Comparison

Dive Log vs MacDive

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

Head to head
About

Dive Log

Log your SCUBA dives with detailed information, including GPS coordinates and dive buddy details. Supports metric and imperial units, and integrates with desktop software for comprehensive dive history management.

Highlights
  • SCUBA diving logbook
  • GPS coordinate capture
  • Dive buddy integration
  • Dive data and statistics
  • Metric and Imperial units
  • Dive computer data import
  • Bluetooth LE transfer
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Dive Log is designed to work either as your primary SCUBA diving logbook application or in conjunction with compatible 3rd party desktop logbook applications. You can use Dive Log at the dive site or on the dive boat to capture the information about the site while it is fresh in your mind (or your dive guide's mind). You can even capture the GPS coordinates of the dive site using the built in location services of your iOS device. Details about your actual dive can be added immediately after your dive or at the après dive event and later be saved to your desktop computer. The dive buddy feature is fully integrated with Contacts on your iPhone or iPad, letting you capture information about your newest dive buddy or quickly add an existing buddy to a particular dive. The dive data and statistics features let you have an immediate answer the next time your dive guide asks how much weight you used on your last dive or have all the information you need about your dive history when you fill out that next dive waiver. Metric and Imperial values are supported for all appropriate logbook fields. You can easily enter values using the appropriate units for the situation and view them in your preferred measurement system. You can even explore detailed dive profiles from popular dive computers that you download with your desktop software and later upload to Dive Log on iPhone/iPad. Dive profile data can also be transferred directly from certain dive computers directly via Bluetooth or using a supported Bluetooth accessory and an associated in-app purchase. On Windows, Diving Log 6.0 (www.divinglog.de) is fully integrated with Dive Log on iPhone/iPad and has built in synchronization. Diving Log 6.0 has extensive support for importing data from dive computers and other dive log applications. On Mac OS X, logbook information can be imported to Dive Log on iPhone/iPad from a number of compatible applications using the free Dive Log Manager application available from More Mobile Software (www.moremobilesoftware.com/divelog-sync). DiveLogDT (available on the Mac App Store) can be used to directly import a number of dive computers and file formats and can synchronize with Dive Log on iOS. Dive data can be directly downloaded on a Bluetooth LE (Bluetooth 4.0/5.0) compatible iPhone, iPad or iPod touch from Bluetooth LE capable dive computers such as the Suunto EON Steel, Suunto EON Core, Suunto D5, Scubapro Galileo 2 (G2), Aladin Sport (Matrix), Aladin H (Matrix), G2 HUD, Aladin A1, Shearwater Teric, Peregrine, Petrel 2, Petrel 3, Perdix, Perdix AI, Perdix 2, NERD 2, Oceanic VTX, Pro Plus 4, Geo 4.0, VEO 4.0, Aeris A300CS, Aqualung i300C, i330R, i550C, i750TC, i770R, Apeks DSX, Sherwood Wisdom 4, Mares Genius and certain heinrichs weikamp OSTC computers as well as the DiveNav Inc. bluebuddy and Tech Buddy dive logger accessories. Supported Bluetooth LE accessories are available separately. Mares Bluelink Pro is a Bluetooth LE accessory by Mares and available for purchase separately (www.mares.com). The Bluelink Pro allows you transfer dive data from certain Mares dive computers (Puck Pro, Smart, Smart Air, Quad and Quad Air) directly to Dive Log on your Bluetooth LE compatible iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Dive Computer Buddy (aka DCbuddy) is a Bluetooth LE accessory by DiveNav Inc. (note that the DCbuddy itself is no longer available). The DCbuddy allows you transfer dive data from certain dive computers (including models from Suunto, Oceanic, Aqualung, Aeris, Sherwood, Tusa and Mares) directly to Dive Log on your Bluetooth LE compatible iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

About

MacDive

Log and manage your scuba dives with detailed profiles and images. Track dive sites automatically via GPS and sync data across devices. Supports direct downloads from compatible dive computers and helps manage your gear.

Highlights
  • Detailed dive log profiles
  • GPS dive site tracking
  • Smart Bluetooth device downloads
  • Gear management and service reminders
  • Critter cataloging
  • iCloud/Dropbox data sync
Features
Read full description

View and log your dives on the go. Detailed profiles, images, Smart Bluetooth downloads and more. We've brought the best features of MacDive for macOS to your pocket. MacDive for iPhone can be used as a fully featured standalone dive log, and it also works great in conjunction with MacDive for macOS. • Browse and manage your dive logs on the go. • Use iCloud or Dropbox to keep your data in sync between your iPhone and MacDive for macOS. • Automatic dive site tracking via GPS. Put your iPhone in your dry bag and worry about the details when you're back on land! • Native downloads from supported Smart Bluetooth devices. • Catalogue and identify the critters you've seen, or the ones you want to find. • Manage your gear and let MacDive remind you when a service is due. MacDive supports downloading dives directly from various Smart Bluetooth devices, like the Shearwater Perdix AI and Teric, Suunto D5 and EON Steel, Scubapro G2, Mares Genius and Bluelink, Heinrichs Weikamp OSTC and the Dive Nav DC Buddy (sold separately). See our website for a full list of devices. Please note that continued use of Location Tracking/GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

Screenshots

Dive Log4 screens
MacDive4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: MacDive at none against Dive Log's 13. MacDive also leads on price ($9.99 vs $14.99) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.0). Dive Log's advantage is chart position (#131 vs unranked) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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

Dive Log costs $14.99 and MacDive $9.99 up front. Dive Log sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. MacDive asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Dive Log against 4.7 for MacDive. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 106 and 59 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of Dive Log's written reviews are positive against 80% of MacDive's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dive Log ships an update monthly, MacDive every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Dive Log versus MacDive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDive LogMacDive
Price$14.99$9.99 — better
Rating4.7 (106 ratings)4.7 (59 ratings)
Positive reviews83.7% of reviews — better80.4% of reviews
Number of ratings106 — better59
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#131 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGreg MclaughlinMint Software Ltd

Customer experience

Dive Log

All ratings106 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.8%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews301 reviews
Positive83.7%
Neutral6.6%
Negative9.6%

MacDive

All ratings59 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral3.4%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews51 reviews
Positive80.4%
Neutral7.8%
Negative11.8%

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Dive Log

One-time11
  • Suunto Bluetooth Download$2.99
  • Mares Bluetooth Download$2.99
  • Crest Bluetooth Download$2.99
Show 8 more
  • Shearwater Download$2.99
  • bluebuddy Download$2.99
  • SCUBAPRO Download$2.99
  • Pelagic Bluetooth Download$2.99
  • Cressi Bluetooth Download$2.99
  • Ratio Bluetooth Download$2.99
  • Halcyon Bluetooth Download$2.99
  • DCbuddy Support$4.99
None

MacDive

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dive Log free?
Dive Log costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is MacDive free?
MacDive costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Dive Log or MacDive?
Dive Log and MacDive are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 106 and 59 ratings respectively.
Do Dive Log or MacDive have ads?
Neither Dive Log nor MacDive shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dive Log or MacDive?
Dive Log ships an update monthly, and MacDive every 2 months. Most recently, Dive Log was updated on September 23, 2026 and MacDive on September 24, 2026.

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