Comparison

Nitrox Tools vs The Sidewinder Checklist

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Nitrox Tools

This app provides essential tools for divers to plan and blend enriched air nitrox. It calculates dive parameters like equivalent air depth and maximum operating depth, and supports various blending methods for custom gas mixes. Easily switch between metric and imperial units and save custom settings for frequent use.

Highlights
  • Enriched air nitrox blending
  • Dive planning calculations
  • Equivalent Air Depth (EAD)
  • Partial Pressure of Oxygen (PPO2)
  • Maximum Operating Depth (MOD)
  • Save custom mixes and settings
  • Metric/Imperial unit switching
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Enriched Air Nitrox blending and planning tools in your hand and available at a touch. You can use these tools at your air station to provide the information you need to fill a Nitrox tank from any existing mix (or empty). Dive Planning tools provide your Equivalent Air Depth, PPO2 at your planned depth, Maximum & Contingency Operating Depth at various oxygen partial pressures and the "best mix" for a planned depth and oxygen partial pressure. You can easily switch between Metric and Imperial/U.S. systems of measurement to adapt to a new fill station. The dive planning tools also support both salt and fresh water calculations. Chances are you regularly work with a specific set of mixes and and common dive situations. Nitrox Tools includes the convenience of saved settings that you can recall at a touch and adjust to a new situation as needed. You can also select mix values using pre-installed default mixes or your own saved custom mixes. When updating one of the mixes for a tool you are offered a list of saved mixes that you can use directly or adjust as needed. You can save the currently displayed mix by clicking the "+" button. Just like with the saved calculations, you can re-arrange or delete any mixes in your saved list. Do you need to share your planning or blending calculations with other divers? All the tools have the ability to share the results of the calculations from within the application. You can set default email addresses and a subject within Nitrox Tool's settings that will be automatically added when you share a result. Nitrox Tools supports a number of blending methods: • Top Up - blend a final mix from starting mix and pressure using 100% oxygen and air or any available topping mix. • Bleed Down - save expensive oxygen and valuable time by easily calculating how much gas to bleed from an existing cylinder to switch to a different mix using air or any available topping mix. • Mix + Mix - make a specific final mix using the remaining gas in the cylinder and mixing that with banked Nitrox (rather than pure oxygen) and air or another topping mix. This enables the blending of Nitrox without the use of pure oxygen for certain combinations of mixes. Avoiding pure oxygen may increase the safety of the blending process and help manage the cost. • Top Off - determine the expected result from topping an existing cylinder with air or some other topping mix. This situation is common when a diver wants to have the blender top the mix remaining from the first dive with air from the boat's compressor. Remember you must always personally analyze your mix before diving it. This application is not a substitute for proper training and should not be used as a substitute for proper dive planning or the primary Nitrox blending and planning methods taught during training. Please do not attempt to handle high pressure oxygen or fill SCUBA cylinders without proper training.

About

The Sidewinder Checklist

This app digitizes rebreather diving preparation with user-friendly checklists and countdown timers. It helps manage gear, track build history, and reduce paper waste for a more efficient and eco-friendly diving experience.

Highlights
  • Dedicated rebreather assembly checklists
  • Countdown timers for pre-breathes
  • Comprehensive task management for dive prep
  • Digital gear list with local data saving
  • Build history with mV values
  • Timely preparation notifications
Features
Read full description

The Sidewinder Checklist: Dive Simplified Welcome to The Sidewinder Checklist app – your ultimate digital companion for rebreather diving! Say goodbye to paper waste and embrace the digital revolution with our user-friendly app, specifically designed for iPhone and iPad. This innovative application is crafted to streamline your diving experience, making rebreather assembly and dive planning more efficient, environmentally friendly, and enjoyable. Key Features: Dedicated Checklists: Our app follows the manual lists to provide dedicated checklists for rebreather assembly. Ensure you never miss a step with intuitive and comprehensive guidance. Countdown Timers: Set precise countdown timers for Positive, Negative, and Pre-breathes, ensuring your rebreather preparation is timely and accurate. Comprehensive Task Management: Manage your build prep with ease. Our checklist helps you track every detail of your dive preparation. Save the Planet: Move away from throwaway paper checklists for every dive. Our digital solution not only streamlines your preparation but also contributes to reducing paper waste, helping you dive sustainably. Gear List with Locally Saved Data: Keep a detailed gear list and save your data locally on your device. Access your equipment checklist anytime, ensuring you’re always prepared for your dive. Notifications: Stay on top of your dive planning with timely notifications. Our app reminds you of crucial preparation steps and countdowns, so you’re always ready to dive without delay. Build History with Locally Saved Data: Stay on top of your cell health with cell accuracy charts. Along with build history that includes all the mV values stored from your build. Your Dive, Our Priority: The Sidewinder Checklist app is more than just a checklist; it's a comprehensive tool designed to enhance your diving experience. Whether you’re a seasoned rebreather diver or just starting, our app ensures your preparation is thorough, efficient, and environmentally conscious. Download Now: Ready to transform your diving routine? Download The Sidewinder Checklist app today and take the first step towards a more organized, efficient, and eco-friendly diving experience!

Screenshots

Nitrox Tools4 screens
The Sidewinder Checklist4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nitrox Tools at none against The Sidewinder Checklist's 4. Nitrox Tools also leads on chart position (#138 vs unranked) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). The Sidewinder Checklist's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months) and price ($4.99 vs $5.99). On rating, ads and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Nitrox Tools costs $5.99 and The Sidewinder Checklist $4.99 up front. The Sidewinder Checklist sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Nitrox Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Nitrox Tools against 5.0 for The Sidewinder Checklist. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nitrox Tools ships an update every 5 months, The Sidewinder Checklist every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Nitrox Tools versus The Sidewinder Checklist: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNitrox ToolsThe Sidewinder Checklist
Price$5.99$4.99 — better
Rating5.0 (4 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews88.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings4 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#138 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGreg MclaughlinAndrew Austin

Customer experience

Nitrox Tools

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive88.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.5%

The Sidewinder Checklist

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Nitrox Tools

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

The Sidewinder Checklist

One-time4
  • Tiny Tip$0.99
  • Small Tip$1.99
  • Medium Tip$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Large Tip$9.99

Questions

Is Nitrox Tools free?
Nitrox Tools costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Sidewinder Checklist free?
The Sidewinder Checklist costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Nitrox Tools or The Sidewinder Checklist?
Nitrox Tools and The Sidewinder Checklist are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Nitrox Tools or The Sidewinder Checklist have ads?
Neither Nitrox Tools nor The Sidewinder Checklist shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nitrox Tools or The Sidewinder Checklist?
Nitrox Tools ships an update every 5 months, and The Sidewinder Checklist every 6 weeks. Most recently, Nitrox Tools was updated on October 17, 2026 and The Sidewinder Checklist on October 13, 2026.

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