Comparison

FAR/AIM by ASA vs N Numbers

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

Head to head
About

FAR/AIM by ASA

Access comprehensive aviation regulations and information, including the FAR, AIM, and Pilot/Controller Glossary. Features include free updates, text search, study by certificate, and customizable reading options. Stay current with daily FAA changes.

Highlights
  • Free updates
  • Complete FAR/AIM content
  • Study by certificate
  • Text search functionality
  • Customizable reading options
  • Highlight and bookmark text
Features
Read full description

ASA has built a reputation for providing the aviation community with the most accurate and reliable FAR/AIM products available. The FAR/AIM app continues this tradition, containing information from Titles 14 and 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 and 49 CFR) pertinent to pilots, flight instructors, flight crew, and aviation mechanics, combined with the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), and Pilot/Controller Glossary. ASA FAR/AIM app features: • Free Updates provided. • All of the ASA FAR/AIM, FAR for Flight Crew, and FAR for Aviation Maintenance Technician book contents are included: 14 CFR Parts 1, 3, 5, 13, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 33, 34, 35, 38, 39, 43, 45, 47, 48, 61, 63, 65, 67, 68, 71, 73, 89, 91, 97, 103, 105, 107, 110, 111, 117, 119, 120, 121, 125, 133, 135, 136, 137, 141, 142, 145, 147, 183, 194; 49 CFR Parts 172, 175, and 830; TSA 1544 and 1552; • The complete Aeronautical Information Manual including color figures. • Includes Advisory Circulars (AC) 20-62, 20-109, 21-12, 39-7, 43-9, 43.9-1, 65-30, Feedback Form. • Pilot/Controller Glossary included. • Study by Certificate lists for Private, Remote, Sport, Instrument/CFII, Commercial, Flight Instructor, Flight Engineer, and ATP allows aviators to hone their studies to the pertinent rules for their individual certificate and operation. • Text search helps you find what you’re looking for in the FAR, AIM, Advisory Circulars or all. • Profile and Landscape viewing available for easy reading and viewing figures. • Ability to increase text size. • Highlight and bookmark text to create your own study tools. ASA tracks FAA changes daily and updates the app when regulations and AIM changes affect pilot operations. The date shown for the app's update reflects the last regulatory change affecting content. A new update will be released when a rule change affects operations. None of the material in this publication supersedes any documents, procedures, or regulations issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). ASA does not claim copyright on any material included herein that was taken from United States government sources; all contents originate from the FAA.

About

N Numbers

Look up aircraft tail numbers directly from your device, even when offline. This app includes a compressed FAA registration database, perfect for pilots in flight or at remote locations. Update the database when you have an internet connection.

Highlights
  • Offline tail number lookup
  • Includes FAA registration database
  • Works in-flight
  • Database updates on ground
  • Compressed database
Read full description

This is the classic tail number search program, but with a twist. This app works in the air, making it the perfect tool for pilots while aviating or at remote airports. The entire FAA registration database (highly compressed) is included in the app - no cell signal or WiFi hotspot needed. And of course, the database can be updated when back on the ground.

Screenshots

FAR/AIM by ASA4 screens
N Numbers3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: N Numbers at $0.99 against FAR/AIM by ASA's $19.95. N Numbers also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 33%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). FAR/AIM by ASA's advantage is rating (3.4 vs 3.1) and chart position (#2 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

FAR/AIM by ASA costs $19.95 and N Numbers $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FAR/AIM by ASA holds the better App Store score, 3.4 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FAR/AIM by ASA has 253 ratings behind it against 28, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of FAR/AIM by ASA's written reviews are positive against 50% of N Numbers's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FAR/AIM by ASA ships an update every 5 months, N Numbers every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
FAR/AIM by ASA versus N Numbers: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFAR/AIM by ASAN Numbers
Price$19.95$0.99 — better
Rating3.4 (253 ratings) — better3.1 (28 ratings)
Positive reviews33.1% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings253 — better28
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 10 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#2 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperASAPost River Software

Customer experience

FAR/AIM by ASA

All ratings249 ratings
Positive50.2%
Neutral18.1%
Negative31.7%
Written reviews118 reviews
Positive33.1%
Neutral24.6%
Negative42.4%

N Numbers

All ratings27 ratings
Positive48.1%
Neutral14.8%
Negative37.0%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral26.7%
Negative23.3%

Bugs and requests

FAR/AIM by ASA

Reported bugs

16 issues
  • Search function returns too many irrelevant results or zero results
  • Highlights disappear after app updates
  • Highlights move randomly within text
  • App resets to home screen when switching apps
  • Bookmarks show blank pages
Show 11 more
  • Duplicate regulation entries appearing
  • Search function only works with exact word matches
  • Partial word searches return no results
  • Study by Certificate search function disabled
  • Font size adjustment buttons (A+/A-) non-functional
  • Search bar hidden under ASA logo
  • Regulations sometimes fail to open
  • Highlights from different sections mixed together
  • Content not updating with latest FAR/AIM changes
  • Performance degradation after updates
  • Chapter titles cut off with no expansion option

Requested features

19 requests
  • Cloud sync for highlights and bookmarks across devices
  • Note-taking and annotation capabilities
  • Multiple highlight colors
  • Dark mode for text content
  • Adjustable font size slider
Show 14 more
  • Apple Pencil support for handwriting
  • Custom bookmark titles/labels
  • Ability to organize bookmarks into folders
  • Hyperlinks between related regulations
  • Changelog/update notes for each version
  • Mac app optimization for larger displays
  • Printable pages
  • Add missing FAR parts (31, 47, 93, 95, etc.)
  • Improved search with phrase matching
  • Search highlighting within results
  • Table of Contents browsing
  • Proper indentation for subparts
  • Ability to unhighlight text
  • Dynamic Text support

N Numbers

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

FAR/AIM by ASA

No in-app purchases

None

N Numbers

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FAR/AIM by ASA free?
FAR/AIM by ASA costs $19.95, with no in-app purchases.
Is N Numbers free?
N Numbers costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FAR/AIM by ASA or N Numbers?
FAR/AIM by ASA is rated higher. FAR/AIM by ASA averages 3.4 out of 5 from 253 ratings, while N Numbers averages 3.1 from 28 ratings.
Do FAR/AIM by ASA or N Numbers have ads?
Neither FAR/AIM by ASA nor N Numbers shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FAR/AIM by ASA or N Numbers?
FAR/AIM by ASA ships an update every 5 months, and N Numbers every 10 months. Most recently, FAR/AIM by ASA was updated on November 4, 2026 and N Numbers on November 1, 2026.

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