Element Ballistics vs Athlon Ballistics
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Element Ballistics
This app offers precise firing solutions with a user-friendly interface. Create custom rifle profiles, select from a vast bullet database, and calibrate ballistics for accuracy. It also provides weather reports and integrates with smart devices.
- Create ballistic profiles for rifles
- Extensive bullet database with drag profiles
- Calibrate ballistics (BC, Muzzle Velocity)
- View ballistic data graphs and tables
- Predicted point of impact in reticle view
- Obtain local weather reports
- Connect with smart devices
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Element Ballistics provides accurate and reliable firing solutions through a friendly user interface. -Create ballistic profiles for different rifles. -Choose bullets from an extensive database featuring Doppler-verified drag profiles. -Calibrate BC, Muzzle Velocity and more using the “true” feature, and choose from a variety of drag functions (G1, G7, GA, RA4) -View graphs and tables with ballistic data, and export/import profiles. -View predicted point of impact in a reticle view (FFP and SFP). -Obtain weather reports for your location. -Connect with smart devices like the Element HYPR-7 and Element Rangefinders to synchronise profiles & preferences.
Athlon Ballistics
This app provides advanced ballistic solutions and integrates with thermal devices to upload ballistic data. It allows users to manage rifle and bullet profiles, customize reticles, and create holdovers directly on compatible thermal scopes and clip-ons.
- Advanced ballistic solutions
- G1/G7 factory cartridge library
- Upload data to thermal scopes
- Thermal control interface
- Set rifle and bullet profiles
- Create BDC holdovers
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Athlon Ballistics is the companion app for Athlon Optics shooters. Use it with your Athlon chronograph, with supported Athlon thermal scopes and clip-ons, or on its own as a ballistic calculator. CHRONOGRAPH • Connects to your Athlon chronograph over Bluetooth, automatically when it is near. • Live screen: see the velocity of every shot as you fire, with average, extreme spread (ES), standard deviation (SD), maximum, minimum and energy. • Name each session, add notes, and link it to a rifle and a bullet. • Compare and merge sessions. • Sessions sync to your account and come back on a new phone. • Export sessions to a spreadsheet and share them. • Update the chronograph firmware from the app. BALLISTIC CALCULATOR • Firing solutions with G1 and G7 drag models. • A library of factory cartridges and bullets. Add your own bullet with its BC, weight and length. • Rifle and bullet profiles with sight height, twist rate and zero distance. • Live local weather for the solution, or enter the conditions yourself. • Ballistic charts with your own ranges and steps. Export them to a spreadsheet. ATHLON RETICLES • See your hold on the real Athlon reticle for your scope. ATHLON THERMAL SCOPES • Quick Connect: pick your supported Athlon thermal scope or clip-on, including the new Athlon DCM, and the app joins its Wi-Fi network for you. • Live view from the scope. On supported scopes, take photos and videos that save to the scope's card, then save them to your phone from the scope's album. • Send rifle and bullet profiles to the scope's ballistic calculator. On DCM scopes, holdover marks come from your profiles. • Change reticle type and color, and set BDC holdovers on supported scopes. YOUR DATA • Sign in with email, Google or Apple. Profiles and sessions stay with your account. • Imperial and metric units. English, German, French, Spanish and Italian. • Delete your account from the app at any time. HELP Open Help in the app, or send us feedback from the app. You can also email contact@athlonoptics.com.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Athlon Ballistics at 4.6 against Element Ballistics's 3.6. Element Ballistics's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly) and review sentiment (25% vs 16%). 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Athlon Ballistics holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 32 and 45 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 25% of Element Ballistics's written reviews are positive against 16% of Athlon Ballistics's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Element Ballistics ships an update every 9 days, Athlon Ballistics monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Element Ballistics | Athlon Ballistics |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.6 (32 ratings) | 4.6 (45 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews — better | 16.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 32 | 45 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 81 MB | 162 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Element Optics | Sportsgear Outdoor Products LLC |
Customer experience
Element Ballistics
Athlon Ballistics
Bugs and requests
Element Ballistics
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Athlon Ballistics
Reported bugs
33 issues- App will not sync sessions
- Exported data has incorrect/reverted session names and variables
- App will not open on iPhone
- App crashes when using specific reticles
- Cannot enter elevation or DA
Show 28 moreShow fewer
- App won't stay connected to chronograph
- Firmware update freezes
- Chronograph not recognized as a hard drive on Windows
- App freezes during firmware updates
- Chronograph locks up when syncing
- Bluetooth connection fails
- QR code scan opens wrong app store
- Login button is grayed out
- Cannot create an account
- Password complexity rules are restrictive
- Keyboard covers input fields
- Data disappears after updates
- App crashes when loading scope reticles
- Unable to add rifle or bullet profiles
- App freezes at 50% or 76% during device update
- Syncing locks up the chronograph
- App doesn't sync majority of range sessions
- Notes section is hidden by keyboard
- App shows CSS on screen during signup/login
- App not working on specific iPhone models
- App locks up
- Cannot update chronograph software
- App doesn't allow creating a standalone login
- App doesn't allow custom naming for bullet profiles
- App doesn't sync all sessions
- Chronograph freezes when connected to app
- App doesn't allow manual entry of projectile data
- App doesn't allow editing projectile data
Requested features
18 requests- Add more ammo/bullet profiles (Barnes, etc.)
- Expand projectile data beyond G1 (e.g., G7)
- Allow manual entry of projectile data
- Improve user interface for reloaders
- Add support for air rifles/air guns, bows, crossbows
Show 13 moreShow fewer
- More reticle options
- Ability to view sessions without being connected
- Bulk export of shot strings
- Longer names for guns/ammo
- Add elevation function
- Add pistol data support
- Option for peep or other iron sights
- More intuitive and ergonomic navigation
- Add support for non-Athlon scopes
- Improve data management and organization
- Dedicated app for chronograph data download/storage
- Allow custom naming for bullet profiles across platforms
- Take pictures of groups with data
In-app purchases
Element Ballistics
No in-app purchases
Athlon Ballistics
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Element Ballistics free?
Is Athlon Ballistics free?
Which has better reviews, Element Ballistics or Athlon Ballistics?
Do Element Ballistics or Athlon Ballistics have ads?
Which is updated more often, Element Ballistics or Athlon Ballistics?
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