Comparison

Dive Log vs Subsurface

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

Subsurface

This application allows divers to manage their dive logs on their mobile devices. It supports editing dive data and downloading new information from compatible dive computers. Optional cloud synchronization is available for seamless data transfer with desktop versions.

Highlights
  • Mobile dive log management
  • Edit dive data
  • Download from Bluetooth LE dive computers
  • Optional cloud synchronization
  • Open-source and free
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Subsurface-mobile is an iOS dive log application based on Subsurface, the best free open source dive log application available on Windows, Mac and Linux. Subsurface-mobile allows you to access your dive log on your tablet or phone, edit the data and even download new dive information from many Bluetooth LE enabled dive computers. Using a free Subsurface Cloud Storage account you can synchronize your dive data with the Subsurface desktop application (while significantly increasing the usefulness, the cloud account is not required to use Subsurface-mobile). To get support from the developers, please use the in-app menu entry "Ask for support" Please check out the Subsurface-mobile user manual: https://subsurface-divelog.org/documentation/subsurface-mobile-v3-user-manual (also available from within the app) Subsurface-mobile is free and open source. No ads, no commercial anything. And it comes with free cloud storage (if you decide to use that - it's optional). Your data aren't used for anything, nothing gets monetized.

Screenshots

Dive Log4 screens
Subsurface4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Subsurface at Free against Dive Log's $14.99. Subsurface also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 13). Dive Log's advantage is review sentiment (84% vs 63%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On ratings volume, ads and device support 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

Subsurface is free to download; Dive Log costs $14.99 up front. Dive Log sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Subsurface asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dive Log holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 106 and 48 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Dive Log's written reviews are positive against 63% of Subsurface's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dive Log ships an update monthly, Subsurface every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Dive Log versus Subsurface: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDive LogSubsurface
Price$14.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (106 ratings) — better4.5 (48 ratings)
Positive reviews83.7% of reviews — better63.3% of reviews
Number of ratings106 — better48
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#131 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGreg MclaughlinDirk Hohndel

Customer experience

Dive Log

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

Subsurface

All ratings48 ratings
Positive89.6%
Neutral2.1%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive63.3%
Neutral6.7%
Negative30.0%

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

Subsurface

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dive Log free?
Dive Log costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Subsurface free?
Subsurface is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Dive Log or Subsurface?
Dive Log is rated higher. Dive Log averages 4.7 out of 5 from 106 ratings, while Subsurface averages 4.5 from 48 ratings.
Do Dive Log or Subsurface have ads?
Neither Dive Log nor Subsurface shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dive Log or Subsurface?
Dive Log ships an update monthly, and Subsurface every 2 months. Most recently, Dive Log was updated on September 23, 2026 and Subsurface on September 18, 2026.

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