iFly EFB vs NRST
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iFly EFB
This app provides pilots with essential flight information in an easy-to-use format for both VFR and IFR flying. It offers advanced navigation features, real-time weather, and safety alerts to enhance situational awareness and simplify flight planning.
- Geo-Reference Approach Plates & Airport Diagrams
- 3D Synthetic Vision / EFIS Mode
- Terrain, Obstructions, Traffic, Airspace Alerts
- ADS-B Support
- AutoTaxi+ for Safe Taxing
- RealView Airport Imagery
- Complete VFR & IFR Databases and Charts
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iFly EFB delivers the perfect combination of affordability, capability, and usability for both VFR and IFR Pilots. Safely and quickly get the information you need so you can focus on flying! Key reasons to try iFly EFB: 1) Ease of use in the cockpit: Our intuitive and simple interface, easy to hit buttons, simple map gestures, large fonts, and more make this the best EFB for in-flight use 2) Pilot focused company: We have staff (pilots) on the ground at our office in Texas waiting to answer your questions. Call 214-585-0444 or email support@adventurepilot.com, we're here to help 3) Price: We are one of the most competitively priced EFBs on the market 4) Capabilities: We are one of the most capable EFBs on the market! Need proof? Visit www.iFlyEFB.com/Compare Following are some of our features and benefits: •Geo-Reference Approach Plates and Airport Diagrams •3D Synthetic Vision / EFIS Mode •Terrain, Obstructions, Traffic, and Airspaces Alerts •Complete ADSB support •AutoTaxi+ for safe taxing at any airport •RealView airport imagery •RealPlan automatic VFR Planner •Auto-load approach into plan •Complete VFR and IFR databases and charts (FAA) •Sectionals •Customizable Instruments •Public & Private Airports •Winds aloft including forecasts for 36 hours •Hi/Lo-Enroute Charts •Terminal Area Charts(TAC) •World Aeronautical Charts(WAC) •Vector Mode •Weather (Pre-Flight or ADS-B Live) •Hi-res Winds Aloft Optimizing •Rapid Flight planning •Plates & Diagrams (Approach, Departure Plates, Stars, SIDs Airport Diagrams) •Instruments Panel •Day/Night Mode •Online Flight Plan Filing •Custom Instrument Layouts (24 Instruments, e.g. HSI, Vertical Profile, and AHRS) •Vertical Terrain planning and Airspace preview •Find Nearest •History •North Up / Track Up •Pinch Zooming w/ One Touch Feature •Dynamic Distance Ring •Hybrid Compass Rose w/ Nav Function •Extended Course Line •Flight Trails •Past Flights •Rubber Band route modification •Custom Aircraft icons •AutoTaxi+ •Alerts & Warnings •Button Fading (maximizes screen space) •Custom User Waypoints •Customizable Instruments •Simulator Mode
NRST
This app helps pilots navigate by providing essential airport information, including distance, elevation, and required descent rates. It offers real-time data updates and customizable descent settings for various aircraft types. Worldwide airport coverage is available, with daily database updates.
- Real-time airport data
- Customizable descent rate
- Worldwide airport coverage
- Filter airports by runway
- Glide distance calculation
- Watch app integration
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Don't miss your airport! Designed for pilots of any size aircraft, this app provides you with bearing and vertical speed required to nearby airports. The following information is shown for destinations: • Distance from current location • Field Elevation • Descent rate required • Time to Top of Descent (TOD) • Bearing • Frequencies • Runways • Glide distance delta Additionally your current speed, course, altitude and vertical speed are displayed. Tapping on the information button, Time to TOD or Target Altitude allows you to customize the desired descent rate. All data is updated in real time as you fly. You may choose a nearby airport or select an airport by identifier by scrolling down on the airport list. Filter by runway length and surface type and choose any of the following: airports, seaplane bases, heliports, balloon ports and closed airports. You may optionally provide a glide ratio for your aircraft. The glide distance long or short of the selected airport is then displayed and is conveniently color coded. A positive, green glide delta indicates the glide distance has been estimated to exceed the distance to the airport with a 25% safety margin. Runway headings, if known, are used to draw runways on the heading indicator. If the magenta arrow is pointed straight up and aligned with a runway then you are headed straight in. Worldwide airport information is provided by multiple sources. Canada, Europe and all continents are covered! For more information go to ourairports.com/world.html. Database updates are performed daily. Your location and altitude is provided by your device's location services. If location or altitude is not available that information will not be displayed however you can still search for an airport by identifier. Unfortunately external GPS devices are generally NOT compatible. You must be moving for course information and the magenta relative bearing arrow to be displayed. The Watch app has many of the same features and fits on your wrist. See distances to nearby airports or bearing to a selected airport. Frequencies and runway lengths can be seen with a swipe. A green glide icon or delta indicates glideability is likely. Just like the iPhone and iPad app, the Watch app requires GPS information to locate nearby airports and relative bearing. Additionally, altitude is needed to calculate descent rates. Feedback and feature requests are appreciated. Thanks! Subscription Fine Print ---------------------- - 1 month FREE trial - Database Subscription or Apple Watch Subscription is required for new users - The subscription is for 1 year and updated data is available daily - The annual subscription is $11.99/year or $17.99/year for Watch - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase - No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period - Privacy policy and terms of use are located at: http://toonsy.net/privacy.html - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: iFly EFB at 90% against NRST's 47%. iFly EFB also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, ads, 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
Both are free to download. iFly EFB sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and NRST sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
iFly EFB holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iFly EFB has 353 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of iFly EFB's written reviews are positive against 47% of NRST's.
iFly EFB ships an update every 3 weeks, NRST every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iFly EFB | NRST |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (353 ratings) — better | 4.5 (8 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 89.9% of reviews — better | 46.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 353 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 4 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 107 MB | 50 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Adventure Pilot, LLC | Toonsy Net |
Customer experience
iFly EFB
NRST
Bugs and requests
iFly EFB
Reported bugs
8 issues- App freezes when navigating between menus
- Settings not saved after app lock
- GPS weak signal and satellite lock issues on iOS 18+
- Terrain loading delays during scrolling
- Compatibility issues with some external GPS devices (Dual 150)
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- Crashes during early versions (now resolved)
- iPhone X screen resolution not fully optimized
- Glitchy behavior with some ADS-B connections
Requested features
15 requests- Logbook functionality
- Sunset/sunrise times display
- One-button night mode
- Annotation tools for approach plates
- Scratch pad for ATC notes
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- Pilot-entered fuel stop updates (like Waze model)
- Mo-gas location database
- Global map coverage beyond USA and Bahamas
- Seamless chart display
- Landscape mode support
- Apple Watch companion app
- Ability to submit e-APIS details from app
- 10-year subscription option at discounted rate
- Better sketching tools
- Improved FBO information database
NRST
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
iFly EFB
- iPad Add-On Subscription (1 Year)$24.99
- IFR iPad Subscription Upgrade (1 Year)$49.99
- VFR iPad Subscription (1 Year)$79.99
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- Base VFR Subscription$94.99
- VFR/MP Subscription$124.99
- VFR+IFR iPad Subscription (1 Year)$129.99
- VFR/IFR Subscription$149.99
- VFR/IFR/MP Subscription$179.99
NRST
- Early Adopter Device Subscription1 Month trial$0.991 Year
- Early Adopter Device and Watch Bronze1 Month trial$1.991 Year
- Device Only1 Month trial$11.991 Year
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- Device Only1 Month trial$14.991 Year
- Device and Watch1 Month trial$17.991 Year
- Device and Watch1 Month trial$24.991 Year









