Boating apps are easy to judge from the dock and much harder to judge once the boat is moving. A chart may look excellent on a bright screen, yet the real question is how comfortably you can use it when your attention is divided between the route, the water, the weather, and the people on board. I spent time with Simrad: Companion for Boaters with that practical question in mind. It is a free navigation app from Navico Norway AS, designed as a companion for Simrad users and aimed at people who want nautical charting and cruising information on a phone or tablet.
My overall impression is that it makes the most sense as a planning and situational-awareness tool rather than as a universal replacement for dedicated marine equipment. The app can be useful before leaving the marina, while checking a route on a mobile device, or when you want a second screen for a boating trip. It is less convincing if you expect a phone app alone to cover every safety need on open water. That distinction matters, because navigation software is not just about attractive maps; it is also about how clearly you can make decisions when conditions change.
How the app feels when connectivity becomes part of the trip
Planning is where the companion idea works best
The strongest use case is the period before departure. I can imagine opening the app at home or beside the boat, looking over a cruising area, and thinking through the route without having to stand at the helm. A larger phone or tablet gives the chart more room than a small plotter display, while the familiar mobile format makes it convenient to review plans away from the vessel. That separation between planning and active navigation is valuable: I can consider alternatives calmly instead of making every decision under pressure.
The Simrad connection also gives the app a clearer purpose than a general road-mapping application. Ordinary map apps are built around streets, addresses, driving times, and traffic. They are not designed around the way a boater thinks about channels, shoreline shape, hazards, marina approaches, and changing visibility on the water. This app belongs to the nautical side of Maps & Navigation, so its appeal comes from being shaped for cruising rather than simply placing a blue position marker on a land map.
That said, I would not treat a chart on a phone as a complete preparation routine. Before setting out, I would still check the boat’s onboard equipment, the planned destination, weather information from a dependable source, fuel needs, and the expected signal situation. The app can support that process, but it should not encourage the habit of leaving without a backup plan. A useful workflow is to review the route while connected, note the important turns and narrow passages, and then keep your attention on the water instead of repeatedly staring at the screen.
What changes once the phone is away from the marina
Connectivity shapes the experience in a way that is easy to overlook on land. At home, the app feels straightforward because the phone has a stable connection and plenty of time to load what you need. On a boat, the situation can be different. The farther you travel from shore, the less sensible it is to assume that every part of a connected service will behave exactly as it did at the dock. I therefore see the app as something to prepare with before departure, not something to depend on blindly after the signal becomes uncertain.
I am deliberately careful here: I would not promise offline chart access or claim that every chart remains available without a connection. The practical lesson is to test the app in the conditions you expect to encounter and to avoid discovering its limitations halfway through a trip. If a route is important, review it in advance and make sure you understand it well enough to continue safely if the phone becomes slow, the connection drops, or the display is difficult to read in sunlight.
This network-conscious approach is not a criticism unique to Simrad. It is a general weakness of using a connected phone for navigation. The difference is that boating gives you fewer convenient places to stop and troubleshoot. A dropped connection on a city street is annoying; a confusing screen while approaching an unfamiliar harbor can be much more serious. I like the app best when it is one part of a layered setup rather than the only source of guidance.
Using it on board without letting the screen take over
Mobile use brings genuine convenience. I can picture using the app in the cabin to discuss the next leg with passengers, checking a destination before leaving the berth, or comparing the planned route with what I see outside. A phone is also easier to carry around the boat than a fixed display, which makes it useful for quick reference when moving between the cockpit and the cabin.
There is a trade-off, though. A phone is not automatically a good helm display. Glare, wet fingers, a moving boat, and limited screen space can turn a clear chart into a frustrating one. I would mount the device securely, keep the brightness appropriate for the conditions, and avoid making route changes while maneuvering in a tight area. The app is most helpful when it reduces mental workload, not when it creates another task that competes with lookout duties.
One practical habit I recommend is separating route review from route execution. Before casting off, I would use the app to inspect the whole journey and identify the points that deserve extra attention. During the trip, I would use short checks rather than continuous screen watching. This makes the mobile format work in its favor: the phone becomes a planning companion and confirmation tool instead of pretending to replace observation, seamanship, or the boat’s primary navigation instruments.
Recovery when the connection or device misbehaves
A good navigation routine includes a response for failure, and this is where I think new users should be especially disciplined. If the app stops responding, loads slowly, or loses the connection, the first step should be to keep the boat safe and maintain visual awareness. I would not begin restarting the phone while entering a narrow channel or trying to hold a difficult course. Stabilize the situation first, then troubleshoot when there is room and time.
For ordinary preparation, I would keep the device charged, reduce unnecessary app activity, and avoid waiting until the last moment to open the route. I would also bring a second way to understand where I am going, whether that means the boat’s installed navigation system, paper references, or knowledge of the local area. This is not about distrusting the app; it is about recognizing that a phone, like any electronic tool, can be affected by battery level, heat, water, glare, or connectivity.
Another useful recovery habit is to remember the route rather than relying on a single moving icon. If I have already reviewed the sequence of destinations and the tricky approaches, a temporary interruption is less disruptive. I can pause, regain orientation, and continue the plan when the app is available again. That is a small but important difference between using navigation software thoughtfully and treating it as an authority that must work every second.
Data use, updates, and the cost of convenience
Because this is a connected companion app, I would pay attention to how I use it on a mobile plan. Chart-heavy browsing can be more demanding than checking a normal text-based app, especially when repeatedly moving around a large cruising area. I would do the main exploration while connected to reliable Wi-Fi, avoid unnecessary map panning when I am not actively planning, and check my device’s data settings before a longer trip. Those habits do not guarantee a particular data requirement, but they make the experience more predictable.
The app itself is free to install, which lowers the barrier for Simrad owners who want to try it. It includes in-app purchases ranging from $14.99 to $89.99 per item, so “free” should not be read as meaning that every useful charting or cruising need is included at no cost. I would first decide which waters I actually use, then examine the purchase options carefully instead of buying broadly just because the app is already on the phone. For occasional boaters, that distinction can determine whether the app feels economical or excessive.
The current version is 4.6.0, and the app requires iOS or Android 10 or later. That requirement is reasonable for many recent devices, but it can exclude an older phone kept on board as a backup. I would check the spare device before relying on it, particularly if it has limited storage, an aging battery, or a screen that is difficult to see outdoors. A backup device is only useful if it can actually run the app and remain usable for the duration of the trip.
Who will get the most from this Simrad companion
I think the app is a natural fit for people already using Simrad equipment who want a mobile extension for planning and cruising. It can also appeal to boat owners who prefer to review routes away from the helm, or to families who want passengers to understand the day’s itinerary without crowding around the main navigation display. The companion role is important: it adds flexibility to an existing boating setup rather than asking the phone to carry the entire responsibility.
A realistic example would be a morning trip to an unfamiliar marina. Before leaving, I would use the app to study the approach, discuss the route with whoever is helping aboard, and identify the parts where I need to slow down and look carefully. During the journey, I would keep the phone available for reference while relying on the boat’s primary equipment and direct observation. Near the destination, I would avoid last-second experimentation and use the information I had already reviewed. That workflow plays to the app’s strengths without exaggerating what a mobile chart can do.
It is less suitable for someone who wants a simple road-style navigation experience, has no interest in nautical charting, or expects a free download to provide every chart and planning feature without additional spending. It is also not my first choice for a boater who needs a single, fully self-contained navigation solution with clearly tested operation in remote areas. In that situation, dedicated marine electronics and established backup methods deserve priority.
How it compares with familiar alternatives
Compared with a general mapping app, this product has a more relevant boating focus. A road map may be excellent for finding the marina by car, but it does not address the mental model of cruising on water. Simrad’s companion approach is more appropriate when the question is not “How do I drive there?” but “How do I plan this passage and understand the water around my destination?”
Compared with a dedicated chartplotter, the phone version is more portable and easier to use away from the helm. It is convenient for planning on a sofa, sharing a route with passengers, or carrying a second view around the boat. The chartplotter, however, is generally the more natural place for active navigation because it is installed for that environment and integrated into the vessel’s operating routine. I would choose the app for mobility and preparation, and the dedicated system for the central navigation job.
Compared with a paper chart, the app is quicker to move around and more convenient for changing the scale or reviewing a destination. Paper has the opposite advantage: it does not depend on a phone battery, app behavior, or a network connection. I would not frame these as mutually exclusive choices. A careful boater can use the app for efficient planning while keeping a non-phone reference available for resilience.
Small habits that make the experience better
My first tip is to plan the return journey with the same care as the outward trip. It is easy to focus on reaching a destination while conditions, light, fatigue, or passenger needs may be different later. Reviewing both directions in advance gives the app a more useful role and reduces hurried decisions at the end of the day.
My second tip is to use a larger screen when planning if one is available, then keep the phone for concise checks on board. A larger display makes it easier to understand the shape of a route and discuss it with another person. The phone is better suited to portability, but portability should not be confused with maximum clarity in every situation.
My third tip is to test your complete routine before a serious trip. Open the app, inspect the area you intend to visit, check how the device behaves in the mount you will use, and think through what you will do if the connection disappears. This is more valuable than simply confirming that the app launches. Navigation confidence comes from knowing the workflow, not from assuming the software will remove every uncertainty.
Finally, I would treat purchases as part of route planning rather than an impulse at the dock. Since individual in-app items can cost from $14.99 up to $89.99, it is sensible to match what you buy to the waters you actually navigate. That approach keeps the free entry point useful while avoiding unnecessary expense for regions you may never visit.
My verdict for boaters deciding whether to install it
Simrad: Companion for Boaters is a focused Maps & Navigation app with a sensible place in a Simrad owner’s toolkit. It is free, rated for Everyone, and has built a visible user base of over 100 thousand installs, with a 4.3 average from around 1.9 thousand ratings. Those figures suggest a reasonably established product, but they do not change the central point: its value depends on how you combine it with your boat, your route, and your connectivity habits.
I recommend it to boaters who want nautical chart planning on a mobile device, especially those already familiar with the Simrad ecosystem. I would use it before departure, for route discussion, and as a convenient secondary reference. I would not make it the sole plan for a remote passage, assume continuous network availability, or replace proper onboard navigation and backup practices with it.
Navico Norway AS has positioned this as a companion, and that description fits my experience better than calling it an all-in-one answer. Its best quality is flexibility: I can bring the planning process away from the helm and keep a nautical view available on a familiar device. Its main limitation is the same flexibility, because a phone introduces the usual concerns around battery, visibility, handling, and connectivity. If you understand that trade-off, this is a worthwhile app to try. If you need a self-sufficient primary navigation system, I would look to dedicated marine equipment first and let this app support the journey rather than define it.
