Comparison

Vario One vs IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader

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

Head to head
About

Vario One

This app provides a precise variometer for iPhone and Apple Watch, utilizing built-in sensors for real-time lift detection. It offers air traffic awareness, thermal assistance, and flight recording capabilities. Takeoff and landing sites are always visible, with a free 14-day trial for all features.

Highlights
  • Real-time variometer with acoustic lift signals
  • Air traffic awareness with Safesky integration
  • Thermal Assistant with climb/sink rate visualization
  • Flight recording with GPS and IGC tracks
  • Import flights via GPX/IGC
  • Standalone Apple Watch functionality
  • Visible takeoff and landing sites
Features
Read full description

VARIO One – Your smart variometer for iPhone and Apple Watch. As precise as a pro vario. As simple as an app. No extra hardware. VARIO One combines a pressure sensor, an accelerometer and GPS into a full-featured variometer — right on your iPhone and Apple Watch. Both apps work independently and signal lift with acoustic beeps. Optionally connect an external Bluetooth vario for even more precision. Try all features free for 14 days. VARIOMETER - Instantly audible lift by combining pressure and acceleration sensors. - Internal barometer (baro + IMU fusion) — a calmer, more precise signal. - Display of altitude, speed and glide ratio. - Barometric altitude with QNH — set directly on the flight screen. - Climb tone threshold freely configurable (down to −0.5 m/s). - Rotating wind direction indicator. FLIGHT RECORDING - Automatic recording as GPS and IGC track. - Digital logbook with map view and statistics. - Automatic upload to DHV-XC and XContest. - Automatic take-off and landing detection. MAP - Airspaces downloadable per country or importable as OpenAir files. - Current wind from thousands of weather stations. - Take-off and landing sites — permanently free to view. AIRSPACE MAP & ALERTS Download airspace maps for any country right in the app from OpenAIP. Or import your own OpenAir files (classic as well as Naviter 1.0/2.0). All airspaces are shown as a vector map; tap for details, altitude profile and legend. As you approach, VARIO One warns you with a voice announcement and a configurable lead time — including a snooze function and automatic escalation. REAL-TIME AIR TRAFFIC WITH SAFESKY See nearby aircraft — paragliders, hang gliders, sailplanes, helicopters — using SafeSky, including other SafeSky users on the map. ADS-B, FLARM, OGN, PilotAware, and other supported traffic sources — all in one real-time view. Coverage depends on the availability of compatible transmitters and network reception. BUDDY FLYING – FLY TOGETHER, EVERYONE IN VIEW With Buddy Flying you see your flying partners live on the map — perfect for a shared cross-country flight or a day at your local mountain. One person creates a group and shares the code, the others join. As soon as "Sharing" is active, you all see each other in real time. For each buddy you see position with distance and bearing, absolute altitude and altitude relative to you, current climb and an 8-second average, plus speed. When a buddy is climbing, you see it in their climb rate — and know where the thermal is. A colour scale shows how their climb compares to yours. EXTERNAL BLUETOOTH VARIOS Connect your device wirelessly to use it as your vario signal source: BlueFly Vario (multiple protocols), Mipfly MipBipX & MipTrack, Stodeus BlueBip & UltraBip, Skytraxx (BLE). Connect any time from the settings — no onboarding needed. THERMAL ASSISTANT Your flight track is coloured live by climb and sink values — so you instantly see where the best thermal is in the turn. The app automatically detects circling and switches to the thermal view. Including wind direction and speed. IMPORT FLIGHTS Import previously flown flights as GPX or IGC files straight into the logbook — via the + button or via "Open with" from the Files app. APPLE WATCH - Standalone vario with precise pressure sensors. - Ideal for hike & fly, as a backup or when there's no room in the cockpit. - Flight recording in GPX and IGC format. New features are added regularly. Try everything free for 14 days. Take-off and landing sites remain free afterwards too. The subscription renews automatically and can be cancelled any time.

About

IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader

Features
Read full description

IGC Viewer is the simplest way to open, view, and analyze IGC flight logs on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Made for glider, paraglider, and hang glider pilots who want to review every flight quickly and in detail. KEY FEATURES • Open IGC files from Files, Mail, Safari, AirDrop, and any other app • Load long cross-country tracks in seconds • See altitude, climb rate, and vario data at a glance • Analyze thermals, glides, and speed • Export your flights to GPX, KML, and CSV • Share flight summaries as images • Elegant dark mode designed for pilots • Works fully offline — no internet required FLIGHT ANALYSIS • Altitude curve with high and low markers • Vario graph showing climb and sink • Ground speed and airspeed overview • Thermal detection with climb statistics • Duration, distance, and route summary • Pilot, glider, and site details FOR EVERY PILOT Whether you fly cross-country, compete, or enjoy a relaxed weekend at the hill, IGC Viewer gives you the insight you need — from your very first flight onward. PRIVACY FIRST Your flights stay on your device. We never upload, store, or access your files. No account, no tracking. Your data is yours. Terms of Use: https://rush.tools/terms Privacy Policy: https://rush.tools/privacy

Screenshots

Vario One4 screens
IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader at every 9 days against Vario One's every 6 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Vario One sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Vario One ships an update every 6 weeks, IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Vario One versus IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVario OneIGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews85.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size105 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLeobalo GmbHRush Tools LLC

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Vario One

Subscriptions3
  • 7 days for Apple iPhone/Watch14 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • 3 month Apple iPhone/Watch14 Days trial$11.993 Months
  • 1 year iPhone and Apple Watch14 Days trial$22.991 Year
2 purchases

IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Pro$4.997 Days
  • Yearly Pro$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Vario One free?
Vario One is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader free?
IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Vario One or IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader have ads?
Neither Vario One nor IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Vario One or IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader?
Vario One ships an update every 6 weeks, and IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader every 9 days. Most recently, Vario One was updated on September 25, 2026 and IGC Viewer · Flight Log Reader on September 17, 2026.

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