Comparison

Mistral Gliders vs Updraft

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

Head to head
About

Mistral Gliders

This app is a comprehensive tool for glider pilots and gliding clubs. It offers real-time flight tracking, club management features, flight logging, and weather information. It helps pilots manage their flights and clubs streamline operations.

Highlights
  • Real-time flight tracking
  • Club management dashboard
  • Automatic flight logbook
  • Instruction scheduling
  • Fleet management
  • Weather reports and radar
  • Customizable units
Features
Read full description

Mistral Gliders is the all-in-one companion app for glider pilots and gliding clubs. Track aircraft in real time, manage your club operations, log flights, and check weather — all from your phone. LIVE FLIGHT TRACKING - Real-time aircraft positions powered by OGN, Flarm, and KTrax - Interactive map with flight paths and replay - Track gliders, motor gliders, tow planes, paragliders, helicopters, and more - Tap any aircraft for detailed info: altitude, speed, climb rate CLUB MANAGEMENT - Club dashboard with member overview - Calendar and event scheduling - Role-based access for administrators, instructors, duty pilots, and more - Manage your club from anywhere — also available on mistralgliders.com FLIGHT LOGBOOK - Automatic flight logs generated from OGN and Flightbook data - Flight time calculator for quick totals - Personal and club flight history at a glance INSTRUCTION - Instructors publish their daily availability - Students book slots with automatic waiting list management - Clear overview of upcoming instruction sessions FLEET MANAGEMENT - Full overview of your club's aircraft fleet - Aircraft details and status tracking WEATHER & AIRFIELDS - METAR weather reports for any airfield - Rain radar and cloud layer overlays on the map - Airfield database with radio frequencies, runway info, and more PERSONALISATION - Bookmark your favourite clubs and aircraft for quick access - Customisable units: knots, km/h, feet, metres, and more - Available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, and Polish DATA SOURCES Mistral uses data from the Open Glider Network (OGN) and KTrax to locate aircraft equipped with Flarm beacons. Flight logs are provided by Flightbook. Weather data comes from official aviation sources (METAR) and RainViewer. Your privacy matters. Learn more: mistralgliders.com/privacy-policy Whether you fly gliders at a local club or track soaring flights worldwide, Mistral Gliders is built for you.

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

Mistral Gliders4 screens
Updraft4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mistral Gliders at none against Updraft's 4. On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Updraft sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Mistral Gliders asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Mistral Gliders versus Updraft: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMistral GlidersUpdraft
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews94.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer0xBurgDAVID,HOWARD PASCHKES

Customer experience

Mistral Gliders

Written reviews17 reviews
Positive94.1%
Neutral5.9%
Negative0.0%

Updraft

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

In-app purchases

None

Mistral Gliders

No in-app purchases

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 Mistral Gliders free?
Mistral Gliders is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Updraft free?
Updraft is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Mistral Gliders or Updraft have ads?
Neither Mistral Gliders nor Updraft shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mistral Gliders or Updraft?
Mistral Gliders ships an update weekly, and Updraft weekly. Most recently, Mistral Gliders was updated on November 3, 2026 and Updraft on November 2, 2026.

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