Provider comparison

Boat-Ed vs iLearnToBoat

Two Kalkomey boater safety courses, compared on format, price and where each still runs.

Boat-Ed and iLearnToBoat are made by the same company, Kalkomey, and in most states they are no longer separate choices: iLearnToBoat’s pages in 21 states now send you to Boat-Ed+, Boat-Ed’s interactive course. iLearnToBoat still runs its own game-style course in 13 states, where it costs $44.95 to $74.95 — and standard Boat-Ed is $15 to $30 cheaper in each of them that lists a price.

Boat-Ed vs iLearnToBoat: side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Boat-Ed vs iLearnToBoat
Starting priceBoat-EdFrom $29.50About $29.50 to $64.95 depending on the state and course; some states add a separate card feeiLearnToBoatFrom $44.95From $44.95 (Rhode Island) to $74.95, priced per state; Texas adds a $10 state fee.
FormatBoat-EdOnlineiLearnToBoatOnline
NASBLA approvedBoat-Ed YesiLearnToBoat Yes
ProsBoat-Ed
  • Official, NASBLA-approved course for most states
  • Fully online and self-paced
  • Available in nearly every state, priced per state
iLearnToBoat
  • Game-style lessons with mini-games and role-playing simulations
  • Produced by Kalkomey, an official state-delegated provider
  • Self-paced, on any device, with no timers
ConsBoat-Ed
  • Price varies by state — $54.95 in most
  • Entry-level safety education only — no on-water or license training
iLearnToBoat
  • Runs its own course in 13 states; elsewhere its pages hand you to Boat-Ed+
  • Price varies by state — $44.95 to $74.95, plus a state fee in some
See Boat-EdSee iLearnToBoat

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Do you need a boating license? Check your state

Which should you choose?

In the 13 states where iLearnToBoat still runs its own course, the choice is format against price. Pick iLearnToBoat if you learn better from games and role-play — that is what it offers over Boat-Ed — and standard Boat-Ed if you would rather pay less for the same state card: Boat-Ed was $15 to $30 cheaper in all 12 of those states where both list a price. Everywhere else, the choice has become Boat-Ed or Boat-Ed+, which our Boat-Ed vs BOATERexam page covers, because iLearnToBoat’s own pages now hand you to Boat-Ed+.

Read the full breakdowns: Boat-Ed and iLearnToBoat.

Last updated:

Safety gear to have aboard

Whichever course you pick, these five are the items first-time boaters are most often missing — and four of them are federal requirements. Confirm what applies to your boat with the U.S. Coast Guard and your state boating agency.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra, and it never affects which courses we recommend — see our affiliate disclosure.

  • USCG-approved life jackets

    One properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket is required for every person aboard.

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  • Engine cut-off switch lanyard

    On a boat under 26 feet, federal law requires the operator to use the engine cut-off link whenever the boat is on plane or above displacement speed — unless the main helm is inside an enclosed cabin. U.S. Coast Guard

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  • Throwable flotation device

    A Type IV cushion or ring buoy to toss to someone in the water — required on most boats 16 feet and longer.

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  • Marine fire extinguisher

    Required on boats with a permanently installed fuel tank or any space that can trap fumes. The label must read "Marine Type — USCG Approved", and since April 2022 a disposable extinguisher more than 12 years past its stamped date is expired. U.S. Coast Guard

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  • Whistle or marine air horn

    An audible signalling device so you can warn other vessels and signal in reduced visibility.

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Building a full kit? Read the complete new boater essentials checklist — ten items, what the law requires, and what is simply worth having.

Boat-Ed vs iLearnToBoat — FAQ

Is iLearnToBoat the same company as Boat-Ed?
Yes. Both sites say they are produced by Kalkomey Enterprises, LLC, an official state-delegated boating education provider. They are two brands from one company, which is why iLearnToBoat’s pages in many states now forward to Boat-Ed+.
Is iLearnToBoat now Boat-Ed+?
In 21 states, yes in practice: iLearnToBoat’s state page redirects to Boat-Ed+, Boat-Ed’s scenario-based version of its course. In 13 states iLearnToBoat still sells its own course. Boat-Ed+ earns the same state card as standard Boat-Ed.
Which states still have the iLearnToBoat course?
Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont and Wisconsin, as of our check on September 23, 2026. In any other state, see your state’s page for the courses it accepts.
Is iLearnToBoat or Boat-Ed cheaper?
Boat-Ed, in every state where both list a price. iLearnToBoat runs $44.95 in Rhode Island, $54.95 in Montana, $59.95 in Arizona and Mississippi, and $74.95 in most of its other states, while standard Boat-Ed is $15 to $30 less in each. Texas adds a $10 state fee to iLearnToBoat’s price.
Do both earn the same boater card?
Yes. Where each is approved, both lead to the same state boater education card — the format is what differs. iLearnToBoat teaches through mini-games and role-playing simulations; Boat-Ed uses a read, watch and quiz format.
Sources (5)

Every factual claim on this page traces to one of these. The date is when we last checked it against the source.

  1. Boat-Ed state course pages — checked 2026-09-23
  2. Boat-Ed+ course page — checked 2026-09-22
  3. iLearnToBoat state course pages — checked 2026-09-23
  4. U.S. Coast Guard — checked 2026-09-22
  5. U.S. Coast Guard — checked 2026-09-22

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