Depth Source — Product Selector
Fishfinder & Chartplotter Selector
Answer 5 quick questions and get a personalized recommendation matched to your boat, fishing style, and existing equipment.
How the Fishfinder & Chartplotter Selector Works
Picking the right Humminbird fishfinder comes down to five things: what you already own, the kind of boat you fish from, the water you fish, the sonar capability you want — Traditional, Side & Down Imaging, or MEGA Live forward-facing — and the screen size that matches your helm. Get one of those wrong and you end up with a unit that's underpowered for your boat or missing the imaging features you actually need.
This tool walks you through five quick questions and matches you with three Humminbird recommendations across our HELIX, APEX, and XPLORE lineups — Entry, Performance, and Elite tiers — with screen-size swap chips so you can compare 7" through 19" without restarting. Need to add a transducer too? Use the Transducer Selector after, or call (833) 831-4077 and we'll spec your full setup.
Step 1 of 5 — Your Setup
Do you have existing electronics you'd like to integrate?
Trolling motors and other displays connect to your new unit — but only within the same brand ecosystem. Humminbird natively integrates with Minn Kota via the One-Boat Network, sharing maps, waypoints, and depth contour follow. If you're keeping everything separate, we'll recommend the best standalone unit.
⚠️ Mixed Ecosystem Detected
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Step 2 of 5 — Your Boat
What kind of boat are you fishing from?
Your boat type determines recommended screen size, mounting options, and which sonar capabilities make the most sense for how you fish.
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Step 3 of 5 — Where You Fish
Where do you do most of your fishing?
Water type affects sonar frequency recommendations, transducer hardware, and which map cards are most useful for where you fish.
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Step 4 of 5 — Sonar Capability
How do you prefer to locate fish?
Traditional sonar shows depth and fish as arches — proven and simple. Side & Down Imaging gives you detailed pictures of structure, cover, and fish holding areas. MEGA Live lets you watch fish move in real time as you fish — the most advanced technology Humminbird makes.
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Step 5 of 5 — Screen Size
Do you have a screen size preference?
Larger screens are easier to read at speed and in direct sunlight. We'll suggest the right size for your boat if you're not sure. Most bass and walleye rigs run 9–12". The XPLORE and APEX series start at 9" and run up to 19".
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Common Fishfinder & Chartplotter Questions
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often. Need help with your specific boat? Call (833) 831-4077 — we'll walk through your setup over the phone.
What's the difference between a fishfinder and a chartplotter?
A fishfinder uses sonar to show you depth, bottom composition, and fish beneath your boat. A chartplotter uses GPS and digital maps to show you where you are on the water — depth contours, navigation markers, hazards, and waypoints.
Most modern Humminbird units do both in one display — they're called "combo units." Every recommendation in this selector that has GPS in the title is a combo. The selector's first question asks whether you need a full system, just a fishfinder, or just a chartplotter, so we can narrow accordingly.
Should I get HELIX, APEX, or XPLORE?
HELIX is the entry-to-mid lineup — 5" to 12" screens, great for most freshwater anglers, jon boats up to mid-size bass rigs. Best price-to-feature ratio and the only Humminbird series that ships with a transducer included.
XPLORE is the newest line (9", 10", 12") — touchscreen units built around MEGA Live 2 forward-facing sonar. The right step up from HELIX if you want a touchscreen experience and live sonar without going all the way to APEX. Pairs well with Minn Kota Quest-series motors over One-Boat Network.
APEX is the top-of-line glass-bridge series — 13" to 19", multi-display helms, networked across the boat. Built for offshore, charter, tournament, and premium freshwater builds where the screen is your primary tool.
The selector picks across all three based on your answers, so you'll see the right tier in your size range without having to memorize this. If you're between HELIX and XPLORE, the deciding question is usually whether MEGA Live forward-facing sonar matters to you — XPLORE is the cleanest path to that.
What size fishfinder screen do I need?
Rule of thumb: kayaks and small boats — 5" to 7"; aluminum and pontoon — 7" to 10"; bass and walleye boats — 9" to 12"; center consoles — 12" to 13"; offshore or premium helm builds — 13" and up.
Larger screens are easier to read at speed and in direct sunlight, and they let you split-screen multiple sonar views at once. The selector's last question asks for your size preference, but if you're not sure, pick "Show Me What's Recommended" and we'll suggest the right size for your boat type.
What is MEGA Live forward-facing sonar?
MEGA Live (and the newer MEGA Live 2) is Humminbird's real-time forward-facing sonar — you watch fish move and react to your bait in real time, instead of seeing them as arches after they've already passed under the boat. It's transformed how tournament anglers fish, especially for crappie, walleye, and bass.
MEGA Live requires a compatible head unit — XPLORE 9/10/12 or APEX 13/16/19. It is not compatible with HELIX series. If you select MEGA Live in the sonar question, the selector will only show units that can run it.
Will my Minn Kota trolling motor integrate with my Humminbird?
Yes — Humminbird and Minn Kota are both Johnson Outdoors brands and share the One-Boat Network. With a compatible Minn Kota (Ulterra, Terrova, Ultrex, Riptide, or any QUEST-series motor) and a Humminbird display, you get shared waypoints, Spot-Lock control from the head unit, and depth contour follow on LakeMaster maps.
If you have a Garmin Force or other-brand trolling motor, the selector flags this as a mixed ecosystem in step 1B and gives you the option to continue or call us first.
What is the One-Boat Network?
The One-Boat Network (OBN) is Humminbird and Minn Kota's shared system for connecting your trolling motor, fishfinder, and Talon shallow-water anchors. It lets your Humminbird display control your Minn Kota motor (Spot-Lock, AutoPilot, Cruise Control, depth-contour follow), and it shares waypoints automatically across compatible devices on the boat.
OBN works over Bluetooth or NMEA 2000 depending on the gear. Current Humminbird HELIX, APEX, and XPLORE units are OBN-compatible out of the box.
Does the fishfinder come with a transducer?
Most HELIX units include a basic transducer (XNT 9 HW T or similar). APEX and XPLORE units are usually sold as the head unit only, and you select the transducer separately based on your boat's mounting style and the sonar features you want.
The selector flags this clearly in the green/red status block on each tier card. If a transducer isn't included, use the Transducer Selector to find the right one for your unit.
Do I need a chart card (LakeMaster, CoastMaster) for navigation?
The base unit includes a basic basemap that gets you started — bottom contours and major navigation features. For high-detail lake mapping, you'll want a LakeMaster chart card (freshwater) or CoastMaster (saltwater). These add 1-foot depth contours, structure detail, points of interest, and boat-ramp data.
LakeMaster cards are sold per region (Great Lakes, Mid-South, Dakotas, etc.). CoastMaster covers a coastal region. They're an add-on, not bundled with the head unit. Talk to us about which region card matches the lakes you fish.
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