# Altimeter for Aviators — user reviews > 42 indexed App Store user reviews of Altimeter for Aviators by STEARsoft, rated 4.70/5 from 572 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/altimeter-for-aviators/id1463100680/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/altimeter-for-aviators/id1463100680.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 462 · 4★ 66 · 3★ 24 · 2★ 9 · 1★ 11 ## What do users think of Altimeter for Aviators? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface - ✈️ Accurate altimeter representation for pilots - ⌚ Works well on Apple Watch - 🎯 Easy pressure setting adjustment like real cockpit - 📱 No GPS required for operation - 🔧 Responsive developer support - 🎓 Great educational tool for student pilots - 🎨 Clear aviation-style gauges **Cons** - 🐛 App crashes or stops working after iOS updates - 📵 Inconsistent performance across Watch models - 🔴 Watch display shows red/no reading on some devices - 📧 Poor developer communication and contact options - 💰 Upsell prompts not clearly disclosed - 🖼️ Blurry graphics on Watch app - ⚠️ Limited refresh rate (1Hz) for VSI - 🔒 Restore purchase function doesn't work properly **Commonly reported bugs** - App hangs on 'reading pressure' with Apple Watch 8 - Watch complication shows dashed line instead of altitude - Incompatibility with iOS 17.4 - Watch app graphics fuzzy/wrong resolution - Crown and long press unresponsive on Watch 8 - Pressure setting increments in millibar even when units changed - Watch only displays millibars, can't change to inHg - Inaccurate altitude readings on some Watch models (off by 200 feet) - Developer contact form returns error messages **Most requested features** - CarPlay integration and widget support - Night mode with dark theme - Keep screen on while flying option - Drum pointer altimeter display option - Digital altitude readout option - Faster refresh rate for VSI - Automatic local pressure lookup via GPS - Additional instruments (airspeed, G-meter) - Toggle to disable pressure swipe adjustment - Complication display improvements - Better altitude flag deadband transition ## Newest reviews (10 of 42) ### 4/5 — 10 foot purchase breaks it *2026-04-26* I purchased the 10 foot altitude increment to see if it gives any more resolution. It breaks the app. Don’t taste the $2. **Developer response:** Thanks for the heads up and for reaching out. I think you meant “waste” rather than “taste”. Are you able to explain what you mean by “breaks”? I am not aware of any problems… ### 4/5 — Excellent, almost *2026-04-17* This is by far the nicest altimeter App I’ve tested in the App Store. Easy operation and very clear aviation style guages. However it’s missing one key feature, Apple CarPlay integration. In today’s world our phones are not hanging on our dashboards anymore. We have huge LCD dashboards that support CarPlay Widgits. This App is a natural for use as a Widgit. PLEASE cosider updating it. Thanks !! **Developer response:** Thank you for the very kind feedback and for this great idea. Thank you also for suggesting this idea through my website. I agree that it would be nice to get more on the large Car Play screen. Unfortunately Car Play Apps are restricted to only a few specific categories. There are 7 categories and an Altimeter does not fit any of them or the templates that Apps must conform to. So for the moment I’m not able to oblige. Safe driving. Marcus ### 4/5 — Works with Watch SE, doesn’t work with Watch 8 *2025-02-10, version 2.6* It works with my Watch SE but doesn’t work with my Watch 8. It just asks me to allow on install. When I click “allow” it hangs on “reading pressure”. Strange. ### 4/5 — TAP TO BUY upsell & blurry graphics *2024-05-07* Screenshots are missing the big “TAP TO BUY VSI” callout on iPhone app. Watch app doesn’t have it, but watch graphics are quite fuzzy (as if the resolution is wrong). Other than that, seems to work as advertised. ### 4/5 — Good, simple. Needs Motion and Fitness *2024-04-16* This app used to work without any permission. Now, ios 17.4 requires Motion and Fitness data. I guess it's Apple's fault. **Developer response:** Update: this is now fixed (in version 2.5). It was confirmed to be an iOS bug but a work-around was found. See our support page for details. Thank you again for caring about this App and for taking the time to get in touch. ### 5/5 — Good tool *2022-12-23, version 2.4.0* Good tool for CFIs to teach altimetry. Reading altimeters including above 10,000’ and the effect of altimeter settings. ### 4/5 — Does not indicate on watch 7 *2022-11-01* This app works GREAT on my phone. I am a flight instructor so I had many chances to use it. It is great. But it does not work on watch 7. Dial is Red indicating “no reading” any suggestions? **Developer response:** Thank you for your review and the heads up about your watch-7. I’m sorry to hear this. This is a surprise so really useful to know about. I’ve so far been unable to verify this problem, but will continue to investigate. Things to try: - unload Altimeter from watch memory to force a restart by pressing the power button and swiping left on the Altimeter App. Once gone, restart it. - More extreme, uninstall and reinstall Altimeter (on your phone). - Ensure the App has been open long enough for the barometer to respond (10 seconds should be plenty though). - Try another app that uses the barometer in case the barometer on your watch has an issue. - Ensure your watch is fully charged and not in a power saving or emergency mode. ### 5/5 — The one to get *2022-10-02, version 2.3.2* This is the perfect app for when flying, it’s simple to use with a simple layout which makes all the difference when your flying… And you can cage the altimeter to adjust pressure setting, for QFE QNH and SPS… All the other ones I tried either do not allow you to set your own setting making QNH impossible, or they do not allow you to change it on the dial but rather by the menu again when flying this is a pain… ### 5/5 — Very good, one thing I would change *2021-11-15, version 2.3.2* This a very good implementation clean and works well on my series 7 iWatch. I personally don’t like the fact that you can change the pressure setting by swiping around the screen, would be good if there was a option to turn that off without locking the pressure. I have purchased the VSI now too, but I have not flown with it yet. The altimeter (in an unpressurised cockpit) is spot on. I would happily pay for a ASI (well gps ground speed) and a G meter too! It was Lao be even better if the complications offered either the current pressure or altitude instead it opens the Watch app, which is handy. ### 5/5 — Altimeter *2021-10-25* Just completed testing in real aircraft, it’s working very accurate!!! Thank you very much!!! **Developer response:** Thank you for your feedback. I’m glad you like it. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Quit working *2024-03-17* This was a fine app until March 10, 2024. That was the first time I noticed that it quit working on both my Series 8 Apple watch and on my iPhone 14 Pro. Both units are updated regularly to the latest software. I am unable to get any response from the developer when I attempt to send feedback. All I get is an error message. What’s going on here? It seems like the developer left town without a forwarding address. I would prefer to critique this app directly with the developer rather than in the App Store. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. **Developer response:** Update: It now appears to be a recognised iOS bug that cannot be fixed within the App. There will hopefully be an iOS update soon to fix this and all the other barometer based Apps. For more details, please see the Altimeter for Aviators support page. I’m still puzzled about the error you encountered trying to contact me. I have had several feedback messages come in over the last few days (very understandably given the problems generated by iOS17.4). Anyway, thank you for caring about this App. I’m as upset as you about it no longer working. Let’s hope it’s back soon. Thank you also for taking the time to persevere with getting in touch to share your frustration and alert me to this catastrophe! ### 1/5 — Quit working *2024-03-15* This was a fine app until March 10, 2024. That was the first time I noticed that it quit working on both my Series 8 Apple watch and on my iPhone 14 Pro. Both units are updated regularly to the latest software. I am unable to get any response from the developer when I attempt to send feedback. All I get is an error message. What’s going on here? It seems like the developer left town without a forwarding address. ### 1/5 — Doesn't work with IOS 17.4 *2024-03-15* It used to be great, but IOS upgraded to 17.4 and this app stopped showing altitude. This feedback may very well be a defect os the IOS than a problem with the app, but anyway doesn't work now. **Developer response:** Update: this is now fixed (in version 2.5). It was confirmed to be an iOS bug but a work-around was found. See our support page for details. Thank you again for caring about this App and for taking the time to get in touch. ### 1/5 — VSI *2022-09-21* So far the altimeter works good buy I don’t see anywhere the cost of the vsi as that is what I wanted Wish there was a contact number to email **Developer response:** To enable VSI you need to use the iPhone App. Choose ‘Opt’ and ‘Buy VSI’. This will show you the price and give an option to buy. Once purchased, your linked Watch will also get VSI. So a single purchase. Thanks for contacting. Sorry it had to be like this. ### 2/5 — Restore Purchase Option Doesn’t Work *2025-10-19* The title says it all. Attempted to contact the developer but their that function only returns an error message, even when I enter the word, altimeter, to prove I’m not a bot. So I guess I’ll agree with the reviewer who said app support not so good. **Developer response:** Dear Roberto, Thank you for getting in touch. Apologies for the very slow reply and for the frustrations. The ‘bot test’ was too strict and wanted a capital A. I’ve fixed that now (thank you again for the heads-up”), so it also accepts lower-case. For restoring purchases, you shouldn’t have to do it, but deleting the app on both phone and watch and then reinstalling it will get the restore purchase working. Changing phone or changing watch seems to sometimes mess up the stored settings with automatically transferred data not quite working. Is this the scenario you’re in? Fully deleting the app seems to reset the data enough to get it working again (after reinstalling obviously). ### 2/5 — This app would be great as a widget *2025-09-19* This app would be great as a widget on the iPhone iPad, and would be great as a CarPlay app and widget which is what I am needing. Sadly it isn’t. I will wait till widget and CarPlay is supported to download again. ### 2/5 — High hopes, but no support? *2022-11-27* As a pilot I was looking for an app like this, and I had high hopes that it was well supported because there was an update posted just days ago. However, I see no email address in the app or on the website. How do you have FAQs with no way people can actually ask questions? So here’s my question. I downloaded the app set the local pressure, and looked at all the options on my iPhone and Watch. Then I added the complication on my Watch. I assume the complication should display the altitude, but over three hours later I just have a dashed line. Should I be seeing the altitude? I have updated the local pressure twice now - still no complication update. How often should I expect the complication to update, if it ever does? **Developer response:** Thank you for your valuable feedback. - There is now an option on the FAQ page to send feedback, but I’m also happy for public feedback and questions here. - I’ve now answered your other question on the FAQ page. In short, the complication does not give any altitude readout. The complication is purely so you can easily launch the Altimeter from your watch face. A more detailed explanation is on the FAQ page. Thanks again for your transparent feedback, Marcus ### 3/5 — Not useful locked out *2026-05-31* Needs to cancel auto lock feature on phone to be useful ### 3/5 — Remain open *2024-06-02* Guys, is there away to keep to app open and active while I’m flying so I don’t have to open it when my screen locks? Thanks **Developer response:** Yes, for an iPhone, under the SHOW section of options screen switch on “Keep screen on”. The watch is not so easy, but there are details in the tips screen of the watch app. Thank you for your interest. Safe flying, Marcus ### 3/5 — 1Hz max update *2023-08-12* FYI, you will only get a 1Hz update rate from this. Makes the VSI quite useless for any manoeuvres that require precision. I believe this is an iOS limitation but it’d be nice if it was mentioned in the description before paying $2 for a jerky VSI. Overall not bad for what it is. Simplest and most intuitive app there is for iPhone. **Developer response:** Thank you for taking the time to leave such a useful review for others. You are quite correct that the refresh rate is an iOS limitation and ends up being roughly once per second (1Hz as you say). (Incidentally, the free altimeter also updates at the same rate). The perceived jerkiness is however usually due to a combination of extreme sensitivity and environment rather than the refresh rate. Mechanical air-pressure VSI units in aircraft inherently are less sensitive in the way they work, naturally ‘averaging’ the rate of pressure change over a short period of time. You can get a similar smoothing effect in Altimeter for Aviators in settings by adjusting the smoothing slider. You can only set this in the iPhone App, but the setting will sync across to your watch. The environment issue is addressed in real aircraft with very careful placement of the static port (measuring static air pressure), and on most aircraft with multiple static ports that get physically averaged. Using cabin air pressure and/or a handheld device with digitisation of physical measurement is not going to be as good, introducing all sorts of small errors that show up as jerkiness in such a sensitive instrument. In summary: - your observations are 100% correct - use the smoothing slider in the iPhone App - use a proper installed VSI instrument for any pilot applications. This App is not certified or calibrated or suitable for real applications. (and is priced accordingly) Good for interest as a passenger, or non critical applications, but not as an instrument for a pilot. This is also stated on the App description, and implicitly in all pilot operating handbooks and training. I know you know that, but feel I ought to repeat it for any others who might read this out of that context. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Simple and precise *2026-05-18, version 2.6* Brilliant app, I downloaded it and was worried it worked off gps altitude, but with my phone in flight mode it was still working continuously and accurately. I need to find out how to disable the screen going dark after about 30 seconds, but I’m sure that’s me not knowing my own phone settings as opposed to the app. Fantastic! ### 5/5 — Great App! *2026-02-17* Super simple to use. Also great for student pilots learning how the altimeter works. While it’s not so much designed for this, it has helped me understand how flying into different pressure systems impacts altimeter readings simply by adjusting the pressure settings. Thanks! **Developer response:** Thank you for the kind feedback. Particularly nice to hear it’s a good aid for students (which is what I was when I built the App). Safe flying. Marcus ### 5/5 — The App needs night mode *2025-01-28* I love this app, works great especially VSI on highest resolution scale. I find this extremely useful when driving through mountainous terrain. When I turn on the app it is red because of old data, this needs to be a night vision option, red is preferred but blue or green might work at night as well also the header and footer need to be black at night. The white text and screen destroy my night vision. Also the deadband on the altitude flag needs to be tightened up. Zero meter screen and 1000 meter screen are the same on highest resolution screen (1m), Flag needs to transition between 995 m and 999 meter with flag half visible during transition. **Developer response:** Thank you very much for this valuable feedback and the good ideas. Thank you also for sharing these directly on the Altimeter for Aviators website. Safe driving. It sounds very exciting :) ### 5/5 — Brilliant ! *2024-05-11* I had to contact the app maker to have an option to keep the screen on, and within 3 days they had fixed it. That’s excellent customer focused service !! 5 STAR !! **Developer response:** Thank you again for all your communication and for caring about this App. Your suggestion was a really good one and perfectly timed (I’m not normally able to be that responsive). Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your kind review too. Safe flying 👍🏻😀 ### 5/5 — Good. *2024-05-09, version 2.5.2* Works exactly as I would expect. ### 5/5 — Back to greatness! *2024-03-27* After fixing the OS issues its back to its great state. Simple, aeronautical and easy. Be advised that the altitude in a plane is taken from carefully positioned ports. Cabin altitude may differ a little from the plane altimeter, being affected by speed. Also great is its privacy. In a pressurized plane you can check the pressurization (obviously: not the real barometric altitude). **Developer response:** Update: this is now fixed (in version 2.5). It was confirmed to be an iOS bug but a work-around was found. See our support page for details. Thank you again for caring about this App and for taking the time to get in touch. ### 5/5 — Real pilot Altimeter *2024-03-26* As I pilot I was looking for an Altimeter app that is the same as my aircraft altimeter. This app is simple and effective. I hope they add the choice of “drum pointer altimeter” display. This I would pay for! **Developer response:** Thank you for your review and suggestion, both here and on the support page 👍🏻 Safe flying. Marcus ### 5/5 — Quit Working *2024-03-25* My apologies to the developer for being too quick to criticize the app. It is up and running again as well as it did before the iOS update caused it to quit working. **Developer response:** Thank you for updating your review 😀 Thank you also for caring about this App and for helping to alert me to the iOS problem. All appreciated. I understood and shared your frustration 👍🏻 ### 5/5 — Great app! *2023-03-10* As a pilot this thing is great, the VSI is nice too for double checking cabin rate, not sure it has a refresh rate for skydive opps (which would be cool), but great app, especially on the Apple watch **Developer response:** Thank you for taking the time to leave this kind review and feedback. Safe flying. Marcus ### 5/5 — Great App, with fantastic response from developer *2022-12-28, version 2.4.1* Been a fan of this App for a while. With release 2.4 I found a couple of bugs relating to the crown and long press becoming unresponsive on an Apple Watch 8. Contacted the developer who came back with an immediate work around, and then after some further investigation released an update (2.4.1) a couple of weeks later which fixed the issue permanently. Very happy user. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-24.*