logbook in particular!

Note that a multimedia User Guide is available for free to download with Apple Books app.

 iOS 5.49 € (+ in-app purchase : AIS Live, Weather, Maps)

Android Free (+in-app purchase iNAVX PRO 2.5$/month - 29.99$ all navigation options, maps)

One of the most complete marine navigation application

iNavX ™ supports the use of waypoints and routes, recording of traces, the measurement of distances and bearings. It displays navigation data in a dynamic instruments banner on top of the map. It enables the animated display of GRIB weather files directly on maps, as well as viewing AIS targets if you have an AIS receiver.

iNavX ™ interprets all NMEA data from a WiFi transmitter and displays it in the instruments banner on the map view, or in a dedicated view. The application is able to control an autopilot from its navigation data.

It exports and imports tracks, waypoints and routes, either for backup, or to exchange with another application. This is an essential function if you want to optimize a route, e.g with Weather 4D Pro routing function.

iNavX allows the use of many formats of maps from different publishers, including popular Navionics vector charts, to be bought exclusively through X-Traverse (see our tutorial).

The cost is very reasonable: for example Navionics 46XG for iPad covers Western Europe, the English Channel and half of the Mediterranean for just $70, or barely more than €50. Same iNavX licence can be used on iPhone and iPad. However the maps are differentiated: the Navionics map for iPhone cannot be used on iPad and vice versa.

Beware: the Navionics maps used by iNavX are not re-usable in the Navionics Boating app, and vice versa.

iNavX now has a multimedia iBook tutorial in english by Francis Fustier.

free - iOS / Android

The most popular and certainly the most user-friendly application for marine navigation. It can be downloaded

for free, and charts need to be bought in-app.

Application includes interesting features: possibility to superimpose a satellite map view, tides, many information about points of interest (harbor office phone number, local services, shops, etc.) and also allows the sharing of information between users (community sharing).

Coming with very basic navigation functions at the start, the app must be supplemented by various modules if you want to navigate :

- NavModule (€4.49 - iOS only) is absolutely essential: it enables the creation and following of routes with GoTo function.

- Autorouting Dock-to-Dock module (€4.49 - iOS only) is more of a gadget, and allows to automatically draw a route between two points while avoiding obstacles.

- Personal chart (€4.49) allows you to customize the display of the items on the map (depth lines, colors, fishing areas, etc.)

- Navionics+ option provides access to the SonarCharts function which complete bathymetric data from user surveys. In addition, it allows permanent updates of the charts for a year. It comes at high price : an annual subscription of €49.99

However this application is limited because it cannot exchange data with the outside: no possibility to import weather data files, no AIS display, no import/export of routes.

Free iOS / Android (+ in-app purchase of options and maps)

iSailor is a very ergonomic application with good quality vector maps. Transas TX-97 maps cover all the globe, including the water bodies and waterways of Europe and the USA, cut in many cells at an average price of €22.

App includes most features useful for navigation: import/export of waypoints, routes and tracks, NMEA interface for display of AIS targets, optional NMEA link for GPS and external compass, distance and bearing calculation tools, etc. A nice side “drawer” on the display provides access to settings, navigation data, waypoints and routes management.

The application is free, and you can buy charts directly from the application, as well as options which are at very reasonable prices: € 9 for AIS data and €5 for NMEA GPS data.

The application presents a great value despite the new options that increase the price. There are still some imperfections in the display of information on the map according to the zoom levels, but its ergonomics is excellent and it is easy use.

Free - iOS - Android (in-app purchase)

With high quality C-Map vector nautical charts and all the necessary navigational information, such as traffic and weather, you have all the tools in your pocket to plan your next sea trip and navigate with peace of mind. Customise your charts, save your routes, waypoints and tracks and access them anytime, even offline. You can also add reviews and photos to keep memories or share your outings with friends and family.

Free with integrated cartography purchases, Premium option 30 €/year (offline maps, weather forecast, AIS).

free iOS (+ in-app purchase : AIS module, Radar module, maps)

Developed by France's prominent PC navigation software vendor, TZ iBoat has excellent aesthetics and ergonomics. It allows you to merge aerial views and nautical charts, with the possibility of displaying them with 3D relief superimposition.
However, it remains limited compared to major applications such as Weather4D Routing & Navigation, iNavX or iSailor: NMEA support limited to AIS (optional 9.99 €), data import/export only by iTunes, very limited weather forecasts. The radar module for Furuno DRS4W Radar is available as an option (€49.99).

TZ iBoat uses raster maps from MaxSea's MapMedia MM3D catalogue and C-MAP vector maps. Some data are only accessible with an Internet connection, which limits their interest (terrestrial imagery, weather). The maps can be purchased directly from the application (50.99 € the first year then 25.49 €/year for raster, from 66.99 € for C-Map first year, 50% the following years). Warning: raster cards are very large, check that you have enough storage memory in your device.

€25.99 iOS
 
NavLink UK is the first application to offer ENC S-57 charts of the UKHO, the hydrographic service of the British Admiralty, on iPhone and iPad. A NavLink US version is also published on the American AppStore with vector maps from NOAA. Unlike many of its competitors, it is not free, but for €26 you have all maps covering the United Kingdom, the Ireland and the Channel Islands. Recently the geographical coverage has been extended to other regions.

In addition to the classic functions of management of waypoints, routes and tracks, NavLink allows the display of AIS targets and receipt of an external GPS by connecting in Wifi to a NMEA router.

NavLink stands out especially by an augmented reality map display function when using the camera integrated into the Apple device. The ship route appears in real perspective, surrounded by the coast, marks, and AIS targets. It is innovative and quite stunning. It remains to see if it is useful in situation. Negative point: the display of information on the maps is not clear and the color choice is not appealing.

Free - iOS (charts in-app purchase)

 
Marine mapping application for iPad and iPhone by the English Publisher Imray. It uses the famous "Blueback" scanned maps. Unfortunately their use is quite difficult: the passage from one card to the other of various scales is inconvenient, and maps are insufficiently detailed in some areas.
 
In addition to the usual basic duties (waypoints, routes), this application includes some interesting features:

-Tides  (of the day - for predictions, you need to buy Tides Planner)

- Instantaneous currents

-Magnetic compass

-NMEA interface for display of AIS targets.
 
The application is free but incorporates only a general map of the English channel. Other charts can be purchased on the integrated "ChartStore". The cost of maps is around €45. SHOM cards are now available for the French coast. This application suffers from particularly bad ergonomics and learning takes time.

21.99€ iOS / 22.33€ Android

Celestial navigation application for iPad, iPhone and Android device allowing very simply to calculate intercepts, plot and cross-reference height lines to obtain the position.

Celestial solves sights, calculates astronomical points, presents them graphically, manages sights over multiple paths and helps planning observations. It is thus possible to keep in memory the list of all the observations made on several navigations, consult them, classify them or delete them. The application integrates the ephemeris of the Sun, Moon, planets, the 57 stars useful for navigation, Aries and Pole Star, until 2099. A star identifier and the times of the rising and setting of the stars are integrated.

29.99€ iOS

Application for navigators knowing how to handle the sextant. Contains all the ephemeris, and allows calculations lops in manual or automatic.

For iPhone and iPad

2.29€ - iOS

Real Swiss Army knife of GPS, this application covers all uses of GPS for land, sea* or air navigation, with a particularly neat interface.

*Warning : only U.S. charts are currently available for navigation.

Note: The information given above are generally from the Appstore and Google Play. Applications sometimes have not been tested. Price indications may be false. Do not hesitate to contact us to give us your opinion and comment. To suggest other applications send us a message here.