Comparison

Dive Plan vs Buddy

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

Head to head
About

Dive Plan

This app serves as a digital decompression table and logbook for divers. It helps calculate non-stop dive times and log dives, compatible with major diving organizations' tables. It supports both air and enriched air (nitrox) tanks.

Highlights
  • Digital decompression tables
  • Dive logbook
  • Compatibility with major diving organizations
  • Supports air and nitrox tanks
  • Practice for dive certification exams
  • General dive planning guide
Features
Read full description

Dive Plan is a dive planning and logbook app for recreational scuba divers. Plan single and repetitive no-decompression dives, work out Nitrox mixes, keep a complete logbook, and check the weather and water temperature at your dive site — all from your iPhone or iPad. PLAN YOUR DIVES • Plan first dives and repetitive dive chains using standard recreational no-decompression tables — pressure groups, no-decompression limits, and surface intervals • Repetitive dives carry each dive's pressure group into the next, with the surface interval pre-filled from real elapsed time • Clear safety-stop guidance (required or recommended) for every dive • The planner won't produce a dive that exceeds no-decompression limits — it tells you instead • Metric or imperial, switchable anytime NITROX / ENRICHED AIR • Set your oxygen fraction (FO2) and partial pressure limit (PPO2) • See maximum operating depth (MOD) and equivalent air depth (EAD) for each dive DIVE LOGBOOK • Record depth, bottom time, date and time, location, tank pressures, air/surface/bottom temperature, gas mix, and notes • Automatic, continuous dive numbering • Review your history on the dashboard: total dives, total bottom time, deepest and longest dives, plus today's dives and your last ten AT-A-GLANCE DASHBOARD • No-Fly countdown based on the DAN Flying After Diving guidelines — 12 hours after a single dive, 18 hours after multiple dives or consecutive days • Readiness: whether your next dive plans as a fresh first dive or a repetitive one, with a live surface-interval timer since your last logged dive • Current weather and sea-surface temperature for your location WEATHER & WATER CONDITIONS • Local forecast — current conditions, highs and lows, wind, and precipitation, powered by Apple Weather • Map view with search and dropped pins to check conditions anywhere • Sea-surface temperature from NOAA satellite data CERTIFICATIONS & CHECKLISTS • Keep your certification cards, with front and back photos, on your device • Build pre-dive and gear checklists and run them before every dive PRIVATE BY DESIGN • Your dives, logs, and photos stay on your device and in your own iCloud • No third-party analytics, no advertising, no tracking DESIGNED FOR IPHONE & IPAD • Universal app, all orientations • Light, dark, and system appearance, with optional background themes DIVE PLAN BASIC & PRO Dive Plan is free to use: one dive plan per day, a 20-entry logbook, one certification card, one checklist, and full weather access — free, forever. Upgrade to Pro for: • Unlimited dive planning • Repetitive dive planning with surface intervals • Nitrox / Enriched Air planning • Unlimited logbook entries, certification cards, and checklists • Premium background themes Pro is available as a monthly or annual subscription, or a one-time Lifetime purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the period; manage or cancel anytime in your Apple Account settings. Payment is charged to your Apple Account on confirmation. IMPORTANT Dive Plan is a planning aid, not a substitute for proper training, a certified instructor, or a dive computer. Always dive within the limits of your training and certification, verify every plan against your own dive tables and dive computer, and never rely on a single tool. Calculated results are estimates. You are responsible for your own safety in the water. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Buddy

This app is a comprehensive companion for divers, offering features to log dives, manage gear, and connect with a community of ocean enthusiasts. It provides tools for both free and premium users to enhance their underwater adventures and discover new diving experiences.

Highlights
  • Dive Log recording and validation
  • Buddy network and activity feed
  • Gear management
  • Offline access to certifications
  • Buddy Radar for finding dive buddies
  • Discover feed for underwater content
Features
Read full description

Dive into adventure with Buddy, the ultimate companion for divers of all levels! Buddy makes diving accessible, exciting, and safe with both free and premium features that transform your underwater experiences. FREE FEATURES Dive Log: Record dives, validate them with instructors, add buddies, businesses, and share your adventure! Buddy Discover Activity: Build a network of divers, by viewing their dive log activity in the homepage diver feed of content. Gear Management: Add your gear to your profile and link it to dive logs. Offline Mode: Access certifications and log basic dive details, even offline. Discover Feed: Explore a live feed of Buddy activity and inspiring underwater content. PREMIUM FEATURES Buddy Radar: Meet dive buddies near you or at trip destinations for only $2.99/month or $29.99/year. Color-Correction Filters (Coming Soon): Enhance your underwater photos with professional-quality filters. COMING IN 2025 Dive Computer Integration (Coming Soon): Sync your dives directly to your Buddy profile. Book activities with verified dive shops worldwide through Buddy. Join the Buddy community and take your diving adventures to the next level!

Screenshots

Dive Plan4 screens
Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Buddy at 4.3 against Dive Plan's 1.8. Buddy also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 37%) and monetization model (freemium vs paid). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Dive Plan sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Buddy sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Buddy holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Buddy has 49 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of Dive Plan's written reviews are positive against 77% of Buddy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Dive Plan versus Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDive PlanBuddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.8 (8 ratings)4.3 (49 ratings) — better
Positive reviews36.7% of reviews76.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings849 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB118 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperAXIS ProductionsDive with Buddy, Inc.

Customer experience

Dive Plan

All ratings8 ratings
Positive12.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive36.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative63.3%

Buddy

All ratings49 ratings
Positive75.5%
Neutral10.2%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews39 reviews
Positive76.9%
Neutral7.7%
Negative15.4%

Bugs and requests

Dive Plan

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Buddy

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Buddy radar not working
  • App crashes and becomes unresponsive
  • Login issues (email not found)
  • Draft dives appearing in public searches
  • Deleted drafts still appearing publicly
Show 2 more
  • Verification issues for certifications
  • App freezes and spins when adding info

Requested features

7 requests
  • Open to dive status to link people
  • Ability to import/export data
  • Direct data download from dive computers
  • Support for technical diving features (e.g., double tanks, trimix volumes)
  • Inclusion of smaller certification organizations (GUE, UTD)
Show 2 more
  • Booking features
  • More ways to connect with other divers

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Dive Plan

Subscriptions2
  • Dive Plan Pro - Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Dive Plan Pro - Annual$17.991 Year
One-time2
  • Nitrox EANX Mode$2.99
  • Dive Plan Pro Lifetime$69.99
2 purchases

Buddy

Subscriptions2
  • Buddy Radar: Monthly1 Month trial$3.991 Month
  • Buddy Radar: Annual1 Month trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Dive Plan free?
Dive Plan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Buddy free?
Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Dive Plan or Buddy?
Buddy is rated higher. Dive Plan averages 1.8 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Buddy averages 4.3 from 49 ratings.
Do Dive Plan or Buddy have ads?
Neither Dive Plan nor Buddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dive Plan or Buddy?
Dive Plan ships an update monthly, and Buddy monthly. Most recently, Dive Plan was updated on October 23, 2026 and Buddy on October 24, 2026.

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