Comparison

iBal Rotary vs Microsoft Excel

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

Head to head
About

iBal Rotary

This app helps helicopter pilots quickly calculate weight and balance for their aircraft. It supports numerous helicopter models and allows users to add custom aircraft configurations. The app provides graphical displays and can email mission manifests, aiding in compliance with aviation regulations.

Highlights
  • Supports numerous helicopter types
  • Add custom aircraft configurations
  • Graphical CG displays
  • Email mission manifests
  • Detects weight and CG problems
  • Predefined load lists
Features
Read full description

iBal Rotary is a dedicated Helicopter weight and balance app for iPhone, iPad, iPod and Mac. Designed from the ground up for professional and private helicopter pilots, it provides for quick and easy entry of loads and checks against type-specific weight, lateral and longitudinal CG limits, load station limits etc. Graphical displays, mission and manifest sent by email and much more. Online information, help and discussion at http://groups.google.com/group/ibal-help http://www.airspayce.com/airspayce/ibal Quick Reference Sheet http://www.airspayce.com/iBal/ReferenceSheet.pdf Features: Many types supported: See http://www.airspayce.com/airspayce/ibal/ibal-types-supported for detailed list of supported types and configurations. Robinson R22 Beta, BetaII, Alpha, HP, R44, R44 II, R66 Agusta A109AII, A109E, A119 and AW119 MK II Agusta Bell AB212 IFR Pax Agusta-Westland AW109SP, AW139 Bell 205A-1 and 205A-1 with STC SH5977NM, 204B, 206B3 Jet Ranger, 206L Long Ranger (L, L1, L3, and L4 models), 210, 222U, 230, 212, 407, 412, 427, 429, 430 Schweizer/Hughes 269C/300C, 333, 333M Hughes OH-6A Eurocopter AS350 B, BA, BA+, B1, B2, B3, D Squirrel, AS332, AS355 N, NP, F1 and F2 twin Squirrel AS365 N1, N2, N3 Dauphin, BK117 A-3, A-4, B, C-1, C+, EC120B Colibri, EC130 B4, EC135 P2+, EC130/H130 EC155 B,B1, EC225 LP Enstrom 280FX, 480B Boeing CH-47 Chinook Cabri G2 MD500D (369D), MD530F-Plus (369FF), MD600N, MD902 MBB105 LS A3 Sikorsky S-76A,A+,A++, S-76B, C, S-76C++, S-92A, UH-61A,L Blackhawk Add any number of your own aircraft, including preconfigured loads and photos of your own aircraft. Send completed CG Solutions (including manifest) and CG graphs to any email address (internet connection required) Configurable Name, BEW, longitudinal and lateral arms and photo for your own aircraft (from camera or photo roll where supported). Easy entry and adjustment of passengers, fuel, cargo and suspended loads. Displays CG for loaded and empty fuel, critical fuel loads with and without any suspended load. Detects and displays weight, longitudinal and lateral CG problems. Displays available load until limits will be exceeded. Displays weights, arms and CG solutions in graphical and tabular formats, with problem alerts. Support for optional Passenger names and Flight Details which appear on the CG solution spreadsheet and are transmitted when Send tapped. This supports new FAA rules requiring FAR Part 135 (Air Taxi) Operators to manifest every flight stage and for it to be transmitted back to base. Support for Predefined Loads: user definable list of commonly carried loads and their weights. Useful for EMS staff lists, oil rig personnel lists, common cargo items etc. List of predefined loads can be accessed from the load edit page to automatically enter the weight and description. The list can be customised to include any number of your own personnel names or freight descriptions plus the weight of each. Predefined loads can be added or removed from your list at any time, and will not be lost when you update iBal. Loads can be entered in your choice of suitable unit: kg, lbs, USGals, litres, stones (also fuel % in applicable types). Supports iPhone gestures: Drag passengers and cargo between stations Flick cargo and passengers off Zoom and scroll floorplans, graphs and load sheets Aircraft-specific Custom Load Stations, allowing you to add new or non-standard loading positions to your own aircraft. Displays helpful loading data, limits and hints. Optional Alert sounds and vibration for bad solutions for easy in-flight use. Configurable fuel SGs Supports Apple AirPrint, Retina, iOS 5 and later on iPhone, iPad, etc. Works with Aeronet http://www.aeronet.co.nz/ a world class maintenance, flight and duty tracking system. Allows operators to automatically update their Aeronet records with the flight details emailed by iBal. Reduces the time and cost of records compliance.

About

Microsoft Excel

This powerful productivity app allows you to create, view, and edit spreadsheets on the go. Manage data, perform calculations, and analyze information with robust formatting and charting tools. Share your work easily with others.

Highlights
  • Create, view, and edit spreadsheets
  • Data analysis with charts and graphs
  • Budgeting and accounting tools
  • Customizable tables and formatting
  • Share files with collaborators
  • Draw and annotate with ink
Read full description

Review files and run data analysis on the go. Customise tables the way you want with robust formatting tools and great features. Excel lets you build your spreadsheet to meet your specific needs. Get the power of AI with Copilot in your favourite apps when you sign in with your Microsoft 365 subscription. Create templates, edit spreadsheets, organise charts and share with ease when you download Microsoft Excel. Tables and Spreadsheets: Create, Calculate and Analyse • Jump-start your budget, task list, accounting or financial analysis with Excel’s modern templates. • Rich productivity features and formatting options make your workbook easier to read and use. Productivity App: Review, Edit and Work Anywhere • Refresh sheet data or update your task list from anywhere. • Spreadsheet features like sort and filter columns help focus your reviews. • Create, duplicate, hide and unhide sheets easily. Data Analysis: Discover Key Insights on the Go • Analyse data using charts and graphs. • Highlight key insights using chart labelling features. • Visualise data at a glance. Finance Budgeting and Accounting: Simplify Personal Finance • Use spreadsheets and charts to help manage budgets. • Familiar tools to help you drill down to your exact finance needs. • Calculate tax estimates, personal finances and more. Draw and Annotate with Ink: Capture Ideas on the Page • Make notes, highlight your worksheet, create shapes or write equations using the draw tab feature on devices with touch capabilities. Sharing Made Easy: Collaborate Anywhere • Share your files with a few taps to quickly invite others to edit, view or leave comments directly in your workbooks. • Copy the content of your worksheet in the body of an email message with its format intact or attach or copy a link to your workbook for other sharing options. • Send worksheet content in an email while preserving formatting or send a link to your workbook. AI Assistance with Copilot* • Summarise data and highlight trends quickly. • Generate charts and tables from raw data with simple prompts. • Get intelligent recommendations for budgeting and forecasting. REQUIREMENTS: 1 GB RAM or above To create or edit documents, sign in with a free Microsoft account on devices with a screen size smaller than 10.1 inches. *Unlock the full Microsoft 365 experience with a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription for your phone, tablet, PC and Mac. This app is provided by either Microsoft or a third-party app publisher and is subject to a separate privacy statement and terms and conditions. Data provided through the use of this store and this app may be accessible to Microsoft or the third-party app publisher, where applicable, and transferred to, stored and processed in the United States or any other country where Microsoft or the app publisher and their affiliates or service providers maintain facilities. Please refer to Microsoft's EULA for Terms of Service for Microsoft 365 on iOS. By installing the app, you agree to these terms and conditions: http://aka.ms/eula

Screenshots

iBal Rotary4 screens
Microsoft Excel4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iBal Rotary at 83% against Microsoft Excel's 24%. iBal Rotary also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 15). Microsoft Excel's advantage is price (Free vs $17.99) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On ads 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

Microsoft Excel is free to download; iBal Rotary costs $17.99 up front. Microsoft Excel sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. iBal Rotary asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Microsoft Excel holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft Excel has 1.5M ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of iBal Rotary's written reviews are positive against 24% of Microsoft Excel's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iBal Rotary ships an update every 2 months, Microsoft Excel weekly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
iBal Rotary versus Microsoft Excel: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriBal RotaryMicrosoft Excel
Price$17.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (23 ratings)4.7 (1.5M ratings) — better
Positive reviews82.9% of reviews — better24.4% of reviews
Number of ratings231.5M — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank—#20 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB436 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperAirSpayceMicrosoft Corporation

Customer experience

iBal Rotary

All ratings23 ratings
Positive87.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.0%
Written reviews76 reviews
Positive82.9%
Neutral2.6%
Negative14.5%

Microsoft Excel

All ratings1,460,557 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.3%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews3,588 reviews
Positive24.4%
Neutral6.4%
Negative69.2%

User reviews

iBal Rotary

From 23 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and accurate calculations
  • 👍 User-friendly and simple interface
  • 🛠️ Excellent customer support
  • ✅ Reliable and functional
  • 💡 Versatile and complete

Room to improve

  • 💰 Repurchase required for new versions
  • 🔊 Annoying sounds
  • 👎 Poor user interface
  • 📉 Outdated data
  • 🤷‍♂️ Stations cannot be deleted

Microsoft Excel

From 1.5M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💻 Powerful and feature-rich
  • 🔍 Useful for data management and analysis
  • 🔧 Convenient for on-the-go work
  • 🤝 Good integration with Microsoft ecosystem
  • 🤩 Excellent for personal and professional use

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Subscription required for full functionality
  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes
  • 📱 Limited features compared to desktop version
  • 🤔 Confusing user interface changes
  • 🤯 Frustrating syncing and file management issues

Bugs and requests

iBal Rotary

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes on iPhone 4 since latest update
  • Choose photo function does not work on iPad Mini Retina
  • Math is sometimes wrong
  • Rounding of aircraft values is annoying

Requested features

10 requests
  • Add B3E aircraft
  • Ability to modify aircraft data
  • Add BK-117 D2/D3 (H145) to aircraft list
  • Add Bell 505 to aircraft library
  • Input fuel burn to calculate flight duration estimate
Show 5 more
  • Adjustable minimum fuel
  • Add AS 350 B3 to list
  • Simplify PDF/printed page to one page
  • Remove sound features
  • Allow building own configuration with lateral c of g

Microsoft Excel

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Inability to open or edit files
  • Unexpected app closures
  • Syncing problems with OneDrive
  • Formatting issues when copying and pasting
  • Slow performance on high-end devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Conditional formatting options
  • Ability to open password-protected files
  • Improved Apple Pencil and keyboard support
  • Customizable keyboard shortcuts
  • Better compatibility with Dropbox and other cloud storage

In-app purchases

None

iBal Rotary

No in-app purchases

12 purchases

Microsoft Excel

Subscriptions12
  • Office 365 Personal1 Month trial$5.991 Month
  • Office 365 Personal1 Month trial$6.991 Month
  • Microsoft 365 Personal Student1 Month trial$9.991 Month
Show 9 more
  • Microsoft 365 Personal1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • Microsoft 365 Family1 Month trial2 variants$12.991 Month
  • Office 365 Home1 Month trial$12.991 Month
  • Microsoft 365 Premium Monthly1 Month trial$19.991 Month
  • Microsoft Copilot Pro$20.001 Month
  • Office 365 Personal$69.991 Year
  • Microsoft 365 Personal1 Month trial$99.991 Year
  • Office 365 Home$129.991 Year
  • Microsoft 365 Family1 Month trial$129.991 Year

Questions

Is iBal Rotary free?
iBal Rotary costs $17.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Microsoft Excel free?
Microsoft Excel is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, iBal Rotary or Microsoft Excel?
Microsoft Excel is rated higher. iBal Rotary averages 4.4 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while Microsoft Excel averages 4.7 from 1.5M ratings.
Do iBal Rotary or Microsoft Excel have ads?
Neither iBal Rotary nor Microsoft Excel shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iBal Rotary or Microsoft Excel?
iBal Rotary ships an update every 2 months, and Microsoft Excel weekly. Most recently, iBal Rotary was updated on September 25, 2026 and Microsoft Excel on September 25, 2026.

Other comparisons