Hornady Reloading Guide vs Element Ballistics
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Hornady Reloading Guide
Access comprehensive reloading data for hundreds of cartridges and bullets, based on extensive testing. Purchase individual data sets, the entire current edition, or subscribe for continuous updates and full access to all data on your mobile device.
- Reloading data for 200+ cartridges
- Data for 300+ bullets
- Safe data based on controlled testing
- Purchase individual cartridge data
- Purchase full handbook edition
- Subscription for all data and updates
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Derived from extensive testing by Hornady Manufacturing Company, this app includes reloading data for over 200 cartridges and 300 bullets. Under carefully controlled conditions using the components and test equipment specified, we report only data that proved safe in our research. Users have the ability to purchase data for individual cartridges, purchase the whole current edition of the handbook, or subscribe and receive the entire handbook plus more. Subscription provides access to all handbook data on your mobile device and real updates for all new data without waiting for the new handbook publication to be produced.
Element Ballistics
This app offers precise firing solutions with a user-friendly interface. Create custom rifle profiles, select from a vast bullet database, and calibrate ballistics for accuracy. It also provides weather reports and integrates with smart devices.
- Create ballistic profiles for rifles
- Extensive bullet database with drag profiles
- Calibrate ballistics (BC, Muzzle Velocity)
- View ballistic data graphs and tables
- Predicted point of impact in reticle view
- Obtain local weather reports
- Connect with smart devices
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Element Ballistics provides accurate and reliable firing solutions through a friendly user interface. -Create ballistic profiles for different rifles. -Choose bullets from an extensive database featuring Doppler-verified drag profiles. -Calibrate BC, Muzzle Velocity and more using the “true” feature, and choose from a variety of drag functions (G1, G7, GA, RA4) -View graphs and tables with ballistic data, and export/import profiles. -View predicted point of impact in a reticle view (FFP and SFP). -Obtain weather reports for your location. -Connect with smart devices like the Element HYPR-7 and Element Rangefinders to synchronise profiles & preferences.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Hornady Reloading Guide at 4.6 against Element Ballistics's 3.6. Hornady Reloading Guide also leads on ratings volume (17K vs 32). Element Ballistics's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ads 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
Both are free to download. Hornady Reloading Guide sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year. Element Ballistics asks for nothing beyond the download.
Hornady Reloading Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hornady Reloading Guide has 17K ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of Hornady Reloading Guide's written reviews are positive against 25% of Element Ballistics's.
Hornady Reloading Guide ships an update every 2 months, Element Ballistics every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Hornady Reloading Guide | Element Ballistics |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (17K ratings) — better | 3.6 (32 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 31.7% of reviews — better | 25.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 17K — better | 32 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 71 MB | 81 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hornady | Element Optics |
Customer experience
Hornady Reloading Guide
Element Ballistics
Bugs and requests
Hornady Reloading Guide
Reported bugs
4 issues- Purchased data disappearing or inaccessible
- Unable to log in or access account
- Blank screens and unknown errors
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
Requested features
4 requests- Offline access to data
- Improved range log with more details
- Seamless integration with in-app purchases
- Support for more powder and bullet options
Element Ballistics
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Hornady Reloading Guide
- Reloading Guide Subscription$19.991 Year
- Hornady Point$0.99
- 20 Hornady Points$19.99
Element Ballistics
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Hornady Reloading Guide free?
Is Element Ballistics free?
Which has better reviews, Hornady Reloading Guide or Element Ballistics?
Do Hornady Reloading Guide or Element Ballistics have ads?
Which is updated more often, Hornady Reloading Guide or Element Ballistics?
Other comparisons
