Subsurface vs SCUBAzen
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Subsurface
This application allows divers to manage their dive logs on their mobile devices. It supports editing dive data and downloading new information from compatible dive computers. Optional cloud synchronization is available for seamless data transfer with desktop versions.
- Mobile dive log management
- Edit dive data
- Download from Bluetooth LE dive computers
- Optional cloud synchronization
- Open-source and free
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Subsurface-mobile is an iOS dive log application based on Subsurface, the best free open source dive log application available on Windows, Mac and Linux. Subsurface-mobile allows you to access your dive log on your tablet or phone, edit the data and even download new dive information from many Bluetooth LE enabled dive computers. Using a free Subsurface Cloud Storage account you can synchronize your dive data with the Subsurface desktop application (while significantly increasing the usefulness, the cloud account is not required to use Subsurface-mobile). To get support from the developers, please use the in-app menu entry "Ask for support" Please check out the Subsurface-mobile user manual: https://subsurface-divelog.org/documentation/subsurface-mobile-v3-user-manual (also available from within the app) Subsurface-mobile is free and open source. No ads, no commercial anything. And it comes with free cloud storage (if you decide to use that - it's optional). Your data aren't used for anything, nothing gets monetized.
SCUBAzen
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scubazen is a scuba dive log that also keeps your certifications and insurance, your gear and its servicing, your wetsuit and weight, and the paperwork a dive shop asks for. it's made for recreational divers who dive on trips and want a complete record without the admin. new in scubazen v2 scubazen is redesigned throughout, and everything in it is free except the travel agent. sign in with the same email and your logbook, gear and certifications are there as you left them. a dive log worth keeping log a day's dives in one sitting. scubazen carries over what stays the same from dive to dive, so you enter the site, the depth and the time. add photos to each dive and search the whole logbook. no signal on the boat? save anyway, and it syncs when you're back online. the right wetsuit and weight zenfinder is a wetsuit and dive weight calculator. it starts from your body, your kit and the water temperature, and the suit answer learns from your own logbook. log that you were cold in a 3 mm at 76°F, and it suggests 5 mm next time. plan the next trip the travel agent reads your certifications and your logbook, then helps you choose where to go next and what fits your diving. your first day with it is free. after that, a trip pass is $4.99 for 30 days of unlimited questions. it's the only paid part of scubazen, and it never renews on its own. ready when the shop asks keep your certification cards and dive insurance in one place, with card numbers and photos of each card. scubazen shows you when your insurance is close to expiring. paperwork, done before you land add a trip and scubazen checks what's ready for it: your gear, what you'll rent and in which sizes, your certifications and insurance. then it writes the shop's paperwork as one pdf you can send ahead. gear that's looked after keep every piece of kit with its service history. scubazen shows what's due, so the regulator gets serviced before the trip. bring your old logbook import the csv export from most dive apps and dive computer software. you check every dive before it's added. you can back up your logbook to csv files at any time. also - a packing checklist built from the kit you own - metric or imperial - a hand signals chart - seven languages: english, german, spanish, french, dutch, polish and russian terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ privacy policy: https://scubazenapp.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Subsurface at none against SCUBAzen's 1. Subsurface also leads on ads (none vs shown). SCUBAzen's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17). On price and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. SCUBAzen sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Subsurface asks for nothing beyond the download.
Subsurface ships an update every 2 months, SCUBAzen fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Subsurface | SCUBAzen |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (48 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 63.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 48 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 79 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dirk Hohndel | SCUBAzen, LLC |
In-app purchases
Subsurface
No in-app purchases
SCUBAzen
- travel agent · 30 days$4.99









