AI-generated imageCosts & Getting Started
Full transparency: What is free – and when you pay.
No hidden fees, no fine print. Here you see step by step what you get for free with BuddySystem PRO and DiveBuddy PRO, in which situations costs occur, who pays them, and where you can see the current rates before making any decision.
At a glance: What costs what and when?
The most important scenarios at a glance. Specific percentages, tiers, and prices are managed centrally and displayed to you in the app before you activate or buy anything.
| Situation | Cost | When & how |
|---|---|---|
| Registration, demo mode, and setup | Free | Anytime, no payment details required |
| All management features (courses, team, customers, website, documents …) | Free | No base or monthly fee |
| Cash and offline revenue outside the platform | Depends on booking | No sales commission; referral fees for referred paid courses and services may still apply. |
| Free offers | Free | Zero referral fee |
| Bookings and purchases paid via the platform (events, trips, tours, rentals, DiveChannel) | Paid | Progressive commission based on monthly revenue, offset against payout |
| Bindingly referred paid courses and services | Paid | Referral fee per booking, monthly invoice, remains valid upon cancellation |
| Payment processing (Stripe, app stores) | Paid | Payment provider fees, displayed separately |
| Advertising campaigns | Optional | Separate, you select budget and duration, payment via Stripe |
| Paid publications (e.g., Explorer, Community, Marketplace) | Optional | Price and review displayed in advance |
| DiveBuddy Free (logbook, tools, community) | Free | Free forever |
| DiveBuddy Cloud (sync, backup, cloud storage) | Optional | Subscription via app or store, trial period first |
| KAI assistant | Free | With quota per tier, viewable in the app |
This overview explains the cost model. Legally binding are the current terms displayed in the app as well as the terms and conditions.
You start at €0 – and keep full control
BuddySystem PRO Business costs you no base fee and no monthly fee. You can register, set up your business, create courses, invite your team, manage customers, and design your website without paying a single cent. Costs only occur in clearly defined situations: when the platform brings you paying customers, or when you deliberately choose a paid extra service like advertising. The app displays the currently valid rates and tiers before you activate anything.
What you can do
- ✓No base fee, no monthly fee
- ✓No setup fee, no minimum term
- ✓No payment details required to register
- ✓Use all management features at no extra charge
- ✓Current rates always visible in advance in the app
AI-generated imageWhat you use permanently free of charge in BuddySystem PRO
Everything you need to organize your business is included: from course management, training records, team, equipment, and filling station to customer records, documents, website, and calendar. Cash payments and revenue you process outside the platform also cost you nothing. Free offers remain completely fee-free as well.
What you can do
- ✓Courses, schedules, participant lists, and training records
- ✓Business cockpit, team, roles, and permissions
- ✓Equipment, rental management, and filling station
- ✓Customer files, quotes, invoices, and documents
- ✓Your own website with designs and content
- ✓Cash and offline revenue: zero fees
- ✓Free offers: zero referral fees
AI-generated imageCommission – only on revenue paid through BuddySystem
If a customer pays via the platform, for example for an event, a trip, a tour, a rental, or a DiveChannel purchase, a commission applies. The tier model is progressive based on monthly revenue: each percentage rate only applies to the revenue share within its bracket – so your entire revenue never gets pushed into a more expensive tier. The commission is settled directly with your payout; in your finances, you can see gross, commission, payment fees, and net for each booking.
What you can do
- ✓Applies to bookings and purchases paid via the platform
- ✓Progressive tier model based on monthly revenue
- ✓Each tier applies only to its share of revenue
- ✓Offset directly against payouts
- ✓Gross, commission, payment fees, and net viewable per booking
- ✓Current tiers accessible in the app at any time
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AI-generated imageReferral fee for paid courses and services
For paid courses and services referred via BuddySystem, course payments go entirely to your business. BuddySystem PRO invoices you separately for a referral fee (lead fee) per binding booking referred. Important to know: The fee applies as soon as a booking is confirmed bindingly, and remains in place even in the event of a later cancellation or refund. Billing occurs monthly by tier, via card or SEPA. Before you offer paid courses, you confirm these terms and add a payment method.
What you can do
- ✓Course payments go entirely to your business
- ✓Fee per binding referred booking
- ✓Incurred upon binding confirmation
- ✓Remains valid in case of later cancellation or refund
- ✓Monthly invoice by tier, no deduction from payouts
- ✓Payment via card or SEPA
- ✓Free offers remain fee-free
Advertising and paid publications – only if you want to
With advertising campaigns, you make your offers visible to even more divers. Advertising is completely optional and billed separately. You set your daily budget and duration yourself; you can see minimum and maximum limits, placement fees, and pricing before starting. Payment is handled via the secure Stripe checkout page. Some publications, for instance in Explorer, Community, or Marketplace, go through a review and may carry a fee – the app shows you this in advance as well.
What you can do
- ✓Advertising is optional and billed separately
- ✓You determine the daily budget and duration
- ✓Price and placement fee visible before launch
- ✓Payment via the secure Stripe checkout page
- ✓Publications subject to review & fees if applicable – shown in advance
AI-generated imagePayment processing fees and payouts
Online payments are processed through Stripe; app store purchases through Apple or Google. These payment providers charge their own fees, which are separate from the platform commission. In your finances, payment fees are shown as a distinct line item so you can always track what reaches you from each booking.
What you can do
- ✓Online payments via Stripe
- ✓Store purchases via Apple App Store or Google Play
- ✓Payment fees displayed separately from commission
- ✓Financial overview with expected payout
AI-generated imageFor divers: Free forever – Cloud whenever you want more
With DiveBuddy Free, your logbook, dive sites, tools, and community are free – forever. Your data stays locally on your device, and local storage is unlimited. DiveBuddy Cloud is the paid upgrade for synchronization, backup, and cloud storage across all devices. During the trial period, you can test all Cloud features without obligation. You see the current price and billing cycle in the app or app store prior to purchasing.
What you can do
- ✓Free: Logbook, dive sites, and all tools
- ✓Free: Community, buddies, chats, Explorer, and Marketplace
- ✓Free: Import, export, and local media without limits
- ✓Cloud: Sync, backup, and restore across all devices
- ✓Cloud: Personal cloud media storage and server rendering
- ✓Trial period: Test Cloud features without commitment
- ✓Price visible in the app or store before purchase
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AI-generated imageKAI (Kraken Artificial Intelligence), your AI assistant – with a fair quota
KAI assists you in both apps with writing, translating, searching, and completing tasks. In DiveBuddy, every tier includes a daily and monthly KAI quota – Free already includes a quota, while the trial period and Cloud offer significantly more. For businesses, one-click content generation has its own dedicated quota. You can see your remaining quota directly in the app; no extra costs will ever occur without your approval.
What you can do
- ✓KAI already included in DiveBuddy Free
- ✓Higher quota in trial period and Cloud
- ✓Dedicated quota for one-click content in Business
- ✓Quota viewable inside the app
- ✓No costs without your consent
From registration to your first customer in three steps
Register with your email and password and verify your address. After that, you land right in the Business section in demo mode: you can explore all areas, a setup checklist, and an onboarding assistant for the first steps. For productive operations, upload business verification documents such as your trade registration or commercial register excerpt. After review and activation, bookings, payments, and publications are ready to go.
What you can do
- ✓1. Register with email and password – no payment details
- ✓2. Demo mode: test everything at your own pace
- ✓3. Upload verification documents, review, activation
- ✓Then: bookings, payments, and publishing
AI-generated imageFrequently asked questions about costs
+Do I have to enter payment details when registering?
No. You only need an email address and password to register, use demo mode and set things up. You only add a payment method when you want to offer paid courses or services or book advertising.
+Is there a minimum term or cancellation period?
BuddySystem PRO Business has no base fee and no subscription, so there is no minimum term either. For DiveBuddy Cloud, the terms of the respective subscription in the app or store apply.
+What happens in case of a cancellation?
For payments through the platform, commission is based on the revenue actually paid. The referral fee for paid courses and services is incurred upon binding confirmation and remains payable even if the booking is later cancelled or refunded.
+Where can I see the exact percentages and prices?
The app shows you the current commission tiers, referral fees, advertising prices and Cloud price before you activate or buy anything. This means you always see the current, binding terms.
+Does KAI cost extra?
No, KAI is included with a usage allowance for each tier. You can see your remaining allowance in the app.
+Who covers the payment provider fees?
Stripe, Apple and Google charge their own fees. These are shown as a separate line item in your financial overview, separately from the platform commission.
Try it first. Decide later.
Register for free, set up your business in demo mode, and review all current rates at your leisure in the app – before anything costs a cent.