Garmin ECHOMAP Reviews and Comparisons

GARMIN provides the best sonar equipment for anglers and aquatic navigators with its ECHOMAP series.

In this Garmin ECHOMAP review, we’ll discuss several ECHOMAP Plus and ECHOMAP UHD devices.

The ECHOMAP Plus models are little by little dwindling in stocks because GARMIN started introducing the ECHOMAP UHD models.

While the UHD models are a bit more expensive, their high-quality imaging and cartography capabilities offset the small price increase.

The UHD models are better capable of interpreting Ultra High-Definition transducer data from more advanced sonar transducers.

Apart from this difference between the ECHOMAP Plus and ECHOMAP UHD, they come in various display sizes and other features.

Still, all of these devices come preloaded with maps and charts, giving you the ultimate fish finder with a bang for your buck.

Pre-installed maps and charts either comprise the US BlueChart G3 or US LakeVu maps.

Garmin ECHOMAP Reviews

1. Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 44cv

The Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 44cv has a display with a diagonal dimension of 4.3 inches and a bright LED backlight that keeps it legible in bright daylight.

Garmin preloaded it with Navionics data US coastal maps under the BlueChart G3 set. This set covers the east coast, west coast, Gulf of Mexico, and the US and Canadian side of the Great Lakes.

It has traditional Compressed High-Intensity Radiated Pulse (CHIRP) and ClearVu sonar capabilities using the included GT20 transducer.

Pre-installed with the Quickdraw Contours mapping software, the Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 44cv is an excellent device for mapping out underwater terrain accurately up to one-foot elevations.

The pre-installed Chartplotter allows you to add markers and waypoints anywhere on the maps.

You can use the Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 44cv to share routes and waypoints with other ECHOMAP or STRIKER units.

The ECHOMAP Plus 44cv connects to the NMEA 0183 network, which allows communication between marine GPS electronics.

Review

The Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 44cv measures 4.0 by 6.5 by 3.1, and its display has a horizontal dimension of 2.1 inches and a vertical dimension of 3.7 inches. Its WQVGA display uses 480 by 272 pixels.

Although it will take some time to navigate using its small display, it is the most budget-friendly GARMIN option for fishing and boating along the US coasts.

This product weighs 1.6 pounds, and it effortlessly slides into its flush mount. When leaving your boat, you can easily remove the Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 44cv from its mount.

It does not require any cable or plug removal because the transducer cable links to the device through the mount.

The device accepts microSD data cards with a maximum capacity of 32GB. It can store up to 5,000 waypoints, 50,000 points, 50 tracks, and 100 routes.

The built-in ClearVu sonar can scan depths up to 2,300 feet in freshwater and 1,100 feet in saltwater.

With the Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 44cv, you can enjoy all of the four-inch STRIKER models' features and more.

Pros:

• Cheapest Garmin ECHOMAP Plus pre-installed with coastal waters maps
• Compact and lightweight
• Easy to mount and use or unmount and secure
• IPX7 water-resistant
• Allows sonar recording and rewind
• Dual-beam, dual-frequency

Cons:

• Small screen
• Keyed functionality only, no touchscreen
• No Wi-Fi connectivity

2. Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 64cv

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 64cv offers two inches more on the display's diagonal than the ECHOMAP Plus 44cv, plus it comes with upgraded sonars.

Built-in traditional CHIRP and ClearVu sonars produce ultra-high-definition scans, providing more legibility than ever before.

The included transducer is a GT24, which produces crystal-clear underwater images compared to the GT20.

The GT24 also uses the high-wide traditional CHIRP, which boasts exceptional fish target separation from structures and stationary objects.

Like the ECHOMAP Plus 44cv, the UHD 64cv has preloaded BlueChart G3 coastal maps.

In addition to the BlueChart G3 map set, the Quickdraw Contours allows you to create personalized fishing maps from scratch.

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 64cv connects to NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183 networks, allowing access to digital switching, autopilots, weather, media, and other resources.

It has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, which you can use to access smart notifications, software updates, OneChart, and Garmin Quickdraw Community.

Review

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 64cv measures 8.6 by 5.1 by 2.6 inches, and its display has a 6.2-inch diagonal dimension. It uses a WVGA display with a resolution of 480 by 800 pixels.

The device is the smallest, Wi-Fi-ready, landscape display GPS and sonar gadget with preloaded maps from Garmin.

It weighs only 1.6 pounds, and you can easily remove it from the mount without unplugging any cable connections to the transducer.

It also connects to the more leisure-friendly NMEA 2000 network, in addition to the NMEA 0183 system, which is more for commercial shipping lines.

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 64cv has a slot for one microSD card with a max cap of 32 GB. The device can store 5,000 waypoints, 50,000 points, 50 tracks, and 100 routes.

Aside from the display size upgrade compared to the ECHOMAP Plus 44cv, the UHD 64cv is Wi-Fi ready, and it can use the ActiveCaptain App.

With ActiveCaptain, you can download maps created by other users on the Garmin Quickdraw Community, and you can share your personalized charts.

Pros:

• Includes pre-installed BlueChart G3 charts
• Crystal clear scans
• Built-in Wi-Fi connectivity
• Connects to the ActiveCaptain App
• Compatible with NMEA 2000
• Can record and rewind sonar data
• Easy mount and unmount feature
• Water-resistant up to IPX7

Cons:

• No touchscreen functionality
• Better suited for coastal waters only

3. Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 74cv

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 74cv is just a larger touchscreen version of the 64cv.

It comes preloaded with the same BlueChart G3 maps, ultra-high-definition ClearVu and traditional CHIRP, and Quickdraw Contours mapping.

The device also uses the same GT24UHD transducer as the 64cv.

The touchscreen functionality enables any user to plot charts using touch buttons on the seven-inch display paired with a keyed control panel.

Another difference is the cable connector, which uses eight pins, unlike in the 64cv, which only uses four pins.

Other than these differences, everything is pretty much the same between the UHD 64cv and 74cv.

Review

With just a slight price bump, get a larger display with touchscreen functionality.

The ECHOMAP UHD 74cv with GT24UHD-TM transducer has all the capabilities of the 64cv, but it has a larger display and offers touchscreen chart plotting functions.

It measures 9.8 by 5.5 by 2.0 inches, and its display has a diagonal measurement of seven inches. The device weighs 1.7 pounds, only slightly heavier than the 64cv.

Traverse coastal waters efficiently with the same preloaded BlueChart G3 maps. You can also make your very own contour maps with waypoints using the Quickdraw Contours mapping software.

The same Wi-Fi connectivity allows you to download and share maps on Garmin Quickdraw Community.

A similar removable storage option and capacities are also available with this device.

Pros:

• Cheapest Garmin UHD with coastal maps and touchscreen functionality
• Wider display than the 64cv
• Keyed and touchscreen functionality
• Pre-installed BlueChart G3 maps
• Compatible with ActiveCaptain App
• Water-resistant rating of IPX7
• Connects to NMEA 2000
• Record and rewind sonar scans
• Easy mount and unmount feature

Cons:

• Requires installation of more maps if used on inland water bodies
• Slightly more expensive than the 64cv

4. Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 94sv

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 94sv is a fully-stocked navigational device and fish finder. It boasts both keyed and touchscreen controls for ultra-high-definition traditional CHIRP, ClearVu, and SideVu.

It also offers personal map creation and sharing through Quickdraw Contours and Garmin Quickdraw Community.

Review

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 94sv measures 11.4 by 6.5 by 2.4 inches, and its screen has a nine-inch diagonal measurement. It weighs 2.3 pounds but also offers an easy mounting and unmounting feature.

You can practically take it out of your boat without unplugging cables because the cable connects through the mounting hardware.

This nine-inch display sonar controller is just slightly more expensive than the 74cv because it doesn’t include any transducer.

An advantage is you can pair it with an existing compatible transducer, which you may already have, or you can choose any compatible transducer.

While the Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 94sv is available as a standalone control unit that you can pair with any compatible transducer, you can maximize its capabilities with the GT56UHD.

This model has better sonar capabilities with the included SideVu sonar. You can have all the benefits of traditional CHIRP, ClearVu, and SideVu combined into one navigation and sonar scanning system.

All preloaded software, maps, removable storage, storage capacities, and chart plotter features are similar to the 64cv and 74cv.

While the Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 94sv has the same connectivity to NMEA 200, NMEA 0183, and Wi-Fi, it uses a 12-pin transducer cable.

If purchased in a bundle with the GT56UHD-TM transducer, it would be the most expensive product on this list.

However, it is still one of the most affordable nine-inch touchscreen sonar chart plotters with the BlueChart G3 maps available in the market.

Pros:

• Most affordable nine-inch display sonar with pre-installed coastal maps
• Keyed-assist and touchscreen control
• Option to choose which transducer to purchase
• Includes SideVu in addition to ClearVu and traditional CHIRP
• Wi-Fi connectivity
• IPX7 water-resistant
• Preloaded with Quickdraw Contours and ActiveCaptain
• Connects with NMEA 0183 and NMEA 2000

Cons:

• Does not include transducer
• Insufficient maps and charts for inland use
• Most expensive among the BlueChart G3 preloaded controllers
• Most expensive on this list if bought with GT56UHD-TM transducer

5. Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 43cv

6. Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 63cv

To provide for the larger display format requirements of boats in wider inland waters, we also featured the ECHOMAP UHD series, starting with the 63cv.

If you can spare more cash, the ECHOMAP UHD 63cv adds better functionality and readability than the ECHOMAP Plus 43cv.

We also offer a general guide on how to read a Garmin fish finder.

The ECHOMAP UHD 63cv has a six-inch display that provides ultra-high-definition images from the built-in traditional CHIRP and ClearVu.

Garmin pre-installed it with the US LakeVu G3 map set, which includes complete coverage of the Great Lakes, Lake of the Woods, the Trent-Severn Waterway, and all inland US lakes.

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 63cv has a single microSD card slot for holding removable storage up to 32 GB.

It can store 5,000 waypoints, 50,000 points, 50 tracks, and 100 routes on the preloaded maps, or you can make your own maps using the Quickdraw Contours mapping software.

Review

The preloaded LakeVu 3G map set is the only thing setting it apart from the ECHOMAP UHD 64cv, which means it also shares the same advantages and disadvantages.

The ECHOMAP UHD 63cv measures 8.6 by 5.1 by 2.6 inches, and it has a screen that measures 6.2 inches.

With a resolution of 480 by 800 pixels, the ECHOMAP UHD 63cv uses WVGA color. It is the smallest Garmin Wi-Fi-ready sonar gadget preloaded with inland maps, albeit a wider display.

Its screen is wider than that of the ECHOMAP Plus 43cv, but it doesn't have touchscreen capabilities.

Aside from that disadvantage, the ECHOMAP UHD 63cv also does not have the SideVu sonar, but it is more legible than the 43cv.

Its better legibility results from the wider screen and the ultra-high-definition sonar scanners built into the GT24UHD transducer.

For connectivity, the ECHOMAP UHD 63cv can use the ActiveCaptain App, NMEA 0183, and NMEA 2000.

You can download maps uploaded by other users on the Garmin Quickdraw Community using the ActiveCaptain App.

The ECHOMAP UHD 63cv weighs 1.6 pounds, and its mounting hardware allows you to remove it from the boat whenever you finish navigating and boating.

This unmounting option is possible because the cable connections plug directly into the mount.

Pros:

• Most affordable Garmin UHD sonar with LakeVu
• Landscape orientation display
• Includes pre-installed US LakeVu 3G maps
• Crystal clear scans from CHIRP
• Wi-Fi-ready for ActiveCaptain App
• Compatible with NMEA 2000
• Records and rewinds sonar data
• Easy mount and unmount feature
• Water-resistant up to IPX7

Cons:

• No touchscreen functionality
• Inland water use only unless you add coastal maps

7. Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 73cv

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 73cv is the bigger version of the 63cv, but with touchscreen functionality.

Garmin pre-installed it with the same US LakeVu G3 maps, Quickdraw Contours mapping software, ultra-high-definition ClearVu, and traditional CHIRP.

The ECHOMAP UHD 73cv comes with the same GT24UHD transducer that Garmin bundled with the 63cv.

With the touchscreen display and keyed controls on the right side, any user can plot charts and navigate the pre-installed maps.

While the cable connector on the 63cv uses four pins, the 73cv has the same 20-foot cable length, but it has eight pins.

Aside from the increase in display size, touchscreen functions, and the eight-pin cable, everything else is the same between the 73cv and 63cv.

Review

The ECHOMAP UHD 73cv measures 9.8 by 5.5 by 2.0 inches, and its display measures seven inches. It weighs 1.7 pounds, and you can easily separate it from its mount whenever you leave your boat.

When choosing between the UHD 63cv and 73cv, we recommend getting the UHD 73cv. The small additional cost will be giving you a larger touchscreen display.

While the larger display provides better legibility for viewing inland US LakeVu 3G maps, the touchscreen functionality offers more efficient chart plotting controls.

Navigate inland water bodies efficiently with the same preloaded US LakeVu G3 charts.

All ECHOMAP sonar devices, including the UHD 73cv, comes pre-installed with the Quickdraw Contours mapping software.

With the UHD 73cv, you can create your maps from scratch, and you can share them with other members of the Garmin Quickdraw Community using the ActiveCaptain App.

Pros:

• Cheapest Garmin UHD with inland maps and touchscreen display
• Display is larger than that of the 63cv
• Combined touch and key controls
• Pre-installed US LakeVu G3 maps
• All ActiveCaptain App functions available
• IPX7 water-resistant
• NMEA 2000 connectivity
• Allows recording and rewinding of sonar scans
• Carry-away unmounting feature

Cons:

• A bit more expensive than the 63cv
• Requires installation of more maps if used US coastal waters

8. Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 93sv

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 93sv is an all-in-one sonar chart plotter for rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Its large format seven-inch display offers button and touch-controls, and the included GT56UHD transducer allows ultra-high-definition traditional CHIRP, ClearVu, and SideVu.

All features available to Wi-Fi-ready models are also available to the 93sv.

Review

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 93sv measures 11.4 by 6.5 by 2.4 inches and weighs 2.3 pounds.

It offers the convenient mount-unmount feature available to all of the ECHOMAP models.

With the GT56UHD transducer, the 93sv is capable of scanning even along the sides of your boat using the built-in SideVu sonar.

The Garmin ECHOMAP UHD 93sv has all the preloaded maps, software, microSD storage, and chart plotters present in the 73cv and 63cv.

Even if it is quite pricey, the ECHOMAP UHD 93sv is one of the most competitive nine-inch touchscreen inland fish finders available for anglers.

Pros:

• Most affordable nine-inch display sonar with pre-installed inland maps
• Keyed and touch controls
• Includes SideVu in addition to ClearVu and traditional CHIRP
• Wi-Fi connectivity
• IPX7 water-resistant
• Has Quickdraw Contours and ActiveCaptain
• Connects to NMEA 0183 and 2000 networks

Con:

• Most expensive ECHOMAP UHD with US LakeVu 3G maps

Helpful Tips

When choosing from any of the products on this Garmin ECHOMAP review, first determine or decide whether you plan on navigating coastal or inland waters.

If you haven’t noticed, the model number tells a lot about each product. The first digit of the model number indicates the diagonal display size in inches.

The second digit tells you what maps GARMIN pre-installed in the device: code-3 for inland and code-4 having coastal maps.

Other products not included in this list may have a code-2 or code-5, representing a worldwide base map and Canada LakeVu HD, respectively.

Finally, the letters indicate sonar functionalities. For example, the 73cv has a seven-inch display, includes all the US LakeVu HD mapping charts, and uses standard CHIRP and ClearVu.

On the other hand, the 94sv has a nine-inch display, includes the BlueChart G3 coastal maps, and uses standard CHIRP, ClearVu, and SideVu.

Which Ones to Pick Based on Your Needs

If you are on a budget and just about to embark on a fishing hobby, using the ECHOMAP Plus 43cv or 44cv should be enough.

Both are the most affordable complete options for inland and coastal charting.

However, if you want to get ultra-high-definition sonar scans, go for any of the UHD models.

Notice the change in display size and touchscreen functionality from the seven-inch variant to the seven-inch model.

The added benefits coincide with a small jump in cost, making the seven-inch models the more cost-effective choice for UHD.

If you want to take it a step further and would like to capitalize on an affordable, large-screen GARMIN device, then go for the seven-inch models.

Aside from the large format display, ultra-high-definition sonar includes traditional CHIRP, ClearVu, and SideVu.

Of course, GARMIN makes it a point that the most expensive product in a series has all the best features, which is why we recommend the ECHOMAP UHD 93sv, 94sv or the Garmin Ultra 106sv.