What Is Argo? An overview of the Argo Boating Navigation App
Argo is an easy-to-use boating navigation app built for everyday boaters. It helps you plan safer routes, understand local conditions, and navigate with confidence, without the complexity of traditional systems.
Below is a complete guide to what Argo is, how it works, and why so many boaters are choosing it as their preferred navigation app.
What Is Argo?
Argo is a marine navigation and trip planning app built for recreational and cruising boaters. It helps you plan safe and efficient routes based on your boat’s draft and height, using full North American charts.
With Argo, you can navigate with confidence using offline charts, real time weather, tides, and current forecasts, and smart routing tools that adjust to your vessel. The app also includes social and organizational features like the Captain’s Log, making it easy to save trips, share routes, and stay connected with other boaters.
Why Is Argo Better Than Other Boating Apps?
Argo stands out because it makes advanced marine navigation simple and fast without sacrificing accuracy or safety.
Charts load quickly, routing is intuitive, and community-powered updates help improve accuracy where it matters most. Argo can build long distance routes in seconds while factoring in safe depths, fuel estimates, and arrival times.
Unlike many boating apps that focus on a single feature, Argo combines navigation, trip planning, saved locations, and social connection in one place. This balance of power, speed, and ease of use is what sets Argo apart from other marine navigation apps.
Argo vs Other Marine Navigation Apps
| Feature | Argo Navigation App | Other Boating Apps |
| Ease of Use | Clean, intuitive interface designed for fast trip planning | Often complex or harder to learn |
| Chart Loading Speed | Fast loading marine charts | Slower or more resource-heavy |
| Route Planning | Builds long-distance routes in seconds | Routes may take longer or require manual steps |
| Safety Features | Routes account for safe depths, fuel estimates, and arrival times | Safety tools may be limited or disconnected |
| Autorouting | Advanced autorouting with minimal setup | not as fast, not as intuitive, not as accurate, not as many customization options |
| All-in-One Platform | Navigation, trip planning, saved locations, and social features in one app | Features spread across multiple apps |
| Community Powered Updates | User-driven updates improve real-world accuracy | Limited or no community input |
| Learning Curve | Easy for new boaters and experienced captains | Steeper learning curve for advanced tools |
| Overall Value | Strong balance of speed, power, and simplicity | Trade-offs between features and usability |
Is Argo Premium Worth It?
Argo Premium is worth it for boaters who want faster planning, stronger safety tools, and full access to advanced navigation features.
Premium features include advanced autorouting, offline North American charts, seven-day weather forecasts, customizable depth shading, multi-boat support, GPX import and export, and a shareable PDF Captain’s Log.
Compared to other boating apps that charge recurring yearly fees, Argo also offers a Lifetime Premium option. This provides comparable or better features with a one-time purchase, making it a strong long-term value for frequent boaters.
What’s included with Argo Premium:
- Advanced Autoroute with Waypoints
- Desktop Web App
- Offline Charts
- 7-Day Weather, Wind, Waves
- Interactive Tide & Current Stations
- Custom Depth Shading/Contours
- Live Bearing and Course Info
- NMEA/AIS Traffic
- Captain’s Log Reports
- On Map Display of Routes/Tracks
- Multiple Vessels
- Import/Export GPX Files
How Many Devices Can I Run Argo On?
You can run Argo on as many devices as you need for normal personal use.
Argo works across phones, tablets, and web browsers. When you sign in with the same account, your routes, tracks, saved locations, and settings sync automatically across all devices. There is no hard device limit, making it easy to plan trips at home and navigate on the water without friction.
Can I Get Argo on My MFD?
At this time, Argo does not run directly on marine multifunction displays.
However, Argo is available on iOS and Android devices and on web browsers. You can export and import GPX files to easily send routes and tracks between Argo and your chartplotter. This allows you to plan routes in Argo and use them alongside your MFD for navigation.
How Did Argo Go Viral?
Argo went viral after a TikTok video featuring the founder’s daughter promoting the app at the 2023 Chicago Boat Show reached 27 million views.
Within one week, Argo downloads doubled. Within three weeks, the app grew from 100,000 to 200,000 users. The viral moment introduced Argo to a much wider audience, including casual boaters and renters, and helped grow its community of shared routes and local insights.
Even today, many boaters say they first discovered Argo through that viral video.
Who Is Argo Best For?
Argo is ideal for recreational boaters, cruisers, renters, and anyone who wants modern navigation without complexity. Whether you are planning a weekend trip, exploring new waterways, or cruising longer distances, Argo provides the tools you need to navigate confidently and efficiently.
Get Started With Argo
Argo is free to download and easy to get started with. Premium options unlock advanced navigation tools for boaters who want more control, safety, and flexibility on the water.
If you are looking for a boating navigation app that is fast, intuitive, and built for real-world boating, Argo is a powerful alternative to traditional marine navigation systems.
