# DC DMV vs CHOW Ocean

The clearest difference is update cadence: CHOW Ocean at every 9 days against DC DMV's every 3 months. CHOW Ocean also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6). DC DMV's advantage is ratings volume (5.2K vs 2) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

CHOW Ocean holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DC DMV has 5.2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

DC DMV ships an update every 3 months, CHOW Ocean every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DC DMV | CHOW Ocean |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dc-dmv/id1434562315/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chow-ocean/id1620134734/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5.2K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 35.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 239 MB | 141 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Government of the District of Columbia](https://appshunter.io/developer/966327558) | [Precon Events, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1575963816) |

## What reviewers say

### DC DMV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dc-dmv/id1434562315)

Access essential District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles services online. Manage tickets, driver records, vehicle registration, and ID cards. Find locations, update information, and prepare for tests.

**Highlights:** Pay tickets online, Get certified driver records, Order personalized license plates, Add digital registration to Apple Wallet, Renew/replace vehicle and ID services, Find DMV locations and hours, Access driver manual and practice exams

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick and efficient
- 👍 User-friendly
- 💡 Convenient digital features
- 🙌 Improved service

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Technical issues and bugs
- ⚠️ Unreliable functionality
- 💳 Payment problems
- 🤔 Limited feature set

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and errors
- Digital registration card not working
- Payment processing failures
- Compatibility issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to add new driver's license
- Fix digital registration card issues
- Improve payment processing


### CHOW Ocean

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chow-ocean/id1620134734)

Explore America's maritime history and the importance of ocean stewardship. This app celebrates coastal communities and their role in innovation and environmental preservation. It highlights the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation's efforts to secure waters for future generations.

**Highlights:** Maritime history exploration, Ocean stewardship focus, Coastal community highlights, Environmental preservation, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Future generation initiatives

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DC DMV free?

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

### Is CHOW Ocean free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DC DMV or CHOW Ocean?

CHOW Ocean is rated higher. DC DMV averages 4.6 out of 5 from 5.2K ratings, while CHOW Ocean averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do DC DMV or CHOW Ocean have ads?

Neither DC DMV nor CHOW Ocean shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DC DMV or CHOW Ocean?

DC DMV ships an update every 3 months, and CHOW Ocean every 9 days. Most recently, DC DMV was updated on October 24, 2026 and CHOW Ocean on October 7, 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.*