# PADI vs APCOA Convention

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: APCOA Convention at 12.0 against PADI's 14.0. On price, update cadence, 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.

PADI ships an update fortnightly, APCOA Convention every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PADI | APCOA Convention |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (46K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/padi/id1490797188/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **46K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 54.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 4 weeks |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 200 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PADI Americas, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/416901045) | [vFairs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1349888986) |

## What reviewers say

### PADI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/padi/id1490797188)

This app provides comprehensive scuba diving resources, allowing users to learn, log dives offline, verify certifications, and discover new adventures. Stay connected with the diving community and book your next underwater experience.

**Highlights:** Online and offline learning, Offline dive logging, Certification verification, Inspiration from divers and pros, Book diving adventures

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Convenient to have all dive info in one spot
- 🚀 Great for learning and revisiting hand signals
- 👍 Helpful for organizing PADI certifications
- 👍 Fantastic time for Discover Scuba Diving
- 👍 User friendly app for eStudy course

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buttons don't work, inconsistent functionality
- 🐛 Logbook doesn't work, can't log dives
- 🐛 eCards get deleted, can't access offline
- 💰 Expensive eCards, should be included
- 🐛 Dive log data gets lost or doesn't sync

**Reported bugs**

- Account setup failed
- eCards don't download or display properly
- Dive log data disappears or doesn't save
- Inconsistent display of certifications
- Dive site search doesn't work

**Requested features**

- Allow mixing of metric and imperial units
- Customize order of certifications on home page
- Integrate with dive computers and upload profiles
- Add custom checklists, equipment tracking
- Integrate with Apple Wallet for eCards


### APCOA Convention

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apcoa-convention/id6753959886)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PADI free?

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

### Is APCOA Convention free?

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

### Do PADI or APCOA Convention have ads?

Neither PADI nor APCOA Convention shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PADI or APCOA Convention?

PADI ships an update fortnightly, and APCOA Convention every 4 weeks. Most recently, PADI was updated on October 28, 2026 and APCOA Convention on October 8, 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.*