WatchVario vs WingLog ULM
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
WatchVario
Read full descriptionHide full description
WatchVario can be used by glider pilots of all skill levels. Like other portable cockpit devices, the app is intended to be an backup source of altitude and vertical speed. It is not a replacement for cockpit panel instrumentation. Human factors was an important consideration during development. The app has a simple layout with both analog and digital information. This intuitive and familiar design minimizes the time needed for the pilot to acquire information. The app uses internal sensors to calculate altitude and rate of climb. The altitude is displayed in feet above mean sea level. The watch fuses GPS altitude and pressure sensor data to determine altitude. There is no need for the user to enter an altimeter setting. The variometer is uncompensated and displays actual rate of climb or descent in knots. The app uses Kalman filtering to smooth variometer readings. The app has a "demo mode" for use on the ground. When selected, the demo mode is clearly marked on the display and shows a moving altitude and variometer. This is handy for familiarization and demonstration.
WingLog ULM
Read full descriptionHide full description
WingLog is the flight companion designed for ultralight, microlight and light-sport pilots (ULM / VDS / LSA) β not a stripped-down version of a heavy IFR app, but a focused tool for how we actually fly VFR. GO / NO-GO IN PLAIN LANGUAGE Set your personal minima once. WingLog reads the latest METAR, TAF and SIGMET for your field (or the nearest station) and gives you a clear Green / Caution / Red verdict, explained in plain language β wind, crosswind, visibility, ceiling, weather, data age. It is the decision you make every morning, made faster. AUTOMATIC LOGBOOK Start tracking and fly. WingLog detects take-off and landing from GPS, identifies the airfields, and fills in route, duration, distance and the GPS track. Confirm with a tap. Your logbook stays private and syncs across your devices via iCloud. AIRFIELDS, AIRSPACE & WEATHER Browse a worldwide airfields database with runways, radio frequencies, sunrise/sunset, and the nearest weather β plus OpenAIP airspaces, navaids and VFR reporting points on an aeronautical map. Add the small UL strips that no one else maps, and share reviews and photos with the community. FLIGHT COMPUTER (E6B) Crosswind and headwind components, density altitude, top-of-descent and unit conversions β the calculations you actually use, offline. AIRCRAFT & MAINTENANCE Track engine hours (updated automatically from your flights), annual inspections and revision deadlines, with proactive reminders. Share an aircraft with co-owners: hours and flights stay in sync for everyone. ON YOUR LOCK SCREEN A Go/No-Go widget on your Lock Screen, and a Live Activity that keeps your flight timer and altitude in view while you fly. Ask Siri "Can I fly?". 3D FLIGHT REPLAY Relive any flight in 3D, with the track coloured by altitude over the real terrain you flew. METRIC OR US UNITS Visibility in metres or statute miles, pressure in hPa or inHg, temperature in Β°C or Β°F. FREE, FOR REAL Go/No-Go, the automatic logbook, GPS tracking, one aircraft and airfield browsing & contribution are free, forever. WingLog Pro unlocks the rest: PDF/CSV logbook export, advanced statistics & currency, 3D replay, unlimited aircraft, full maintenance with notifications, and aircraft sharing. Pro is an auto-renewing subscription (yearly or monthly) and starts with a 1-week free trial. β SAFETY β WingLog is a decision-support and record-keeping tool. Weather, airspace and airfield data come from third-party sources and may be incomplete or delayed. WingLog does not replace the official pre-flight briefing, NOTAMs or current aeronautical charts. The final decision always rests with the Pilot in Command. Languages: English, Italiano, EspaΓ±ol, FranΓ§ais, Deutsch. Fly safe β and remember, the final decision is always yours as PIC Subscription automatically renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: WingLog ULM at Free against WatchVario's $0.99. WingLog ULM also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 23 months) and device support (4 vs 2). WatchVario's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
WingLog ULM is free to download; WatchVario costs $0.99 up front. WingLog ULM sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. WatchVario asks for nothing beyond the download.
WatchVario ships an update every 23 months, WingLog ULM every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | WatchVario | WingLog ULM |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free β better |
| Update frequency | Every 23 months | Every 3 weeks β better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No β better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch β better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.0 β better |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 28 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Robert Walker | Giulio Fontana |
In-app purchases
WatchVario
No in-app purchases
WingLog ULM
- PRO Monthly Plan7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- PRO Annual Plan7 Days trial$24.991 Year
Questions
Is WatchVario free?
Is WingLog ULM free?
Do WatchVario or WingLog ULM have ads?
Which is updated more often, WatchVario or WingLog ULM?
Other comparisons















