Comparison

Nitrox Buddy vs Virtual Backyard Ultra

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

Head to head
About

Nitrox Buddy

This application serves as a straightforward calculator for nitrox and enriched air divers. It quickly computes essential dive data such as Maximum Operating Depth (MOD), Equivalent Air Depth (EAD), Best Mix, and Partial Pressure of Oxygen (PPO2). It supports both imperial and metric units and offers a companion watch app for on-the-go calculations.

Highlights
  • Calculate MOD, EAD, Best Mix, PPO2
  • Imperial and metric unit support
  • Sea and fresh water options
  • Selectable max oxygen content
  • Selectable max partial pressure
  • Companion watch app
Features
Read full description

Nitrox Buddy is a no-frills calculator app for nitrox/enriched air divers - use it to quickly calculate the most important data for your dive: Maximum Operating Depth/MOD, Equivalent Air Depth/EAD, Best Mix and PPO2. The app works with imperial or metric measurements, sea or fresh water, and allows you to select the maximum oxygen content and partial pressure. A companion watch app puts lets you perform all these calculations on your wrist.

About

Virtual Backyard Ultra

Features
Read full description

Virtual Backyard Ultra turns the last-one-standing race format into something you can run solo, anywhere. The rules are simple. Every hour, on the hour, you run a "yard" — a set loop. Finish inside the hour and you earn a rest until the next one begins. Miss the cutoff and you're out. The last runner standing wins, so the only goal is one more yard. Virtual Backyard Ultra is your timekeeper and distance tracker for every yard: • Corral clock — a clear countdown to the top of the hour, with audio, haptic, and spoken cues at 3-2-1 and the starting bell. • GPS distance — track how far you cover each yard, with live distance-to-go and turnaround prompts on out-and-back courses. • Your format — set the yard distance, interval, and course type. The classic 4.167 mi per hour (24 yards = 100 miles) is one tap away. • Live Activity & Dynamic Island — keep the corral clock on your lock screen and in the Dynamic Island while you run. • Apple Watch — the corral clock on your wrist: the yard you're on, the countdown to the next bell, and your distance. It taps you at the bell, when you finish, and if you miss a corral. • Race resume — if the app goes down mid-race, from a crash or a force-quit, reopening it puts you straight back in with the clock where it should be. • History & personal best — every run is logged, with your longest streak front and center. • Export & share — save a finished run to Apple Health as a running workout, one segment per yard with your route, or export a .fit or .gpx file. Share a result card when you're done. • Screen-off friendly — distance keeps counting in your pocket, and the bell still rings. No account. No sign-up. Just you, the clock, and one more yard. Free to download.

Screenshots

Nitrox Buddy4 screens
Virtual Backyard Ultra4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Virtual Backyard Ultra at none against Nitrox Buddy's 1. Virtual Backyard Ultra also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 7 months) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Nitrox Buddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Virtual Backyard Ultra asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nitrox Buddy ships an update every 7 months, Virtual Backyard Ultra every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Nitrox Buddy versus Virtual Backyard Ultra: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNitrox BuddyVirtual Backyard Ultra
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (489 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews95.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings489 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGereon SteffensCow Cow Technologies LLC

Bugs and requests

Nitrox Buddy

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • iPad icon is ugly
  • MOD limit of 50% O2 despite 100% O2 setting (resolved)
  • MOD limit of 40% O2 (older version)
  • Does not work with older iOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add MOD 1.5 option
  • Allow MOD calculation up to 100% O2 and indicate max exposure duration
  • Change color for inappropriate mixes (e.g., 50% at 40m)
  • Support older iOS versions (5 & 6)

Virtual Backyard Ultra

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Nitrox Buddy

One-time1
  • Tip$0.99
None

Virtual Backyard Ultra

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nitrox Buddy free?
Nitrox Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Virtual Backyard Ultra free?
Virtual Backyard Ultra is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Nitrox Buddy or Virtual Backyard Ultra have ads?
Neither Nitrox Buddy nor Virtual Backyard Ultra shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nitrox Buddy or Virtual Backyard Ultra?
Nitrox Buddy ships an update every 7 months, and Virtual Backyard Ultra every 6 days. Most recently, Nitrox Buddy was updated on October 17, 2026 and Virtual Backyard Ultra on October 7, 2026.

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