Navigation: Useful water level apps for planning a cruise during low water
David Ingelfinger
· 16.07.2026
Water is in short supply in many places this summer. Recreational boating on inland waterways is also increasingly affected by low water levels. Three specialist water-level apps help skippers keep track of current water levels and forecasts so they can plan their trips safely.
The ongoing drought is causing water levels to fall in many German inland waterways, making navigation on rivers and canals more difficult. Here are three water-level apps for German and international inland waterways.
My levels
‘Meine Pegel’ is the official water level and flood app from the flood centres and provides access to around 3,000 gauging stations in Germany. Users can set their own thresholds and receive push notifications if a gauging station’s level rises above or falls below a certain point. The app not only provides current readings but also water level forecasts for around 400 gauges, which can be very useful for medium-term planning of river trips. The app is free of charge and ad-free, as it is a government service. The high reliability of the data is praised, whilst the design is rather functional and understated compared to commercial apps.
RiverApp
The RiverApp provides water level data from around 40,000 monitoring stations worldwide. The German network of federal waterways – from the Rhine to the Elbe – is also fully covered. The app visualises current water levels, trends and water temperatures. By integrating official data sources, skippers can monitor specific sections of rivers and track changes in water levels over several days.
The pricing structure is divided into different models. Whilst the basic data is available on an ad-supported basis, the premium versions unlock push notifications and an ad-free map view. The ad-supported basic version is free of charge. The premium upgrade costs €1 per month, €7 per year or a one-off payment of €29.99 for permanent use.
Level Alarm
The ‘PegelAlarm’ app has access to around 30,000 international monitoring stations in German-speaking countries, across much of Europe and in the USA. Rather than having to switch between the websites of various national authorities, the app brings together the different data sources in one place.
As well as providing regular updates on water levels, the app features a rain radar for monitoring the weather. Skippers can set individual alert thresholds for each monitoring station. If the water level rises above or falls below the specified threshold, the smartphone will sound an alarm – either via a sound, vibration or LED flash. In the Pro version, the app also provides specific water level forecasts for selected stations, historical maximum values and the option to receive alerts directly via text message in the event of poor network coverage.
You can find more apps here:
David Ingelfinger
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