What OpenCPN does

OpenCPN is a Boston, Massachusetts-based private, for-profit entity that develops and distributes open-source chartplotter and marine GPS navigation software for the recreational boating, sailing, and small-commercial marine segments. The product is positioned as a community-driven navigation application, suggesting a distribution model in which the software is freely available and ongoing value is delivered through contributions, plug-ins, and integration with marine charts and sensor feeds.

The firm maintains an operating headcount of 51–100 employees, which is materially larger than what is typical for a volunteer-maintained open-source project. This scale, combined with the for-profit legal status, implies a hybrid operating model in which the entity combines open-source distribution with paid services, sponsorship, support contracts, or related commercial activity, although no revenue mechanics, pricing, or named customers were disclosed in the available source material.

Technical details are limited: core technology, proprietary features, APIs, integrations, and certifications were not extractable from the available sources, which surfaced only a website loading/verification page and minimal firmographic fields. As a result, the company description above is grounded solely in the disclosed firmographics and high-level product category; deeper claims about architecture, monetization mix, or product surface cannot be supported by the input data.

Name

OpenCPN

Website

https://opencpn.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

OpenCPN is a Boston-based private, for-profit entity that develops and distributes open-source chartplotter and marine GPS navigation software for recreational boaters, sailors, and small-commercial marine users.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Navigation Software

NAICS

Information (51)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Navigation Systems (ECDIS, Radar, GNSS, AIS) (IMAJAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nautical Safety, Navigation Aids & Hydrographic Services (TLAHAFAE)

Keywords

• Marine navigation software
• Chartplotter software
• GPS navigation software
• Electronic chart display
• Marine route planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure

Core offering

OpenCPN is an open source chartplotter and marine GPS navigation software that provides mariners with electronic chart display, route planning, waypoint management, and GPS-based navigation on desktop and onboard computer hardware. It is freely distributed and community-developed for use aboard sailing vessels, powerboats, and other marine craft, supporting common chart formats including S-57, CM93, and raster charts.

Product overview

The source data available for OpenCPN consists only of a website loading/verification page with no substantive content about the company's products, services, or portfolio. No product details, modules, or offerings could be extracted from the provided source.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OpenCPN Chart Plotter & Marine GPS Navigation Software OpenCPN is an open source chartplotter and marine GPS navigation software application that provides electronic chart display, route planning, waypoint management, and GPS integration to sailors, recreational boaters, and other mariners running it on desktop or onboard computer hardware.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Rose Point Navigation (Coastal Explorer): PC-based marine navigation and chartplotting software widely used by cruisers and commercial vessels; directly comparable software product to OpenCPN.
• iNavX: Mobile marine navigation and chartplotter app for iOS/Android, serving the same recreational sailing navigation niche as OpenCPN.
• TimeZero (MaxSea): PC/mobile marine navigation and chartplotting software for recreational and professional mariners, a direct software analog to OpenCPN but commercially licensed.
• qtVlm: Marine navigation and weather routing software for sailors, a niche software peer directly comparable to OpenCPN's chartplotting scope.

Broad incumbents

• Navionics: Provider of electronic marine charts and navigation apps for recreational boaters; directly overlaps with OpenCPN's chartplotting and marine navigation use case but as a commercial, chart-centric offering.
• C-MAP: Commercial marine cartography and charting platform used in chartplotters; competes with OpenCPN's core navigation and charting functionality.
• Garmin: Major marine electronics and chartplotter manufacturer bundling navigation software with hardware; a large incumbent overlapping OpenCPN's navigation functionality.
• Raymarine: Marine electronics maker offering integrated chartplotters and navigation displays; competes on the same GNSS/AIS marine navigation use case.
• Furuno: Marine navigation and ECDIS/radar systems manufacturer serving commercial and recreational vessels, overlapping OpenCPN's navigation domain.

Emerging players

• OpenSeaMap: Open, community-built nautical chart data project; complements and partly overlaps OpenCPN as an open-source marine navigation initiative.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights3 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OpenCPN_org
• Facebookfacebook.com/OpenCPN

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OpenCPN