Comparison

Paragliding Map vs Variometer+

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

Head to head
About

Paragliding Map

This app provides comprehensive flight site information, forecasts, and real-time weather data for paragliders and hang gliders worldwide. It features over 15,000 launch sites, 7,500 landings, and 30,000 weather stations, along with airspace and NOTAMs for safety.

Highlights
  • 15,000+ launch sites
  • 7,500+ landing sites
  • 30,000+ weather stations
  • Live webcams and photos
  • Airspace and NOTAMs
  • Valley wind and wind animation
  • SOS and ride requests
Features
Read full description

The world's most popular free-flight app! The most comprehensive source for site info, forecasts, webcams, photos & more! See where you can fly right now. Worldwide! ▪ Explore over 15,000 launch sites, 7,500 landings, 30,000 weather stations and 39,000 webcams. ▪ Official data from the DHV, Flyland, FFVL, Paragliding Earth and more. ▪ Forecasts from Meteoblue, Windy and WindFinder. ▪ Live webcams. ▪ Photos give you a great impression of each spot. ▪ Valley winds - Arrows show valley wind directions in the European Alps. ▪ Wind animation - View clouds, thunderstorms, rain and wind at different altitudes. ▪ Airspace - View airspace and NOTAMs (short notice, daily airspace restrictions) on the map. ▪ Official NOTAMs - View Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) on the map from international aviation authorities. A vital safety feature for every flight! ▪ Automatic NOTAM warnings - A prominent warning is displayed when an active NOTAM impacts your launch or landing. ▪ Filter the map to show only launches for paragliding, hang gliding, speed flying, thermalling, soaring, hike & fly, public transport, wind speed and much more! ▪ See soaring index, cloud cover, weather warnings and much more! ▪ Many forecast providers: UK MetOffice, German Weather Service, Meteo France, meteoblue, ECMWF, NOAA and others! ▪ Real-time weather station data from Pioupiou, Holfuy, MADIS and FFVL show you actual weather conditions. ▪ 3D view. ▪ "Hike & fly" trails. ▪ Ski lifts, cable cars and gondolas. ▪ Automatic translation of site descriptions into English. ▪ See future flying conditions on the map by using the Time Travel Slider. ▪ Directions to each spot using navigation. ▪ Favourites can be saved for easy access later. ▪ Alerts - Receive push notifications the evening before selected launches are flyable. ▪ Advanced search. ▪ Send “SOS!” and “I need a ride” messages to friends, including your GPS coordinates. ▪ Links to original info from the DHV, Flyland, FFVL und Paragliding Earth. ▪ No advertising. ▪ Full support included.   Your feedback is always welcome. Help us to make the best paragliding app in the world! Many feature of Paragliding Map are free but supported by advertising. If you choose to make any in-app purchase, advertising will automatically turn off and your purchase will be enabled (webcams, forecasts, etc). Information about subscriptions: Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions will auto-renew unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and will renew for the same price as the original subscription. You can cancel your subscription after purchasing by clicking the "manage subscriptions" button within the app or by opening Account Settings on your device. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during the active subscription period. Any unused portion of the free trial period will be forfeited when purchasing the subscription. Paragliding Map is a fully supported product. If you have any problems, please let me know and I will help you personally. Privacy policy and terms and conditions can be found at https://www.paraglidingmap.com/TermsAndConditions.aspx

About

Variometer+

This app provides a highly responsive variometer for paragliding, hang gliding, and aviation. It offers customizable beeps, haptic feedback, and ground speed/altitude displays, with an independent Apple Watch app for full functionality on your wrist.

Highlights
  • Highly responsive variometer algorithm
  • Audible beeps and haptic feedback
  • Ground speed and altitude display
  • Sink alarm
  • Customizable settings and sounds
  • Independent Apple Watch app
Features
Read full description

Variometer+ is the most responsive variometer for your iPhone or/and Apple Watch. Works for all activities (paragliding, hang gliding, aviation, ...). • Super reactive / responsive thanks to a very advanced algorithm • Beeps like a real variometer (or haptic feedback on your wrist) • Shows ground speed & altitude (sea level & relative to take-off) • Sink alarm • Entirely configurable (settings sync with Apple Watch through iCloud) • Choose among several gauges • Change units (m/s, ft/min, ...) • Customize beeps tresholds • Customize gauge max & min values based on your activity • Customize the sound of your vario (frequency, cadence, ...) for maximum comfort • Independent Apple Watch app (sound, haptic feedback, ...) → everything on your wrist • ... and more Use at your own risk. The creator cannot be held responsible for any issue that might arise. Common sense should prevail. Fly safe! This app respects your privacy and does not collect any data. Feedback is welcome and appreciated, you can contact me from within the app :-). Please be nice with me ;-). About the algorithm: This variometer is not an ordinary app. To provide this level of responsiveness, a very advanced mathematical technique is being used. This is called ‘Sensor fusion’. It uses data from multiple sensors of your devices, and combines them to increase accuracy and responsiveness. This has been developed in collaboration with researchers from the university of UCLouvain in Belgium. Because of the efficiency, hence complexity, of the algorithm, a great amount of computational power is required. This is why, based on the tests, the advanced level of responsiveness is only available on recent devices. The app still works - but is less responsive - on older devices though. Enjoy! --------- The terms of use & privacy policy can be found here: https://variometer.app/terms-and-privacy.html

Screenshots

Paragliding Map4 screens
Variometer+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Variometer+ at 4.8 against Paragliding Map's 4.1. Variometer+ also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (89% vs 77%). On price, ratings volume, 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. Paragliding Map sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Variometer+ sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Variometer+ holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 50 and 27 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Paragliding Map's written reviews are positive against 89% of Variometer+'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Paragliding Map ships an update every 2 months, Variometer+ every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Paragliding Map versus Variometer+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterParagliding MapVariometer+
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (50 ratings)4.8 (27 ratings) — better
Positive reviews77.1% of reviews89.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings50 — better27
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.615.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size41 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCraig PayneiSolid apps

Customer experience

Paragliding Map

All ratings50 ratings
Positive74.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative18.0%
Written reviews118 reviews
Positive77.1%
Neutral5.1%
Negative17.8%

Variometer+

All ratings27 ratings
Positive96.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive89.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.5%

Bugs and requests

Paragliding Map

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • App crashes or freezes
  • Unsubscribe function not working
  • Unexpected charges after cancellation
  • Purchase bugs (pro features not enabled)
  • Inaccurate wind direction/speed reporting
Show 9 more
  • Sites marked as flyable but are not
  • App not loading or showing white screen
  • Favorites not saving after phone change
  • Error 404 with Windfinder integration
  • Icon flyable/non-flyable doesn't match text info
  • Map placement errors (e.g., Dunstable Downs)
  • Webcam price too high
  • App does not handle landscape orientation on website
  • Restoration of purchase not working

Requested features

11 requests
  • Add contact info for local instructors and clubs
  • Include locations for gear purchase
  • Filter search by altitude difference
  • Visualize nesting zones (ZSM)
  • Add date to future planning preview
Show 6 more
  • Improve recognition for user contributions (reviews, photos)
  • Add iPad version
  • Tailor for all powerless flight groups, not just paragliding
  • Show wind as arrows and option for mph
  • Integration with hill top weather stations
  • Option to buy for a lifetime payment

Variometer+

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Paragliding Map

Subscriptions2
  • PRO subscription1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • PRO subscription1 Month trial$95.991 Year
One-time5
  • Remove Advertising Only$0.99
  • Small donation$0.99
  • Buy Craig a beer$4.99
Show 2 more
  • Webcams and Forecasts, Ad-free$9.99
  • Lifetime PRO Subscription$449.99
3 purchases

Variometer+

Subscriptions2
  • Vario PRO Monthly$6.991 Month
  • Vario PRO Yearly3 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Vario PRO Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is Paragliding Map free?
Paragliding Map is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Variometer+ free?
Variometer+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Paragliding Map or Variometer+?
Variometer+ is rated higher. Paragliding Map averages 4.1 out of 5 from 50 ratings, while Variometer+ averages 4.8 from 27 ratings.
Do Paragliding Map or Variometer+ have ads?
Neither Paragliding Map nor Variometer+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Paragliding Map or Variometer+?
Paragliding Map ships an update every 2 months, and Variometer+ every 3 weeks. Most recently, Paragliding Map was updated on September 23, 2026 and Variometer+ on September 23, 2026.

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