CharterXO
Best for a first-time captained yacht charter in Miami
CharterXO is built for exactly this flow: chat with the captain before you book, see the boat's past trips, split the fee with friends in-app, and skip paperwork.
ComparisonBoatsetter website
CharterXO vs Boatsetter: Which Marketplace Is Right for Your Charter?
CharterXO and Boatsetter are both online yacht charter marketplaces, but they are built for different use cases. Boatsetter launched in 2014 and has the largest peer-to-peer boat rental inventory in the United States, with a long tail of casual day-boat listings. CharterXO is a newer, AI-powered marketplace focused on verified premium and captained charters, direct chat with owners and captains, split payments, and zero-paperwork booking in Miami and the top 50 US boating markets. Both verify insurance on captained trips; each platform discloses its own pricing and any fees it applies before you book.
At a glance
CharterXO
AI-powered marketplace. Chat directly with verified owners, split payments, zero paperwork. Based in Miami, expanding across the top 50 US boating markets.
Boatsetter
2014
Feature by feature
| Feature | CharterXO | Boatsetter |
|---|---|---|
| Year founded | 2025 | 2014 |
| Inventory depth | Curated premium + captained yachts in Miami and top 50 US boating markets | Large peer-to-peer inventory across the US and parts of the Caribbean |
| Booking flow | AI concierge + direct chat with owner/captain, split payments, zero paperwork | Listing-style search, chat with owner, booking confirmation via platform |
| Pricing transparency Each platform discloses its pricing and any fees before checkout; read each listing carefully. | All fees surfaced up front; no hidden broker markups | Service fee calculated at checkout; fuel and cleaning often handled by owner |
| Split payments | Native split-payment support (even or custom splits) | Single-payer checkout; splitting happens off-platform |
| Verification | Owner + captain license + insurance verified before listing goes live | Captain verification required for captained rentals; owner verification varies |
| Insurance | Requires valid commercial policy with CharterXO listed; $1M minimum liability | Offers Geico/BoatUS partnership coverage on qualifying trips |
| Primary market | Miami + South Florida, expanding nationally | Broad US coverage, strongest in FL, CA, NE corridors |
When to use which
Boatsetter
Best for a casual half-day pontoon or center-console rental
Boatsetter's larger peer-to-peer inventory usually wins on casual day-boat rentals outside the major metros, especially where CharterXO has not yet launched.
Tie
Best for a multi-day Bahamas or Keys trip with a licensed captain
CharterXO verifies captain licenses up front and supports multi-day booking with milestone payments. Boatsetter also supports captained multi-day, so both can work; CharterXO's direct-chat-first flow is faster for itinerary planning.
CharterXO
Best for a group booking where the bill is split 5+ ways
Split payments are native on CharterXO. On Boatsetter the lead charterer pays and collects from guests off-platform.
Common questions
Not automatically. The bigger drivers of final price are boat size, captain, fuel, and location. CharterXO focuses on surfacing the full price up front (fuel, captain, and any applicable platform charges all visible before checkout) so there are fewer surprises at booking.
No. Boatsetter has the larger peer-to-peer inventory — they have been operating since 2014 and cover more casual day-boat rentals across the US. CharterXO is smaller and more curated, focused on verified premium and captained yachts in Miami and the top US boating markets.
Both require insurance on captained charters and both verify captain licenses. CharterXO additionally requires commercial insurance with CharterXO listed as an additional insured, and verifies owner documentation before a listing goes live.
Neither charges an up-front fee to list. CharterXO does not take a commission on completed charters — owners keep their charter revenue. Platform terms on each marketplace (subscription, processing, and similar) are disclosed in each platform's owner dashboard — check current terms before you list.
Cancellation terms depend on the listing. Both platforms let owners set their own cancellation policies (flexible, moderate, strict). Read the listing before booking.
Yes — CharterXO is expanding to the top 50 US boating markets. Miami and South Florida have the densest inventory today; New York, Boston, San Diego, Newport, Lake Tahoe and other hubs are going live through 2026.
It depends on your goals. Boatsetter's scale means more bookings per listing in markets where they have been established for years. CharterXO pays owners faster (next-business-day after trip completion) and provides an AI-driven listing assistant and captain-matching tool that owners report saves hours per week.
For charterers
If you want the biggest inventory of casual day-boat rentals across the US, Boatsetter is still the default. If you are booking a captained yacht charter in Miami or another CharterXO market and you care about direct chat with the captain, split payments, and a paperwork-free flow, CharterXO is the faster, more transparent experience.
For boat owners
Boatsetter wins on reach in mature markets where they have been established the longest. CharterXO pays faster, provides AI-powered listing and captain tools, and is actively acquiring listings in the top 50 US boating markets — which usually means more visibility per listing during the launch phase of each new market.
Ready to see the difference?
Book a verified charter in minutes, or list your boat and start earning with CharterXO.