Headed In (boating) and Headed Back (hunting, hiking, fishing, road trips) are free. They do one job first: if you are not back when you said, the people you picked get a text with your last position, even if your phone died. Then they carry the everyday tools people pay other apps for.
| Kind of app | What it is for | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Headed In / Headed Back | Check-in and overdue alerts, plus tools for the water and the woods | Free, no ads |
| Chart and navigation apps | Charts, routes, tides | About $15 to $100 a year, by region and tier |
| Fishing apps | Catch logs, forecasts, community spots | Free tier; premium about $75 a year |
| Hunting map apps | Land maps, offline, boundaries | About $35 to $100 a year |
| Satellite messengers | Texts and SOS with no cell service | A device (around $300) plus $15 to $50 a month |
| Always-on family location apps | Where everyone is, all the time | Free tier; paid plans monthly or yearly |
Prices checked Oct 4, 2026 from public pages and change often. We plan an optional paid plan later for extras like Fish ID; the overdue text, the family page and the games stay free.
| Feature | Headed In / Back | The usual alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Overdue text to family with your last position, even if the phone dies | Yes, free | Rare; some charge per text or need a device |
| Family needs no app and no login | Yes: they open a link | Usually everyone installs the app |
| Works for Android family members | Yes | Built-in phone check-ins need iPhones on both ends |
| Check in by text with no data | Yes | Only with a satellite device |
| "Still OK?" timer for a tree stand or a long sit at anchor | Yes | Rare |
| Charts, tides, wind and buoys; saved charts for no signal | Yes (Headed In) | Yes, in chart apps |
| Best times, weather windows, catch and harvest log | Yes, free | Often in a paid tier |
| Fuel planner, engine log, trip cost, sea time, float plan | Yes (Headed In) | Scattered across several apps |
| Anchor alarm | Coming after boat testing | Yes, in chart apps |
| Where I parked, ramp notes, group boards | Yes | Varies |
| Satellite messaging and SOS to responders | No: use a satellite device where there is no cell service | Yes, with the device |
| Property lines and parcel data | No | Yes, in hunting map apps |
We are not a replacement for a VHF radio, a locator beacon, a satellite messenger, telling someone your plan, or calling 911 or the Coast Guard. Where we are weaker, we say so.