Having accurate and up-to-date charts is crucial for safe navigation and finding prime fishing spots when using a Humminbird fish finder. Humminbird provides periodic chart updates to include the latest depth information, navigational aids, wrecks, and other important details. However, these chart updates come at a cost. So do Humminbird owners have to pay for chart updates or are there free options available?
Official Humminbird Chart Updates
Humminbird relies on Navionics, a leading chart data company, to supply the mapping information for their fish finders. Every year Navionics makes updates to their database of lake maps, coastal charts, and inland maps to incorporate the newest sonar scans and verify accuracy. Humminbird then takes those updated maps and integrates them into their units.
These official and fully compatible chart updates must be purchased through Humminbird. They come on microSD cards or can be downloaded to your Humminbird account online. Costs range from $99 to $199 for a region or specific lake. Multi-region chart updates can run up to $299 for U.S. coverage. Some smaller, individual lake updates are available for $24.99.
Humminbird does not provide free charts updates. The costs associated with licensing the data from Navionics and creating a user-friendly update for their systems have to be recouped. Furthermore, to motivate anglers to upgrade, Humminbird typically includes some bonus content with each purchase such as additional maps or Humminbird-exclusive fishing hotspots.
Benefits of Paying for Official Updates
Here are some of the benefits you get when paying for official chart updates from Humminbird:
- Reliability – Humminbird has optimized these updates to work seamlessly with their units.
- Compatible with Planning Features – Updated maps work with Humminbird’s route planning and tracking features.
- Access to Premium Charts – Updates include Navionics+ and Platinum+ charts with the most detailed contours and imagery.
- Coastal Coverage – Offshore updates include detailed bathymetric data.
- Lake Insight – Lake updates incorporate the newest HD lake scans for superior depth readouts.
- Bonus Content – May include extra maps or Humminbird hotspots as incentives.
- Customer Support – Humminbird provides support if you have any issues with installing or using the updates.
Paying for updates from the manufacturer gives you confidence that the charts will perform as expected and enhance your Humminbird’s capabilities on the water.
Alternatives to Paying Full Price
While official Humminbird updates come at a cost, there are some alternative options that allow you to save a bit of money but still get updated data:
Buy Discounted Update Cards on Ebay or Amazon
Even though Humminbird controls the pricing for chart updates sold through authorized dealers, you can sometimes find discounts of up to 50% off the full retail price if buying update cards secondhand on sites like Ebay and Amazon. There is risk involved because you won’t get customer support or a guarantee like you would from Humminbird. But if cost is your main concern, a steep discount on the SD update cards may be worth it.
Upgrade to a Larger Region
When buying chart updates directly from Humminbird, you’ll get more value by purchasing a larger region. The cost of updates is not linear – you pay more incrementally for adding small areas versus what you would pay to upgrade to a larger region. For example, upgrading just Texas lakes may cost $99, but you can get all of the U.S. for $299. If you fish in multiple states, go for the bigger region package.
Share Updates with Friends
This is Humminbird’s least favorite option, but you can split the cost of chart update cards with other anglers and share the maps. The license allows the data to be installed on a couple different units. By dividing the price two or three ways, you can save substantially. Just make sure your fishing buddies are trustworthy if you go this route!
Wait for Sales
Humminbird does run occasional promotions that discount chart upgrades, especially around holiday weekends. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Fourth of July are prime times to watch for deals. If you can delay your purchase by a few months, you may be able to get the updates you need for at least 20% less.
Buy a Bundle
When purchasing a new Humminbird unit, look for bundle packages that include major chart updates for a discounted rate. Essentially you are pre-paying for the update at a lower price. Just be sure to redeem the chart update within the allotted time period – usually within 1 year of device registration.
Free Humminbird Chart Update Options
While Humminbird does not officially offer free updates for their built-in charts, there are some limited options to get basic maps without paying:
Build Your Own ContourX Charts
ContourX is Humminbird’s custom HD chart format available on many of their models. It allows you to create your own ultra high resolution maps using the sonar readings recorded by your Humminbird. So over time, you can scan a lake and organically build up detailed contours of the bottom and shoreline. It’s free but very time consuming.
Download Community-Generated Updates
Some avid anglers use apps like LakeMaster to record contours when out on the water and then share those unofficial updates online for others to download. The legality is questionable and the quality can be hit or miss, but it is a free option for basic map overlays.
Use Built-In Basemap
Your Humminbird comes pre-loaded with a very basic map that shows open water and some rough depth estimates. It lacks most contours and details but will allow you to at least navigate safely while on the water. This basemap does not cost extra but leaves much to be desired.
Switch to Humminbird’s Basemap
Starting in mid-2020, Humminbird upgraded the free basemap on all models to use a Navionics database for basic open water contours and lake outlines. It’s still missing most of the advanced content like HD lake scans. But it is more detailed than the legacy basemaps. Upgrading your Humminbird software may allow you to access this basic map for free.
Relying solely on the built-in basemap is doable but not advisable for most anglers. You will be missing out on a lot of the enhanced capabilities and location-specific depth readings that modern Humminbird chart updates provide.
Third-Party Lake Map Options
Humminbird’s primary mapping partner is Navionics, so their updates remain the gold standard for compatibility and performance. However, there are a few other third-party options for getting additional lake maps onto your Humminbird:
| Company | Compatibility | Price |
|---|---|---|
| LakeMaster | Limited | ~$100 per lake |
| C-MAP | Moderate | ~$99-$150 per region |
| Aqua Map | Low | ~$20 per lake |
LakeMaster has the best compatibility after Navionics but is nearly as expensive for individual lakes. C-MAP offers an affordable regional approach but performance can be sluggish. Aqua Map provides basic contours for the lowest cost but likely lacks details needed for precise fishing.
Before purchasing third-party chart updates, research forums to see if other anglers have had success using them with your model Humminbird. And definitely compare the level of detail – some cheaper maps are little more than outlines.
Conclusion
Keeping up with Humminbird’s official chart updates certainly comes at a price – typically anywhere from $100 to $300 depending on your coverage needs. And they do not offer any free update options for their premium charts built with Navionics data. However, paying for reliable, compatible, and detailed maps is worth the investment for most serious anglers.
If cost is a barrier, you can save a bit by buying secondhand cards online, upgrading to a larger region, or waiting for seasonal sales. Building your own contours or downloading community charts provides free alternatives, but coverage will be very limited. It’s also possible to get by with the built-in basic map on short trips. But for optimal navigation and fishing, purchasing official updates from Humminbird remains the recommended approach for keeping charts current.
