Comparison

WatchType vs AeroRef

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

Head to head
About

WatchType

This app provides a full QWERTY keyboard for Apple Watch, enabling faster and more familiar text input. It supports multiple languages, extended characters, custom fonts, and GIFs, making messaging on your wrist more efficient and expressive.

Highlights
  • Full QWERTY keyboard on Apple Watch
  • Multi-language keyboard support
  • Extended Latin character support
  • Customizable fonts and color themes
  • Inclusion of GIFs and Emojis
  • Support for custom short text
Features
Read full description

WatchType allows you to use the missing QWERTY keyboard on Apple Watch, including old models. FEATURES: - Sending a message via Messages - Full QWERTY keyboard on your wrist - Easy typing on Apple Watch, including old models - Language-specific keyboard layouts: Native layouts for each language, including AZERTY (French) and QWERTZ (German) - Multi-language keyboard support: Select multiple languages and switch between them freely while typing - Support 162 extended Latin characters, including the following: à, á, â, ä, å, æ, ç, è, é, ê, ë, ì, í, î, ï, ð, ñ, ò, ..., for English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Icelandic, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Romanian, Croatian, Slovenian, Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malay, Indonesian, Turkish, Vietnamese. - 60+ Awesome Fonts included - 40+ Color Themes on the keyboard - 700+ Cool GIFs included - Numbers, Symbols - Full Unicode Emojis - Support custom short text (abbreviation) - Support watch complications to launch the app on the watch face quickly (It's useful when sending a reply message) (watchOS 9 or higher) - Double-tapping the space bar adds a dot(.) to the text. - Pressing the backspace button for 2+ seconds clears all text. - All configurations are stored on iCloud You can send messages quickly using the familiar QWERTY keyboard on your wrist without speaking in a quiet place or using the scribble keyboard. Privacy Policy: https://watchtype.app/pp/ Terms & Conditions: https://watchtype.app/tnc/ Support: https://support.bitsbaker.com/watchtype

About

AeroRef

This pilot companion app provides essential flight calculations and tools directly on your device, no internet needed. It features a UTC clock, dual-mode timer, and calculators for vertical speed, glide slope, and crosswind. Designed for clarity and speed in the cockpit, it offers large text, adjustable modes, and haptic feedback.

Highlights
  • UTC Clock
  • Dual-mode Timer
  • FPM Calculator
  • Glide Slope Calculator
  • Crosswind Calculator
  • Large, readable text
  • Dark/light display modes
Features
Read full description

AeroRef is a cockpit-ready pilot companion designed for quick, reliable reference during every phase of flight. Built for clarity and speed, AeroRef puts the calculations you need most at your fingertips — no internet required, no clutter, no distractions. UTC CLOCK Always know the time that matters. AeroRef displays the current UTC time prominently on the main screen so you never have to calculate the offset in your head. TIMER A dedicated dual-mode timer lets you count up or count down — perfect for timing approaches, holding patterns, fuel burns, or any time-critical phase of flight. Set a countdown duration, start it, and AeroRef will alert you when time is up with a sound and vibration alarm. Acknowledge the alarm with a single tap and get back to flying. FPM CALCULATOR Quickly calculate the vertical speed required to reach a target altitude in a given time. Select your altitude (0–51,000 ft in 1,000 ft steps) and your time (0–25 minutes), and AeroRef instantly displays the feet per minute needed. Ideal for planning descents and climbs without mental arithmetic in a high-workload environment. GLIDE SLOPE CALCULATOR Planning a visual or instrument approach? Select a glide slope angle (0–8° in 0.25° steps) and AeroRef calculates the ground distance required to descend from your selected altitude. Use it to plan your top-of-descent point or verify your approach profile at a glance. CROSSWIND CALCULATOR Enter the runway, wind direction, and wind speed — AeroRef calculates the crosswind and headwind/tailwind components instantly. Gust support lets you add a gust value above the steady wind speed to see gust crosswind component and gust factor side by side. Output is displayed in a clean METAR-style format showing left/right crosswind and head/tailwind so there's no ambiguity. BUILT FOR THE COCKPIT — Large, readable text with adjustable font size — Dark and light display modes to suit day and night operations — Haptic feedback for tactile confirmation — Portrait orientation locked for one-handed use — No ads, no subscriptions, no network connection required — All calculations performed locally and instantly on device DISCLAIMER AeroRef is intended as a reference aid only. Pilots are responsible for verifying all information against official sources and ensuring compliance with applicable aviation regulations and authority requirements. Do not use as a substitute for official charts, publications, or avionics.

Screenshots

WatchType4 screens
AeroRef3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: AeroRef at 5.0 against WatchType's 4.3. AeroRef also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). WatchType's advantage is ratings volume (168 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads 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. WatchType sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. AeroRef asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

AeroRef holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WatchType has 168 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WatchType ships an update every 2 months, AeroRef every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
WatchType versus AeroRef: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWatchTypeAeroRef
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (168 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings168 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBitsbaker LLC.Gateway Dynamic Software, LLC

Customer experience

WatchType

All ratings168 ratings
Positive82.1%
Neutral6.0%
Negative11.9%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral18.5%
Negative25.9%

AeroRef

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

In-app purchases

3 purchases

WatchType

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$6.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$9.99
None

AeroRef

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is WatchType free?
WatchType is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AeroRef free?
AeroRef is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, WatchType or AeroRef?
AeroRef is rated higher. WatchType averages 4.3 out of 5 from 168 ratings, while AeroRef averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do WatchType or AeroRef have ads?
Neither WatchType nor AeroRef shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WatchType or AeroRef?
WatchType ships an update every 2 months, and AeroRef every 3 days. Most recently, WatchType was updated on October 24, 2026 and AeroRef on October 29, 2026.

Other comparisons