Comparison

OzRunways EFB vs Balloon Nav

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

Head to head
About

OzRunways EFB

This app provides a comprehensive Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) solution for pilots, offering flight planning, GPS navigation, and access to essential aeronautical publications and maps. It supports offline use and includes features like weather radar and live flight tracking.

Highlights
  • Flight planning
  • GPS moving maps
  • Offline map downloads
  • Weather radar
  • Live flight tracking
  • Weight & Balance calculations
  • Aeronautical publication access
Features
Read full description

OzRunways - Australia's #1 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) is now available internationally. APPROVED BY Australian CASA under CASR 175. (See https://support.ozrunways.com/kb for information). Download now for a 1 month free trial. Download aeronautical publications onto your iPhone & iPad. See your position on every aviation map. Properly licensed documents ensure you will stay up-to-date with the latest amendments of: - Australian MAPS (Every updated VTC, VNC, WAC, ERC High/Low & PCA), ERSA, DAPS and AIP. - New Zealand ERC, VNC, Topographic 250k/50k, Vol 1-4 and LINZ Satellite maps. - Latin America maps and approach charts - South African 500k/1M/250k aero maps, plus entire continent TPC, ONC and OpenStreetMap. - Select European maps and charts - Global custom-made OpenStreetMap with airspace. - Skyvector global ERC and VNC maps Features: - Weather radar with lightning - Live flight tracking over cellular network - Weight & Balance - Flight planner - See your aircraft position on selected approach plates and taxi diagrams - GPS Moving maps with every waypoint/Navaid in the world from official databases. - Online and offline street address search. - Download all maps and charts for offline use. - Print documents to compatible printers using Apple AirPrint. - Full text search of AIP. - Download on demand (then save), or download all documents at home for offline use. - Annual subscription based login, so you aren't paying full price for a publication 1 week before it expires. - Night-time mode on iPad to reduce brightness. Use must be in accordance with applicable aviation regulations. Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. See https://support.ozrunways.com/kb FAQ for details.

About

Balloon Nav

This app provides advanced GPS mapping and live track sharing for pilots. It offers features like KML overlay loading, online/offline maps, drawing tools, and a database for storing flight data. Enhanced altitude readings are available with an optional Bluetooth module.

Highlights
  • Live track sharing (up to 8 users)
  • KML overlay and waypoint loading
  • Online/offline maps
  • Drawing and navigation line tools
  • Flight data logging
  • Piball reader and wind data plotter
  • Load calculator
Features
Read full description

Balloon Nav is a full featured GPS mapping and live track sharing app that has all the tools you need to get the most out of your flying. The live track sharing feature allows you to share your flight and receive the flight data from up to 8 others. The app has the full capabilities for loading kml overlays and waypoints, online/offline maps, drawing over the map, setting navigation lines, dropping markers and clicking the track line to get the GPS data. There is a robust database backend that stores the settings and track files for later (great for logbooks). There is a piball reader function that allows sharing readings with your tracking group and a met wind data plotter. In addition there is a load calculator, and as an extra purchase an addon bluetooth barometric altitude module available. Please be advised that the majority of this app will not be accessible without an in-app purchase of a monthly subscription. We provide a video user manual at the following youtube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHaHYG7fI3i_gDTIO9Kegsw This is a link to an example of a map definition file .. please watch the maps tutorial on youtube. Example of the USGS Topo map https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VaJqXiUeDZNB9IJJx_YGZrtFIVD4zzlW/view?usp=sharing The GPS system is quite poor for altitude calculation, so Balloon Nav has developed an add on Bluetooth Altitude Module that uses barometric altitude. The module connects seamlessly, has fine QNH control from the app and is very accurate. It will be available for purchase through eBay soon, search Balloon Nav Altitude Module on eBay.com.au. Terms of Use https://www.websitepolicies.com/policies/view/dZd5rrmd Privacy Policy https://www.websitepolicies.com/policies/view/eiZVGlyM Disclaimer https://www.websitepolicies.com/policies/view/VotkZOJO

Screenshots

OzRunways EFB4 screens
Balloon Nav2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: OzRunways EFB at free with in-app purchases against Balloon Nav's subscription. Balloon Nav's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 88%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. OzRunways EFB sells 12 one-off in-app purchases and Balloon Nav sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OzRunways EFB ships an update weekly, Balloon Nav fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
OzRunways EFB versus Balloon Nav: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOzRunways EFBBalloon Nav
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (145 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings145 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size74 MB95 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperOzRunways Pty. Ltd.Anthony Kerr

Customer experience

OzRunways EFB

All ratings145 ratings
Positive94.5%
Neutral3.4%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews105 reviews
Positive87.6%
Neutral5.7%
Negative6.7%

Balloon Nav

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

12 purchases

OzRunways EFB

One-time12
  • Latin America VFR Standard$14.99
  • Latin America VFR Plus$28.99
  • Latin America IFR Premium$59.99
Show 9 more
  • Africa & Middle East$69.99
  • Australia VFR Standard$99.99
  • New Zealand VFR$119.99
  • Australia Essential$149.99
  • New Zealand Essential$149.99
  • New Zealand Plus$229.00
  • Australia Plus$229.00
  • New Zealand Ultimate$349.00
  • Australia Ultimate$399.00
3 purchases

Balloon Nav

Subscriptions3
  • Track you plus two others$3.491 Month
  • Track you plus 4 others$4.991 Month
  • Track you and 8 others$6.491 Month

Questions

Is OzRunways EFB free?
OzRunways EFB is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Balloon Nav free?
Balloon Nav is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do OzRunways EFB or Balloon Nav have ads?
Neither OzRunways EFB nor Balloon Nav shows ads.
Which is updated more often, OzRunways EFB or Balloon Nav?
OzRunways EFB ships an update weekly, and Balloon Nav fortnightly. Most recently, OzRunways EFB was updated on September 23, 2026 and Balloon Nav on September 18, 2026.

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