Comparison

Decoder for US Navy vs US Navy Ratings & Reference

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

Head to head
About

Decoder for US Navy

This app serves as a rapid reference for US Navy personnel and other codes, streamlining the lookup process for manning documents. It decodes various designations, ratings, and codes to provide quick answers without extensive searching.

Highlights
  • Personnel code reference
  • Quick lookup tool
  • Manning document decoding
  • Additional Qualification Designations
  • Enlisted Rating Codes
  • Officer Billet Codes
  • NECs
Features
Read full description

This application is not officially endorsed or sponsored by the US Navy. This app is a quick reference guide to many US Navy personnel and other codes. Instead of spending the time to find the correct reference and look up the information, this app will allow one to quickly get to the answer. The main focus currently is on personnel related codes that will be found in manning documents such as RUADs and AMDs. Current items decoded: - Additional Qualification Designations - Enlisted Rating Codes - IMS Codes - MAS Codes - Officer Billet Codes - Officer Designators - Officer Paygrade Codes - Navy Reserve Activity Codes - NOBC Codes - RBSC Billet Codes - Reserve Program Codes - Reserve Unit Identification Codes - RFAS Codes - Subspecialty Codes - NECs See how you can support this open source project: https://github.com/ctd-mh3/NavyDecoder-OpenSource-iOS

About

US Navy Ratings & Reference

Learn and test your knowledge of US Navy ratings through an interactive game and a comprehensive reference section. This app helps users quickly identify and understand different Navy occupations and their associated specialty badges.

Highlights
  • Interactive learning game
  • Multiple-choice questions
  • Progressive difficulty levels
  • Reinforcement of correct answers
  • Timing element for bonus points
  • Sortable reference area
  • Information on 56 Navy ratings
Features
Read full description

An Official US Navy mobile application, produced by the Navy PMW 240 Program and NETC. The US Navy Ratings & Reference app provides a fun, easy way to learn Navy ratings. As most service members know, learning how to recognize ratings is an integral part of any Navy career. After more than 200 years of evolution, today’s Navy enlisted rating structure still plays a key role in career development and serves as a basis for training, detailing, and advancement. US Navy ratings are general enlisted occupations that consist of specific skills and abilities. Each rating has its own specialty badge, which is worn on the left sleeve of the uniform by each enlisted person in that particular field. Working uniforms, such as camouflage Battle Dress Uniforms, utilities, coveralls, and Naval Working Uniforms, bear generic rate designators that exclude the rating symbol. Part of the e-Sailor series of mobile apps, the US Navy Ratings & Reference app uses a short game scenario for quick and enhanced learning. The game randomly generates multiple-choice questions and illustrates ratings options associated with Navy occupations, providing points for each correct answer. The game becomes progressively more complex at higher levels. However, if a player answers incorrectly, the app shows them the correct answer in order to reinforce learning. A timing element in the game awards additional points for timely correct answers. By selecting the correct answer before the timer runs out, a user earns bonus points. However, there’s no stress here – a user only plays against the app. The US Navy Ratings & Reference app also includes a sortable reference area to review all 56 Navy ratings. This includes Aviation, Construction, Medical, Administration, and Engineering, among others. The app is a great visual tool for learning Navy ratings and can be revisited frequently by anyone desiring refresher training. The e-Sailor initiative was instituted by the Master Chief Petty Office of the Navy. e-Sailor leverages state-of-the-art mobile technologies to transform training and enhance curriculum delivery methodologies at Recruit Training Command. The e-Sailor series of mobile apps is being developed to support this effort. The goal of e-Sailor is to increase the quality of work and quality of life for the 21st Century Sailor!

Screenshots

Decoder for US Navy4 screens
US Navy Ratings & Reference4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Decoder for US Navy at 4.8 against US Navy Ratings & Reference's 3.7. Decoder for US Navy also leads on ratings volume (174 vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 8 months). US Navy Ratings & Reference's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 63%) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Decoder for US Navy holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Decoder for US Navy has 174 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 63% of Decoder for US Navy's written reviews are positive against 100% of US Navy Ratings & Reference's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Decoder for US Navy ships an update every 3 months, US Navy Ratings & Reference every 8 months. Both last shipped on October 7, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Decoder for US Navy versus US Navy Ratings & Reference: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDecoder for US NavyUS Navy Ratings & Reference
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (174 ratings) — better3.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings174 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.68.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB32 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCrash Test Dummy Limited, LLCProgram Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems, Sea Warrior Program

Customer experience

Decoder for US Navy

All ratings174 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral2.3%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative25.0%

US Navy Ratings & Reference

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Decoder for US Navy

No in-app purchases

None

US Navy Ratings & Reference

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Decoder for US Navy free?
Decoder for US Navy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is US Navy Ratings & Reference free?
US Navy Ratings & Reference is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Decoder for US Navy or US Navy Ratings & Reference?
Decoder for US Navy is rated higher. Decoder for US Navy averages 4.8 out of 5 from 174 ratings, while US Navy Ratings & Reference averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Decoder for US Navy or US Navy Ratings & Reference have ads?
Neither Decoder for US Navy nor US Navy Ratings & Reference shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Decoder for US Navy or US Navy Ratings & Reference?
Decoder for US Navy ships an update every 3 months, and US Navy Ratings & Reference every 8 months. Most recently, Decoder for US Navy was updated on October 7, 2026 and US Navy Ratings & Reference on October 7, 2026.

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