# Glider Polar vs XCSoar

The clearest difference is price: XCSoar at Free against Glider Polar's $2.99. XCSoar also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 21 months). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

XCSoar is free to download; Glider Polar costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Glider Polar against 5.0 for XCSoar. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Glider Polar ships an update every 21 months, XCSoar monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Glider Polar | XCSoar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glider-polar/id1608086488/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xcsoar/id6741046464/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 21 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 2 MB | 35 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.2 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Robert Walker](https://appshunter.io/developer/299475042) | [praechtig gbr](https://appshunter.io/developer/1483050323) |

## What reviewers say

### Glider Polar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glider-polar/id1608086488)

This app predicts glider performance by allowing users to adjust gross weight and headwind. Experienced pilots can explore the impact of water ballast on glide ratio and speed, while beginners can visualize how wind and weight affect performance.

**Highlights:** Predicts glider glide performance, Adjustable gross weight, Adjustable headwind component, Shows effect of water ballast, Illustrates wind and weight impact

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### XCSoar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xcsoar/id6741046464)

An open-source flight navigation tool for gliders and sailplanes. It offers a moving map, task planning, airspace data, and thermal detection to aid pilots in route optimization and real-time flight information.

**Highlights:** Moving map display, Task planning, Airspace information, Thermal detection, Route optimization, Real-time flight data

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Glider Polar free?

Glider Polar costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is XCSoar free?

XCSoar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Glider Polar or XCSoar?

Glider Polar and XCSoar are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Glider Polar or XCSoar have ads?

Neither Glider Polar nor XCSoar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Glider Polar or XCSoar?

Glider Polar ships an update every 21 months, and XCSoar monthly. Most recently, Glider Polar was updated on October 27, 2026 and XCSoar on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*