Comparison

Zulu Time vs CX

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

Head to head
About

Zulu Time

This app displays local and UTC (Zulu) time, along with multiple time zones, on your iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad. It offers widgets for quick access and features for calculating future or past times with offsets, simplifying timezone conversions for various professions.

Highlights
  • Display local and Zulu (UTC) time
  • Multiple time zone display
  • Home and Lock Screen widgets
  • Apple Watch complications
  • Future/past time offset calculations
  • Time zone conversion
Features
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An iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad app to see Local and Zulu time (GMT) or multiple time zones in a single glance. Includes Widgets for both the iPhone and Apple Watch. Useful for pilots in getting weather briefings and filing flight plans, or Ham radio operators to do timezone conversions. No more worrying about getting the timezone offset correct or Daylight Savings Time conversions. Easily convert from different time zones, including times in the future or past. On the iPhone: - Home and Lock Screen widgets - The Zulu Time page gives a quick view of both Zulu and Local times - The Offset Time page allows you to see Zulu and local time either in the future or past by entering an offset via the Offset button. Tapping either Zulu or Local times will allow you to enter a time in the future or past, synchronizing both Local and Zulu times with that offset. The offset only applies to this view (except on the iPad the offset applies to everything on the page) - The Multiple Zones page allows you to add as many time zones as you wish in a scrolling view. Clicking on any Time Zone will allow you to change it. on iPad: All information is combined on one screen. You have user customizable time zones on the right hand side. On the left, you have Zulu and Local time and one customizable time zone. The offset to see future or past time can be done via the Offset button or tapping any of either the Zulu, Local or Custom time buttons on the left. On the Watch: Complications available in all watch faces making for glanceable ZuluTime and access to the app, which gives offset able time computation.

About

CX

This aviation tool simplifies flight planning for pilots. It offers accurate calculations for time, speed, distance, fuel, and more, along with unit conversions and a built-in calculator. Designed for ease of use, it guides users through flight planning and execution with a natural menu flow.

Highlights
  • Flight planning calculations
  • Time, speed, distance functions
  • Fuel and altitude calculations
  • Unit conversions (12 categories)
  • Weight and balance calculations
  • Holding pattern details
  • Built-in calculator, clock, timer
Currently charting
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Based on the ASA CX-3® Flight Computer for pilots, this CX-3 app makes flight planning simple by taking confusion out of the equation. Fast, versatile and easy to use, the CX-3® delivers accurate results quickly and efficiently. Whether used for flight planning, ground school, or FAA Knowledge Exam preparation, the menu organization reflects the order in which a flight is normally planned and executed, resulting in a natural flow from one function to the next with a minimum of keystrokes. Multiple aviation functions can be performed on the CX-3® flight computer including those related to time, speed, distance, heading, wind, fuel, altitude, cloud base, standard atmosphere, glide, climb & descent, weight & balance, as well as a holding pattern function to help determine entry method and holding details. The CX-3® has 12 unit-conversions: Distance, Speed, Duration, Temperature, Pressure, Volume, Rate, Weight, Rate of Climb/Descent, Angle of Climb/Descent, Torque, and Angle. These 12 conversion categories contain 38 different conversion factors for over 100 functions. A calculator, clock, timer, and stopwatch are also built in along with multiple settings for lighting, backlighting, themes, time zones and more.

Screenshots

Zulu Time4 screens
CX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Zulu Time at $0.99 against CX's $19.99. Zulu Time also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 36%) and rating (4.8 vs 3.7). CX's advantage is chart position (#109 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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

Zulu Time costs $0.99 and CX $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Zulu Time holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zulu Time has 2.6K ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Zulu Time's written reviews are positive against 36% of CX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zulu Time ships an update every 3 months, CX every 8 months. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Zulu Time versus CX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZulu TimeCX
Price$0.99 — better$19.99
Rating4.8 (2.6K ratings) — better3.7 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews78.6% of reviews — better35.7% of reviews
Number of ratings2.6K — better11
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#109 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDerek SpearsASA

Customer experience

Zulu Time

All ratings2,609 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.6%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews98 reviews
Positive78.6%
Neutral10.2%
Negative11.2%

CX

All ratings11 ratings
Positive63.6%
Neutral9.1%
Negative27.3%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive35.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative57.1%

Bugs and requests

Zulu Time

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Complication freezes after a few days
  • Zulu time loses accuracy over time on Apple Watch
  • Widget not updating local time properly

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add alarm feature
  • Allow landscape mode for bedside clock view
  • Provide option for always-on display
  • Add time zone map for quick reference
  • Show day of year in display

CX

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Zulu Time

No in-app purchases

None

CX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zulu Time free?
Zulu Time costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is CX free?
CX costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Zulu Time or CX?
Zulu Time is rated higher. Zulu Time averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while CX averages 3.7 from 11 ratings.
Do Zulu Time or CX have ads?
Neither Zulu Time nor CX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Zulu Time or CX?
Zulu Time ships an update every 3 months, and CX every 8 months. Most recently, Zulu Time was updated on October 26, 2026 and CX on October 26, 2026.

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