Comparison

Balloon Live vs eVario2

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

Head to head
About

Balloon Live

This official competition logger app is designed for hot air balloon pilots. It offers flight recording, electronic marker drops, and goal declarations. It synchronizes with online platforms for live tracking and competition data.

Highlights
  • Two app modes: training and competition
  • Flight recording with start/stop
  • Up to 18 electronic marker drops
  • Up to 18 goal declaration slots
  • IGC-file recording and export
  • Automatic flight resume
  • Connects to external Balloon Live Sensor box
Features
Read full description

The application is the official FAI Balloon Live competition logger app. The app is used in hot air balloon competitions and has the following features: - 2 app modes: training and competition - Flight recording with Start/Stop functionality - Up to 18 different electronic marker drops - Up to 18 goal declaration slots - Recording in IGC-file format - Export as IGC-file - Automatic flight resume on app restart (after force close) - Connection to external Balloon Live Sensor box In competition mode: - List of watchmefly events with user login - Synchronization of competition settings and flight data with watchmefly.net - Live tracks to watchmefly.net In-app payments: - Payment of the pilot fee for using the Balloon live system in a competition

About

eVario2

This app provides real-time flight navigation data and feedback for pilots. It features a configurable cockpit, automatic track recording, and detailed weather information to assist with planning and in-air control. Review past flights and manage your logbook with iCloud synchronization.

Highlights
  • Real-time flight data display
  • Configurable cockpit
  • Automatic track recording
  • Detailed weather forecasts
  • Logbook with iCloud sync
  • Visual and acoustical feedback
Features
Read full description

App with new design! -- eVario is your connected flight navigation companion during and after your adventure trip to visualise relevant data, assist you while progressing in the air by returning visual and acoustical feedback. eVario is a 9-axis measurement (accelerometer, gyrometer, gps), barometer assisted, connected and intuitive instrument with a polychrom display, exploiting the embedded device’s hardware and accurate sensoric, without need to connect external devices. It typically provides real time information of a variometer like altimeter, speedometer, odometer, chronometer, gyrometer, anemometer for every (air)craft pilot. Its configurable cockpit allows you to keep track of the most relevant to you. The integrated data logger automatically records your 3D location and provides the recorded track file to your iCloud for track visualisation or flight metrics. Turn on & Fly! No need for additional/external hardware. eVario is mainly designed for paragliding/hang-gliding, but may be used as well while biking, hiking, running, sailing, skiing, flying, … Optimised for low battery usage, the app lets you: ▶ PLAN AHEAD: Check detailed weather conditions (emagram) over days for your safety, in Europe. Check surroundings and thermal hotspots on the topographic outdoor map. ▶ PLAN LANDING: Set a marker e.g. at the landing area and get assistance when approaching. ▶ TOUCH&GO: Turn on & Go fly! The cockpit shows real-time data after a short automatic instrument calibration. ▶ TAKE OFF: Automatic track recording is taking place in background and take-off altitude is referenced. ▶ STAY IN CONTROL: Control the behaviour, update rate, unit of the instruments, anytime and anywhere. Select a pre-defined setting profile matching thermal conditions. ▶ THERMALLING: Get acoustical and visual feedback of the encountered thermals and easily locate them when returning back. ▶ BE EFFICIENT: Track wind estimation, direction and force, to soar or prepare your landing. ▶ FIND LANDING: At e.g. a new site, locate the marked landing zone. ▶ REVIEW TRACK: Visualise the past track on 4 map styles or show the track elevation profile graph in animated or interactive mode. ▶ MANAGE LOGBOOK: Access each individual track record time stamped file, synchronise them with your iCloud. Personalise eVario to contain glider/user information. ▶ DO MORE: Re-Play your 3D flight e.g. in GoogleEarth, Analyse flight metrics in BaseCamp. KEY FEATURES *Cockpit ▶ Clear dashboard of digital real time data ▶ Advanced interactive cockpit with configurable measurement field display ▶ Access a large number of settings directly impacting sensoric, display, acoustic or interaction ▶ Unlimited GPS tracks and waypoints saves ▶ Support of metric and imperial unit system ▶ Support of GPX/IGC record formats ▶ Automatic tracking start/stop upon movement detection ▶ Automatic GPS track recording ▶ Logbook with individual 3D GPS track records (timestamp, latitude, longitude, elevation) supporting derived data analysis ▶ Manage/Share track files from within integrated file browser *Map ▶ Visualise your position, track line, thermal hotspots, sites, weather data on map ▶ Map enhancement by overlaid instruments like altitude, speed or ascent ▶ Map style selection: choose from 4 styles including terrain (dark/bright), topo and satellite ▶ Offline map downloads worldwide! Including topographic data, peak names and heights ▶ Unlimited map downloading for offline use (saves mobile data) ▶ Waypoint setting *Assistance ▶ Advanced interactive assistance with voice coaching ▶ Pre-defined setting profiles for weak, normal and strong thermals ▶ Connected variometer (map, detailed/layered meteorological weather data, SOS) *Graph ▶ Bar graph for vertical ascent/descent with peak hold functionality ▶ Visualise current and last track elevation profile versus time ▶ Visualise altitude on graph *Supported Languages ▶ English, French, German, Spanish, Russian More on the developer's website.

Screenshots

Balloon Live4 screens
eVario24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Balloon Live at $4.99 against eVario2's $12.99. Balloon Live also leads on iOS requirement (15.5 vs 26.0). eVario2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On update cadence, ads, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Balloon Live costs $4.99 and eVario2 $12.99 up front. Balloon Live sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. eVario2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Balloon Live ships an update monthly, eVario2 every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Balloon Live versus eVario2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBalloon LiveeVario2
Price$4.99 — better$12.99
Rating4.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.5 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size49 MB100 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFédération Aéronautique InternationaleJean-Marc Meyer

Customer experience

Balloon Live

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

eVario2

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Balloon Live

One-time1
  • Balloon Live event credit$9.99
None

eVario2

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Balloon Live free?
Balloon Live costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is eVario2 free?
eVario2 costs $12.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Balloon Live or eVario2 have ads?
Neither Balloon Live nor eVario2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Balloon Live or eVario2?
Balloon Live ships an update monthly, and eVario2 every 6 weeks. Most recently, Balloon Live was updated on September 15, 2026 and eVario2 on September 23, 2026.

Other comparisons