Comparison

Nitrox Buddy vs DecoPlan

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

DecoPlan

Features
Read full description

DecoPlan is a universal dive planner for open-circuit and rebreather (CCR) divers, built around two published decompression models: VPM-B with the critical-volume algorithm and Bühlmann ZHL-16C with gradient factors. NO-DECO PLANNER • No-decompression limits for air and nitrox, safety stop, gas needed • Repetitive dives with surface intervals, altitude and fresh water • NDL table for every mix at a glance TECHNICAL PLANNER • Multi-level profiles, any number of gases (nitrox, trimix, oxygen) • Automatic deco-gas switches by ppO₂, last stop at 3 or 6 m, air breaks on O₂ • Runtime table with ppO₂, END, ceiling; depth profile with the ceiling band • Tissue loading graph, CNS/OTU, gas consumption per cylinder, minimum gas, turn pressure • Model comparison: the same dive through six model settings side by side • Contingency grid: what happens 3/6/9 m deeper or 5/10/15 min longer • Lost-gas scenarios, wet-notes text export REBREATHER (CCR) · PRO • Setpoints for bottom and deco, setpoint switching by depth • Diluent plus up to ten bailout cylinders with their own mixes • Open-circuit bailout: a failure at the turn point (half the bottom time) with the swim back, or at the end of the bottom time • Bailout advisor: how many cylinders, which mixes, switch depths and sizes for the planned depth TOOLS • MOD, END, EAD, gas density, best mix, partial-pressure blending, SAC calculator Six languages: English, Russian, German, Spanish, Simplified and Traditional Chinese. Free, with no time limit: the no-deco planner, open-circuit technical planning on ZHL-16C with gradient factors (one level, any bottom gas including trimix, up to two deco gases), every safety warning, minimum gas and the gas tools. DecoPlan Pro (yearly or lifetime) adds CCR and SCR, VPM-B and VPM-B/GFS, multi-level profiles, more than two deco gases, oxygen breaks, contingency and lost-gas plans, model comparison, team planning, sync between devices and more, and removes the small ad banner of the free version. At launch everyone gets all of Pro free for 30 days. IMPORTANT DecoPlan is a planning tool for trained divers. Every decompression model is an approximation; verify plans with another planner and your dive computer, keep gas reserves, and never dive beyond your training. The app is not a medical device and does not guarantee safety. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://decoplan.dvpdnsca.org/privacy.html © 2026 Dmitri Plotnikov (dvp)

Screenshots

Nitrox Buddy4 screens
DecoPlan4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DecoPlan at none against Nitrox Buddy's 1. DecoPlan also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 7 months) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). Nitrox Buddy's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price 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. DecoPlan asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nitrox Buddy ships an update every 7 months, DecoPlan every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Nitrox Buddy versus DecoPlan: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNitrox BuddyDecoPlan
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (489 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews95.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings489 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB43 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperGereon SteffensDmitri Plotnikov

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)

DecoPlan

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Nitrox Buddy

One-time1
  • Tip$0.99
None

DecoPlan

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nitrox Buddy free?
Nitrox Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is DecoPlan free?
DecoPlan is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Nitrox Buddy or DecoPlan have ads?
DecoPlan shows ads; Nitrox Buddy does not.
Which is updated more often, Nitrox Buddy or DecoPlan?
Nitrox Buddy ships an update every 7 months, and DecoPlan every 2 days. Most recently, Nitrox Buddy was updated on October 17, 2026 and DecoPlan on October 17, 2026.

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