Comparison

E6B Descent Planner vs NRST

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

Head to head
About

E6B Descent Planner

This tool offers a digital circular slide rule for pilots to perform real-time descent planning. It calculates crucial metrics like top of descent distance, descent angle, and glide ratio with simple one-finger operation.

Highlights
  • Digital circular slide rule
  • Real-time descent planning
  • Top of descent distance calculation
  • Descent angle calculation
  • Vertical descent rate calculation
  • Glide ratio calculation
  • Maximum glide distance calculation
Features
Read full description

The E6B Descent Planner provides a fully functional circular slide rule for use in real time descent planning. Using one finger, and with a single turn of the rotating inner disk, pilots can easily perform calculations to determine top of descent distance, angle of descent, vertical descent rate required, glide ratio, maximum glide distance based on altitude, plus many other calculations that are not commonly associated with a mechanical E6B.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Real-time airport data
  • Customizable descent rate
  • Worldwide airport coverage
  • Filter airports by runway
  • Glide distance calculation
  • Watch app integration
Features
Read full description

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

E6B Descent Planner4 screens
NRST4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: E6B Descent Planner at 92% against NRST's 47%. E6B Descent Planner also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 17.0). NRST's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 3.5) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 9 months). On price, ratings volume, 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

Both are free to download. NRST sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year. E6B Descent Planner asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NRST holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 9 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 92% of E6B Descent Planner's written reviews are positive against 47% of NRST's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

E6B Descent Planner ships an update every 9 months, NRST every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
E6B Descent Planner versus NRST: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterE6B Descent PlannerNRST
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (14 ratings)4.6 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews92.3% of reviews — better46.9% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better9
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS8.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperArthur VarrassiToonsy Net

Customer experience

E6B Descent Planner

All ratings14 ratings
Positive64.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative35.7%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive92.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.7%

NRST

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive46.9%
Neutral6.3%
Negative46.9%

In-app purchases

None

E6B Descent Planner

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

NRST

Subscriptions6
  • 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
Show 3 more
  • Device Only1 Month trial$14.991 Year
  • Device and Watch1 Month trial$17.991 Year
  • Device and Watch1 Month trial$24.991 Year

Questions

Is E6B Descent Planner free?
E6B Descent Planner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NRST free?
NRST is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, E6B Descent Planner or NRST?
NRST is rated higher. E6B Descent Planner averages 3.5 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while NRST averages 4.6 from 9 ratings.
Do E6B Descent Planner or NRST have ads?
Neither E6B Descent Planner nor NRST shows ads.
Which is updated more often, E6B Descent Planner or NRST?
E6B Descent Planner ships an update every 9 months, and NRST every 4 months. Most recently, E6B Descent Planner was updated on October 23, 2026 and NRST on October 25, 2026.

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