Short answer: These apps solve different problems. MyFishNavigator turns live conditions, local reports, and regulations into a trip briefing for one spot and today's date. Fishbrain is a community catch-log and fishing-spot app. onX Fish helps you compare lakes by species, abundance, and public access in the states it covers. Navionics Boating is a marine charting and navigation app. FishMan is a community spot map with a live Fish Score and an AI coach. Many anglers use more than one.
We make MyFishNavigator, so we've tried to be fair: each section below says where the other app is stronger.
Comparison table
| MyFishNavigator | Fishbrain | onX Fish | Navionics Boating | FishMan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main job | Trip briefing for a spot and today's date | Community catches, spots, and logbook [F1] | Find and compare lakes by species and access [O1] | Marine charts and navigation [N1] | Community spot map, Fish Score, AI coach [M1] |
| Plan built from live conditions + local reports | Yes, one synthesized briefing | Partly: weather, BiteTime forecasts, and community reports [F1] | Partly: hourly weather, pressure, and lunar calendar, plus lake data [O3] | No; weather, tides, and currents shown alongside charts [N1] | Partly: live Fish Score and AI coach using weather, GPS, and nearby catches [M1] |
| Lure or bait suggestions | Yes, lure picks in each briefing | Yes: “Top Baits” from community reports and BiteGuide lure recs [F1] | Not listed on the pages we checked | Not listed | Yes, through the AI coach [M1] |
| Tides | NOAA tide predictions | Tide charts [F1] | Not listed on the pages we checked | Tides and currents [N1] | Not listed on the pages we checked |
| Solunar or moon | Solunar major and minor windows | Moon phases [F1] | Lunar calendars [O3] | Not listed | Not listed |
| Regulations | Gathered for the area when you search (confirm with the state) | Local regulations in 30+ US states [F1] | State and lake-specific regulations [O2] | Not listed | Not listed |
| Depth and 3D | 3D underwater terrain on 1,000+ mapped lakes | Depth charts from Garmin Navionics (US and Canada) and C-Map [F1] | Contour maps and 3D Lake Maps [O2][O4] | SonarChart HD 1-ft contours, NOAA charts, relief shading [N1] | Not listed |
| Offline use | Pro (mobile): offline trips and lakes with basemap and 3D terrain | Not verified | Offline Maps; 3D Maps can be used alongside them [O2][O4] | Offline charts [N1] | Not listed |
| GPS or plotter export | Export briefing waypoints as .gpx for your chartplotter or handheld GPS | Private waypoints [F1] | Waypoints, CarPlay and Android Auto [O1][O3] | GPX import/export and plotter sync [N1] | Not listed |
| Catch log and community | Community posts and catch feeds by location | Yes: logbook, fish ID, large community [F1] | Waypoints with notes and photos [O2] | ActiveCaptain community [N1] | Yes: catch log, fish ID, live Battles, community [M1] |
| Coverage | Maps cover North America; briefing info is worldwide, though accuracy may vary outside North America. Tides on NOAA-covered coasts. | Thousands of waters; regulations in 30+ US states [F1] | 13 states (MN, WI, MI, ND, SD, IN, OH, IL, IA, MO, MT, KS, NE) [O2] | Regional chart subscriptions, e.g. US and Canada [N1] | Waters worldwide [M1] |
| Platforms | Web and mobile (iOS: App Store) | iPhone, iPad [F1]; Android [F3] | iOS, Android, desktop web [O2] | iPhone, iPad [N1] | iPhone listing [M1]; website says iOS and Android [M2] |
| Price | Free to start, 10 briefings/month, no card; see Plans for current paid pricing | Free; Pro in-app purchases, e.g. Annual Power Fishing Package $79.99 [F1] | Free version + 7-day trial; $34.99/year [O2] | US & Canada subscription $49.99/year [N1][N2] | Free; PRO e.g. $4.99/week, $49.99/year [M1] |
Last checked: October 8, 2026. Competitor features and prices come from each company's own website or app store listing on that date and can change. Corrections are welcome at support@myfishnavigator.com.
“Not listed” means the feature wasn't documented on the competitor pages we checked; “Not verified” means we couldn't confirm it either way. These aren't the same as “No.”
Where each app is strongest
MyFishNavigator. It's strongest when you want one plan for a specific spot today, not a map you have to read yourself. Each briefing combines live Open-Meteo weather, NOAA tides, solunar windows, water type and temperature, viable species, lure picks, regulations, and recent local reports, and it's rebuilt live every time. It also includes a trip map with TOP SPOTS, GPS export as .gpx, saved briefings across devices, 3D terrain on 1,000+ mapped lakes, and offline trips with 3D terrain on Pro (mobile). Where it's weaker: it isn't a marine chart or navigation app, and you get 10 free briefings per month before you need a paid plan.
Fishbrain is stronger for community intel and logging. It shows where other anglers report catches, “Top Baits” from community reports, BiteTime forecasts, depth charts from Garmin Navionics and C-Map, a fishing logbook, fish ID for 300+ species, and regulations in 30+ US states [F1][F2]. Pick it if you want to see what other people are catching and keep a log of your own catches.
onX Fish is stronger for choosing a lake in the states it covers. You can filter lakes by species, size, and abundance, view stocking history and survey data, see public access points and private land near the water, use Verified Catch Zones, and check animated wind, 3D Lake Maps, Offline Maps, and lake-specific regulations, on desktop as well as mobile [O1][O2][O3][O4]. Coverage is limited to the 13 states listed above.
Navionics Boating is stronger for boat navigation. It offers official-style nautical charts, NOAA charts, SonarChart HD bathymetry with 1-foot contours, Auto Guidance+ dock-to-dock routing, tides and currents, GPX import/export, chartplotter sync, SonarChart Live mapping, and AIS [N1]. If you run a boat on big water, this is a navigation tool. MyFishNavigator is not.
FishMan is stronger for social fishing and catch tracking. It combines a community spot map with recent catches, a live 0–100 Fish Score, an AI coach that can analyze photos of the water, AI fish ID, catch tracking, and live fishing Battles with friends [M1].
Who should pick which
- First-timer, or fishing a lake you've never seen: MyFishNavigator. You get a plain-language plan for your exact spot today. Add onX Fish if you live in one of its states and want to compare lakes first.
- Want to see what other anglers are catching, and log your own fish: Fishbrain or FishMan.
- Picking which lake to fish in the Midwest or Montana: onX Fish.
- Running a boat on big water, or using a chartplotter: Navionics Boating for navigation, with MyFishNavigator for the daily fishing plan if you want one.
- Shore or kayak angler on a budget: start with the free tiers. MyFishNavigator gives 10 free briefings per month with no card.
Sources (competitor claims)
- [F1] Fishbrain on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fishbrain-fishing-app/id477967747
- [F2] Fishbrain website: https://fishbrain.com/
- [F3] Fishbrain on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?hl=en_US&id=com.fishbrain.app
- [O1] onX Fish features: https://www.onxmaps.com/fish/app/features
- [O2] onX Fish FAQ: https://www.onxmaps.com/fish/app/faq
- [O3] onX Fish on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?hl=en_US&id=onxmaps.fish
- [O4] onX Fish 3D Lake Maps: https://www.onxmaps.com/fish/app/features/3d-lake-maps
- [O5] onX Fish pricing: https://www.onxmaps.com/fish/app/pricing
- [N1] Navionics Boating on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/navionics-boating/id744920098
- [N2] Navionics Boating US & Canada subscription: https://www.navionics.com/usa/apps/navionics-boating
- [M1] FishMan on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fishman-fishing-spots/id6503952002
- [M2] FishMan website: https://fishman-app.com/
Compare page FAQ
Which fishing app is good for planning a trip to a lake I've never fished?
It depends on what you need. MyFishNavigator builds a trip briefing for a spot from live conditions, species, lure picks, regulations, and local reports. onX Fish is strong for comparing lakes by species and access in the states it covers. Fishbrain shows community catch reports and depth charts. Navionics Boating is a charting and navigation app for boaters. FishMan combines a community spot map with an AI coach.
What is the difference between MyFishNavigator and Fishbrain?
Fishbrain is a community app with catch logs, catch reports from other anglers, BiteTime forecasts, depth charts from Garmin Navionics, and regulations in 30+ US states. MyFishNavigator turns live weather, NOAA tides, solunar windows, local reports, and regulations into one briefing for your exact spot and today's date.
Is onX Fish available in every state?
No. As of October 8, 2026, onX Fish lists Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Kansas, and Nebraska, with more states planned. Check onX's site for the current list.
Which apps have 3D lake maps that work offline?
More than one. MyFishNavigator Pro lets you save trips and lakes with 3D terrain for offline use in the mobile app. onX Fish offers 3D Lake Maps and Offline Maps and says the two can be used together for trip planning. Navionics Boating offers offline charts with relief shading and SonarChart HD contours. Check each app's current terms and coverage.
Do I need Navionics if I use MyFishNavigator?
If you run a boat and need marine charts, routing, or chartplotter sync, Navionics Boating does things MyFishNavigator does not. MyFishNavigator is not a chart app. Many boaters can use both: a briefing to decide where and what to fish, and a chart app to navigate.
Is MyFishNavigator free?
Yes, it is free to start with 10 trip briefings per month and no credit card. Paid plans add higher limits, follow-up chat, Advanced Mapping, and Pro offline trips and 3D lake terrain on mobile.