# nitroxCalc vs Buddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: nitroxCalc at none against Buddy's 2. nitroxCalc also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.1). Buddy's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 18 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Buddy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. nitroxCalc asks for nothing beyond the download.

nitroxCalc ships an update every 18 months, Buddy monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | nitroxCalc | Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.3 (49 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buddy-social-dive-app/id1588860327/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **49** |
| Positive reviews | — | 76.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Size | 5 MB | 118 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [CAP-REL](https://appshunter.io/developer/1405536766) | [Dive with Buddy, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1588860329) |

## What reviewers say

### nitroxCalc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nitroxcalc/id1408060704)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/buddy-social-dive-app/id1588860327)

This app is a comprehensive companion for divers, offering features to log dives, manage gear, and connect with a community of ocean enthusiasts. It provides tools for both free and premium users to enhance their underwater adventures and discover new diving experiences.

**Highlights:** Dive Log recording and validation, Buddy network and activity feed, Gear management, Offline access to certifications, Buddy Radar for finding dive buddies, Discover feed for underwater content

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Buddy Radar: Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Buddy Radar: Annual | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 🌍 Connects divers globally
- 🗺️ Great for logging dives
- 📸 Ability to add photos/videos
- 🤝 Facilitates meeting new dive buddies

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buddy radar not working
- 📉 Low user count in some areas
- 💸 Social features feel like a money grab
- 🤷‍♂️ Missing advanced features
- 🔌 No import/export of data

**Reported bugs**

- Buddy radar not working
- App crashes and becomes unresponsive
- Login issues (email not found)
- Draft dives appearing in public searches
- Deleted drafts still appearing publicly

**Requested features**

- Open to dive status to link people
- Ability to import/export data
- Direct data download from dive computers
- Support for technical diving features (e.g., double tanks, trimix volumes)
- Inclusion of smaller certification organizations (GUE, UTD)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is nitroxCalc free?

nitroxCalc is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Buddy free?

Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do nitroxCalc or Buddy have ads?

Neither nitroxCalc nor Buddy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, nitroxCalc or Buddy?

nitroxCalc ships an update every 18 months, and Buddy monthly. Most recently, nitroxCalc was updated on October 26, 2026 and Buddy on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*