Comparison

Zulu Time vs C172 Performance

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
Read full description

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

C172 Performance

This app calculates essential flight performance data for Cessna 172 and 150 aircraft. It covers takeoff, landing, climb, cruise, descent, instrument procedures, and emergencies, with additional tools for holds and glide calculations. Cloud sync ensures your flight plans are accessible across devices.

Highlights
  • Takeoff and landing calculations
  • Climb, cruise, and descent performance
  • Instrument procedure planning
  • Emergency scenario calculations
  • Interactive hold calculator
  • Emergency glide distance calculator
  • Cloud sync for flight plans
Features
Read full description

C172 Performance computes all the useful performance numbers for flight planning for Cessna model 172 and 150 aircraft. It includes calculations for takeoff, landing, climb, cruise, descent, instrument procedures as well as emergencies. It also includes an interactive hold calculator, a risk analysis tool, and an emergency glide distance calculator that handles head and tailwinds. C172 Performance is also available on other mobile devices and as a WebApp (an App that runs in a browser) that runs on a variety of platforms (PC, Mac, tablets, phones). The cloud sync feature allows flight planning profiles entered on any device to be synchronized with your other devices when connected to the Internet. C172 Performance is a free, open-source development effort and has Apps and WebApps for other aircraft. See http://pohperformance.com for complete details.

Screenshots

Zulu Time4 screens
C172 Performance4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: C172 Performance at Free against Zulu Time's $0.99. C172 Performance also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 79%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.6). Zulu Time's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (2.6K vs 52). On rating, update cadence, in-app purchases 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

C172 Performance is free to download; Zulu Time costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Zulu Time against 4.9 for C172 Performance. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zulu Time has 2.6K ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of Zulu Time's written reviews are positive against 90% of C172 Performance's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Zulu Time ships an update every 3 months, C172 Performance every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Zulu Time versus C172 Performance: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZulu TimeC172 Performance
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (2.6K ratings)4.9 (52 ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.6% of reviews90.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.6K — better52
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDerek SpearsPOH Performance L.L.C.

Customer experience

Zulu Time

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

C172 Performance

All ratings52 ratings
Positive98.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral3.3%
Negative6.7%

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

C172 Performance

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Zulu Time

No in-app purchases

None

C172 Performance

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zulu Time free?
Zulu Time costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is C172 Performance free?
C172 Performance is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Zulu Time or C172 Performance?
C172 Performance is rated higher. Zulu Time averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.6K ratings, while C172 Performance averages 4.9 from 52 ratings.
Do Zulu Time or C172 Performance have ads?
C172 Performance shows ads; Zulu Time does not.
Which is updated more often, Zulu Time or C172 Performance?
Zulu Time ships an update every 3 months, and C172 Performance every 2 months. Most recently, Zulu Time was updated on October 26, 2026 and C172 Performance on October 24, 2026.

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