Best Kayaking Apps for Kayak Enthusiasts

Many of us use apps daily to track physical activity, like steps, heart rate, or how many miles we run. There are a lot of apps out there for different activities. In this article, we will focus on the best kayaking apps. If you want to track speed, distance, strokes, etc., while on the water, kayaking apps can help.

There are many kayaking apps to choose from, and it may be confusing to find the best one. If you are an angler, you might have different needs than someone out for a leisurely day on the water. Never fear. We will guide you through the process.

If you are looking for the next place to paddle, check out this post for great kayaking spots in your area.

Best Kayaking Apps

When planning your next kayak trip, look at these apps to see which will suit your needs. Kayaking apps can help with navigation, safety, and tracking your physical effort. With that said, let’s talk about these apps.

Strava

Strava is among the most popular apps, with millions of downloads. Strava has a free and paid version of the app. The paid version gives you more metrics and can dive deeper into analytics.

Strava tracks your distance well and can track your time on the water. Strava also helps you know the pace at which you are moving and helps you increase and maintain the same pace as you paddle. It also can record your training summaries in full.

You can save and review your trip, and there is a vast community of Strava users. You can compete with your friends!                                             

Paddle Logger

If you’re a paddler, you know the importance of having a reliable app to help you track your progress. Paddle Logger is the perfect app for anyone who wants to improve their performance on the water.

With Paddle Logger, you can track your distance and paddling speed and log other important information about your session. You can also use the app to create goals and plan your training schedule.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, Paddle Logger is the perfect app for anyone who wants to take their paddling to the next level.

Currently, Paddle Logger is only available on iOS, but hopefully, an Android version will be available soon 🙂

There is a free and paid version of the app.

Go Paddling 

Go paddling is a free app that works for both IOS and Android. There are many kayaking locations, and this app features thousands of paddling spots in the US. Go Paddling gives you detailed information about each spot.

You can see each kayaking launch site’s features, and users can add details of each location for others to see. The app continues to improve its service and advance with updates.

Polaris GPS           

Polaris GPS is, at the moment, available for Android, but the good thing is that it’s a free download. The app helps track your route and is also instrumental in planning. This app uses the GPS signal on your device, and most of its features are usable offline.

The app has access to marine charts and is good at enabling its users to determine water depth. But, most importantly, the app allows users to download detailed maps offline.

RiverApp

RiverApp is an excellent kayaking app that updates you with the latest water levels. The app also gives you map views of different routes, the navigability of those routes, water temperature, and more. 

Depending on your needs, the app has a free and premium version. In addition, RiverApp can be used in several countries to take your kayaking adventure to all kinds of places.

RiverApp is an excellent kayaking app for checking water conditions before heading out on your trip.

Go Paddler/Utter Paddler

The Go Paddler kayaking app combines the GPS on your device with a professional tool that will guide you to improve your performance. This app is available on Android and iOS and is free to use.

This app is designed to help improve your performance on the water. This is an excellent option if you paddle long distances and want to track your stroke rate. First, the app uses your cell phone accelerometer to calculate your stroke rate. Then, it uses GPS to determine how far the paddler moves the boat with each stroke.

RiverFlows

Available on Android, RiverFlows is easy to use, gives accurate, real-time river details, and it’s free. In addition, RiverFlows gathers data from various public sources, including NOAA AHPS (Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service) data which is very useful for floating on the water.

The app is excellent for all things related to kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing, fishing, etc. In addition, for any activity that requires you to track river and lake levels in the US, RvierFlows has you covered.

Once installed, you can search by state or type in a location. You can also save locations to your favorites for easy access anytime.

Navionics

Navionics is an excellent kayaking and fishing app. It has detailed marine nautical charts and advanced features.

You can use the app free for two weeks, and then you have to choose a premium pricing option.

After that, prices vary depending on what features you want to use.

The app is available on iOS and Android and works well for tides, weather, currents, etc.

FishBrain

FishBrain keeps track of your kayak fishing activities for future reference. Millions of fishing spots are in the database, complete with bait used and fish caught.

FishBrain is a great app to reel in your next big fish.

FishBrain is available on iOS and Android. You can log your kayak fishing activity, including a picture of your fish, what kind of fish you caught, where you caught it, the bait you used, rod, reel, etc. You can upload a ton of information. It’s kind of like a FaceBook feed for fishing.

There are also premium pricing options, from one month to twelve months. You can try the premium options for 14 days before billing starts. After that, you can continue to use the app for free or upgrade.

CrewNerd

CrewNerd is available on Android and iOS. It’s a perfect kayaking app for training and workouts. In addition, CrewNerd is one of the top rowing apps available. 

CrewNerd tracks stroke rate, speed, and distance. It also monitors your heart rate. CrewNerd is an excellent app for kayaking, canoeing, SUP, etc. 

One nice feature is creating your own workout or using a pre-programmed one. The real-time display shows all your metrics and how you want them displayed.

CrewNerd is an intuitive, easy-to-use app.

Why You Need a Kayaking App

Kayaking apps are essential for many reasons, including navigation, building community with others, and finding the next great fishing spot. So let’s take a deeper look at how a kayaking app can benefit you as a user.

Fishing

If kayak fishing is your jam, then a kayaking app can help. You can store your favorite fishing spots, track what bait you used, the time of day you caught fish, etc. Some apps can even serve as a fishfinder. 

An app like FishBrain is excellent because many anglers share their experiences. In addition, a ton of information is available within the app to help you find and catch fish.

Connect With Others on Social Media Platforms

Some kayaking apps let you connect with other kayaking enthusiasts via social media. For example, you can share pictures and videos and help others know what they should expect in different kayaking journeys.

You can coordinate meetups to kayak with your friends. Some apps will let you compete with others if you choose to do so.

Tracking

Many kayaking apps are available on the market to keep track of your heart rate, stroke rate, speed, and distance. Some folks love having all this data available in real-time while training, storing, and reviewing later.

Navigation

Through these apps, you can plan your next kayak trip, where to launch, and what you will do once you are on the water. In addition, you can track your position and share where you will be with other people.

With kayak navigation, you can explore areas and return to your launch point without worrying too much about getting lost.

How to Choose the Best App for Kayaking

There are many things to keep in mind when you are choosing the best app for kayaking. You must consider features like battery life, connectivity, and whether you want a paid or free app. Let’s discuss all these options next.

Battery life

Different kayak apps require different battery usage. Some apps are more battery-friendly than others. One thing to look for is whether you can download maps for offline use. Find an app that won’t destroy your battery while on the water.

An app conserves battery life means you won’t have to bring a charger.      

Compatibility

Of course, you must first ensure the kayaking app is compatible with your phone’s operating system (Android, iOS). If there are other devices you want to use, like a Fitbit, Apple Watch, or Garmin device, be sure the app is compatible with those.

Connectivity

Connectivity is essential so the app can do what you want it to do. Choosing a kayaking app that can be used offline is also advisable. There are times when you might not have a cell phone range.

Check whether the app uses cell phone data, GPS, or both. If the app only uses cell data, you might want to check out a GPS unit instead or use it in conjunction.

Paid or Free?

Many apps will let you use the app for free, which can work for many people. However, if you want additional features or more data about your activity, you must pay for a premium version of the app. 

Some apps come with a free trial to test the app before you subscribe to the premium features. Also, some apps will show ads. If you want to avoid the ads, you will probably have to pay up!

Updates

Updates are critical in today’s world. You want an app with a history of correcting problems as they arise, and an up-to-date app is crucial for the latest conditions. The latest and greatest information is vital if you check water levels or paddle to a specific fishing spot.

Conclusion – Best kayaking apps

Choosing an app for kayaking can be a bit overwhelming. Hopefully, this guide will help you find the right app for you. There are apps specific to fishing and some more geared to training, so there are various apps for different situations. 

 

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About the author
Steve Morrow
Steve Morrow owns Paddle About, an outdoor recreation and travel blog. Steve loves to travel, kayak, paddle board, camp, hike, and spend time outdoors with his wife and two kids. When he's not exploring the great outdoors, Steve enjoys writing about his adventures and sharing tips for getting the most out of your outdoor experiences. He has a lot of interesting stories to share, and he's always happy to help others get more out of life.