Comparison

Zef vs Updraft

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

Head to head
About

Zef

Track and organize your rides for various sports, including nautical activities. Features include race organization, jump height estimation, and social sharing of sessions and spots. Integrates with Health app for comprehensive data recording.

Highlights
  • Race organization and championship management
  • Jump height estimation using drone technology
  • Support for a wide range of sports
  • GPX file import from watches
  • Health app integration
  • Social feed for friends and spots
  • Live tracking and notifications
Features
Read full description

Zef — Ride. Track. Connect. Zef is a multi-sport tracking app built for riders, with a strong focus on nautical sports. Track your sessions, analyze your performance, discover spots, and see your friends live — all in one app. Key Features Track your rides Record your sessions with your iPhone or Apple Watch. Zef integrates with the Health app and supports GPX imports from most watches. Advanced performance analytics Get detailed session stats including speed, distance, duration, speed polar, and health data. Sessions can be replayed to analyze each maneuver. Jump analysis Measure jump height using only your iPhone or Apple Watch. Powered by algorithms inspired by drone technology. Races & challenges Create private or public races for training or competition. Visual guidance and wind angles are displayed directly on your iPhone or Apple Watch. Spots & live activity Discover spots around you and see when riders are active. Follow spots and get notified when sessions start. Friends & live tracking Follow riders by username and get notified when friends go live. Watch their sessions live on the map and stay connected. Supported Sports Sailing, Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, Wingfoil, Kitefoil, Windfoil, SUP Foil, Surfing, Wakeboard, Kayaking, Paddling, Snowkiting, Landkiting, Cross-country skiing, Skating, Bike, Electric Bike, Parawingfoil, and more with custom tags. Apple Ecosystem • iPhone & Apple Watch support • Health app integration • Optimized for the Apple ecosystem Important Sessions must be recorded from the ground to be validated. Legal Terms of Service https://zef.watch/terms-and-conditions.html Privacy Policy https://zef.watch/privacy-and-security-policy.html

About

Updraft

This app automatically records glider flights, providing detailed post-flight analysis of altitude, speed, and flight paths. It offers coaching features for thermalling and instructor debriefs, with optional upgrades for advanced instruments and forecasts.

Highlights
  • Automatic flight recording
  • Post-flight analysis
  • Thermal coaching
  • Instructor debrief transcription
  • Flight path replay
  • Soaring forecasts
  • Home screen widgets
Features
Read full description

You can fly a glider solo at 14 — years before you can drive. Updraft is the logbook and coach for everyone learning to. Put your phone on the coaming and press Record. Updraft finds your launch and your landing by itself, so there is nothing to remember while you fly. When you land, you get the whole flight back: how high you got, what every climb was worth, how your circuit compared to the last one you flew. No vario to buy. No wiring. No signal needed — every airfield is already on your phone. FREE, AND STAYS FREE • Unlimited recording. Never capped, never blocked, never on a trial timer • Height, ground speed and climb rate while you fly • Your flight path, and a summary the moment you land • The IGC flight file for anything you fly — yours to keep and to share • Your three most recent flights in the logbook • Today's soaring conditions at your home field, on a Home Screen widget UPDRAFT PRO • The full instrument panel — turn coordinator, thermal assistant, glide ratio, G meter and more • Your whole logbook, with totals and currency, plus IGC import and manual entries • Replay your track over real terrain at 1×, 8× or 60× • Instructor debrief: record what your instructor says and get it back as a went-well / work-on list. It is transcribed on your phone and never uploaded • Thermalling coach: the bank you held and what centring was worth in each climb • The three-day soaring forecast, and outlook and logbook widgets UPDRAFT MAX • Everything in Pro, plus the advisory live in-flight layer and an airspace check after you land — a review of what happened, never a clearance Subscriptions are optional. They renew automatically unless cancelled in your Apple Account subscription settings. You can change plans or cancel in Updraft under Customize > Account and plan. WHAT IT WILL NOT DO Updraft uses the sensors in your phone. It shows ground speed, not airspeed. It is not a certified instrument and must never be used to fly the aircraft. Look outside and follow your instructor. Built for club juniors, cadets, university gliding clubs and anyone learning to fly. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://ethanpaschkes.github.io/updraft-app/privacy.html

Screenshots

Zef4 screens
Updraft4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Updraft at 5.0 against Zef's 4.6. Zef's advantage is ratings volume (41 vs 1) and device support (5 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Zef sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Updraft sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Updraft holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zef has 41 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zef ships an update fortnightly, Updraft weekly. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Zef versus Updraft: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZefUpdraft
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (41 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings41 — better1
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDavid KiefferDAVID,HOWARD PASCHKES

Customer experience

Zef

All ratings41 ratings
Positive90.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative9.8%
Written reviews43 reviews
Positive90.7%
Neutral2.3%
Negative7.0%

Updraft

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Zef

Subscriptions3
  • Premium for one month7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Summit for one year$26.991 Year
  • Premium for one year$34.991 Year
4 purchases

Updraft

Subscriptions4
  • Pro Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Max Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Updraft Pro$29.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Max Yearly$69.991 Year

Questions

Is Zef free?
Zef is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Updraft free?
Updraft is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Zef or Updraft?
Updraft is rated higher. Zef averages 4.6 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Updraft averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Zef or Updraft have ads?
Neither Zef nor Updraft shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zef or Updraft?
Zef ships an update fortnightly, and Updraft weekly. Most recently, Zef was updated on November 2, 2026 and Updraft on November 2, 2026.

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