2026 Comparator
5 Lowrance fishfinders compared on the criteria that matter for fishing: sonar technology (CHIRP, DownScan, SideScan, Active Imaging HD), range, display, built-in GPS, mapping. From the entry-level Hook Reveal 5 at 249 € HT to the premium HDS Pro 10" with Active Imaging HD sonar at 2,325 € HT. Workshop recommendation by fishing program.
Lowrance
332 € HT
Pour qui : Freshwater or coastal angler, beginner, budget < €300 ex VAT, small boat/dinghy, basic fish detection
View Hook Reveal 5Lowrance
399 € HT
Pour qui : Regular coastal angler, 5-7 m powerboat, budget 300-400 € HT, Lowrance mid-range standard
View Hook Reveal 7Lowrance
564 € HT
Pour qui : Structured angler (specific spots), 6-8 m dinghy, SideScan requirement for mapping shorelines
View Hook Reveal 9 TripleShotLowrance
1937 € HT
Pour qui : Pro angler / 7-10 m planing powerboat, scalable HDS ecosystem, transducers tailored to fishing technique
View HDS-9 ProLowrance
2243 € HT
Pour qui : Competition/professional angler, 8-12 m powerboat, maximum underwater structure precision + high-resolution lateral sonar imagery
View HDS Pro 10 + AIH2026 distributor prices excluding VAT, screen + transducer supplied (for Hook Reveal and HDS Pro 10" Active Imaging HD). The HDS-9 Pro is sold without a transducer — to be added according to use.
| Criteria | Hook Reveal 5 | Hook Reveal 7 | Hook Reveal 9 TripleShot | HDS-9 Pro | HDS Pro 10" + AIH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price ex-VAT (transducer included) | ~ $249 | ~ $319 | ~ $479 | ~ $1,391 (transducer not included) | ~ $2,325 |
| Screen size | 5 inches | 7 inches | 9 inches | 9 inches | 10 inches |
| Depth sounder supplied | CHIRP + DownScan HDI | CHIRP + DownScan HDI | CHIRP + DownScan + SideScan (3-in-1) | None | Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 |
| FishReveal (anti-thermocline) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (with compatible transducer) | Yes |
| Chartplotter included | C-MAP DISCOVER X | C-MAP DISCOVER X | C-MAP DISCOVER X | C-MAP DISCOVER X | C-MAP DISCOVER X |
| Multi-touch | No (buttons) | No (buttons) | No (buttons) | Yes | Yes |
| Compatible LiveSight (live sonar) | No | No | No | Yes (optional transducer) | Yes (optional transducer) |
| Target program | Freshwater / small boats | Standard coastal | Structured / barge | Pro / planing tender | Racing / fine fishing |
Our recommendation by fishing use, based on 100+ Lowrance installations from 2020-2026.
Freshwater fishing
The Hook Reveal 5 (249 € HT) is Lowrance’s entry-level model covering 80 % of freshwater and small coastal boat uses. 5" readable screen, FishReveal (Lowrance’s flagship function that visually separates fish from the seabed structure), GPS + mapping. No SideScan means no "side vision" — for fishing precise spots close to shore, choose the Hook Reveal 9 TripleShot directly.
Total budget screen + simple installation: ~ 350 € HT
View Hook Reveal 5Standard coastal
The Hook Reveal 7 (319 € HT) is the best-selling Lowrance coastal fishfinder in France. The 7" SolarMAX display is readable in full Bahamian sunlight, the CHIRP 50/200 + DownScan HDI transducer covers depths from 0 to 300 m, and FishReveal performs with anti-thermocline detection. If you fish regularly in both saltwater and freshwater, this is the right price-to-features-to-screen-size compromise.
Total budget screen + supplied transducer + GPS + charts + simple install: ~ 450 € HT
View Hook Reveal 7Structured boat
The Hook Reveal 9 TripleShot (479 € HT) adds the 3-in-1 transducer (CHIRP + DownScan + SideScan) which is a game-changer for structured fishing: SideScan provides a "side vision" up to 100 m on each side of the boat — ideal for spotting fish and structures nearby. The 9" display ensures comfortable reading even in rough seas. This is a major qualitative leap compared to the Hook Reveal 7.
Total budget screen + 3-in-1 transducer + GPS + chartplotter + install: ~ €650 ex. VAT
View Hook Reveal 9 TripleShotPro center console
The HDS-9 Pro without transducer (€1,391 excl. VAT) is Lowrance’s entry-level Pro series model — a multi-touch, scalable platform. Sold without a transducer to allow custom selection: Active Imaging HD (photo-quality sonar), LiveSight (live sonar), or Carbon Transducer for deep water. Depending on configuration, add €400 to €1,200 excl. VAT for a transducer. For a budget equivalent to the HDS Pro 10" + AIH bundle, buy the bundle directly (saving ~€200 excl. VAT vs. separate purchase).
Budget HDS-9 Pro + separate Active Imaging HD transducer: ~ €2,100 ex. VAT (vs €2,325 ex. VAT in HDS Pro 10" bundle)
View HDS-9 ProRacing
The HDS Pro 10" + Active Imaging HD (€2,325 ex-VAT bundle) is Lowrance’s top choice for fine structured fishing. The Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 transducer (CHIRP + DownScan HD + SideScan HD) delivers near-photographic clarity of the bottom and structures — you can distinguish a rock from a fish shoal at 100 m on either side. In competitions, this is what sponsored Lowrance anglers use. Pair it with LiveSight to track fish in real time once you’ve located the spot.
Complete budget bundle + optional LiveSight + fine installation: ~ €3,800 ex. VAT
View HDS Pro 10 + AIHThe 3 mistakes that come up when a customer chooses their Lowrance depth sounder without a workshop program audit.
Both the Hook Reveal 9 models (50/200 HDI at €541 and TripleShot at €479) have the same screen and the same housing. The difference is in the transducer: the 50/200 HDI offers CHIRP + DownScan (vertical view only). The TripleShot adds SideScan (lateral view up to 100 m). If you need to see structures around the boat, choose the TripleShot — and it is cheaper than the 50/200 HDI (€479 vs €541 ex-VAT) because sales volumes are higher. Always opt for the TripleShot.
The HDS-9 Pro at €1,391 ex-VAT appears cheaper than the HDS Pro 10" + AIH at €2,325 ex-VAT. But without a transducer supplied, you must add ~€800 ex-VAT (Active Imaging HD 3-in-1 transducer only). Total: €1,391 + €800 = €2,191 ex-VAT for a 9" display (1 inch smaller than the 10" bundle). The HDS Pro 10" + AIH bundle costs €134 ex-VAT more for a larger screen and 1 cm less per dimension. The bundle is almost always the best deal — unless you need a dedicated deep-water Carbon Transducer.
The HDS Pro 10" is compatible with a Lowrance Halo radar (same Navico family). But it is not the best choice: for a radar + chartplotter + autopilot integration, a B&G Zeus (sailing) or a Garmin GPSMAP is better. The HDS Pro is designed for fishing, not tactical navigation. If you want an integrated Halo radar on a sailboat, see our marine radar comparison + sailboat chartplotter comparison.
4 questions to identify the Lowrance fishfinder suited to your fishing program and boat.
FishReveal is Lowrance’s flagship algorithm that combines CHIRP images (conventional sonar) and DownScan into a single view. The result: the seafloor structure is displayed with photo-like clarity and fish targets are overlaid in color (size proportional to the echo). This allows you to visually distinguish a school of fish from a thermocline or a bed of algae — useful in coastal fishing where these elements can resemble fish on a basic fishfinder.
DownScan: vertical, photorealistic view of the seabed directly beneath the boat (equivalent to a camera filming the seabed). Present on all Hook Reveal models.
SideScan: lateral left and right view up to 100 m on each side. Allows scanning a wide area in a single pass. Present on Hook Reveal 9 TripleShot and HDS Pro with 3-in-1 transducer.
Active Imaging HD: the premium version of combined SideScan + DownScan, with 2× higher resolution (visible on structural details: branches of a submerged tree can be distinguished). Present on HDS Pro with Active Imaging HD transducer.
The Hook 4x and Hook 9ts (basic Hook series without Reveal) are older or entry-level models from Lowrance — practically replaced in 2026 by the Hook Reveal series (sharper screens, native FishReveal, built-in GPS+chartplotter). Skysat no longer stocks the older Hook models (4x, 9ts), only the current Hook Reveal series. If you encounter these references in online comparisons, they are pre-2024 data that no longer reflect the 2026 lineup.
Lowrance HDS Pro can be used on sailboats, but it is not our workshop recommendation for a sailboat. Why: the HDS Pro series is optimized for fishing (fine fishfinder, structures, Active Imaging) — its sailing functions (SailSteer, real-time layline, polars) are basic or even absent. For a cruising or racing sailboat, see our sailboat chartplotter comparison which compares the HDS Pro 12" with B&G Zeus (sailing-specific) and Garmin GPSMAP.
LiveSight is Lowrance’s "real-time" fishfinder — instead of displaying a history of returned echoes (one line per second scrolling by), it shows a live 2D view of the sonar cone like a radar. You can literally see fish moving in real time under the boat. A game-changer for structured fishing when you need to understand how fish react to bait. Compatible with HDS-9 Pro and HDS Pro 10" — the LiveSight transducer costs ~ €1,200 ex VAT extra.
Yes via the Lowrance/Navico network — the HDS Pro is compatible with the Outboard Pilot Mercury (Joystick / VesselView) for outboard-powered boats. For a sailboat with an autopilot on tiller or hydraulic steering, this is not the right ecosystem — prefer B&G NAC-3 or Garmin Reactor 40. Our cruising autopilot comparison tool details the sailboat options.
Skysat has distributed Lowrance since 2018. Comparator based on 100+ Lowrance installations 2020–2026 — freshwater, coastal, structured, and competition fishing. 2026 indicative distributor prices in France; screens include transducer for Hook Reveal and HDS Pro 10" Active Imaging HD. HDS-9 Pro sold without transducer; add as required by your program. Excludes installation and premium regional charts (Caribbean, Patagonia, etc.).
