Comparison

Holdover Calculator vs ATIS Relay

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

Head to head
About

Holdover Calculator

This tool simplifies the calculation of aircraft de-icing fluid holdover times. It offers manual input or automatic weather data retrieval for quick and accurate results. The app provides alerts for expired times and includes a pre-takeoff check timer.

Highlights
  • Accurate holdover time verification
  • User-friendly input display
  • Automatic METAR weather retrieval
  • Location-based METAR search
  • Active holdover time countdown
  • Audible and visible expiration alerts
  • Pre-takeoff contamination check timer
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Holdover Calculator is a pre-departure decision tool for pilots facing winter operations. It returns the applicable anti-icing holdover or allowance time from FAA or Transport Canada published guidance, based on the actual weather, the de/anti-icing fluid applied, and your aircraft configuration. DESIGNED FOR iOS 26 Built for iOS 26 and its Liquid Glass interface. The pilot answers a sequence of focused questions; the app shows the matching table cell, the published range, and a continuously interpolated estimate within that range. KEY FEATURES • Holdover and allowance times from the current FAA Holdover Time Guidelines and Transport Canada HOT Guidelines. • Live weather autofill via the NOAA Aviation Weather Center — closest METAR or any ICAO you search. • Manual entry always available when stations are out of range or you want to model conditions ahead. • All four fluid types (Type I through Type IV) with both generic-table and specific-brand selections. • Active Frost allowance and Ice Pellet allowance with a 90-minute takeoff-window tracker. • Chart Notes surfaced inline, with active conditions (cold-soaked wing, OAT thresholds, etc.) flagged so you see only the notes that matter right now. • App Estimated time — a continuous interpolation across OAT and precipitation intensity, shown alongside the FAA Recommended low end of every published range. • Countdown timer with Live Activity on the Lock Screen. Minutes and seconds below an hour; hours and minutes above. The wall-clock "Ends at" reference is always shown to the second. • Apple Watch companion for the crew member running the timer. • Cockpit Sync — share one running timer across the flight deck. Link two to four pilots' devices over a direct local Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection; the captain approves every change, and the link re-establishes itself if a device drops out of range. No account, no internet, no server. • Readable on the ramp. Tap any advisory note — or any setting's description — to enlarge it in a comfortable card sized for reading-distance glasses. • Support & Feedback in one tap. Reach the developer from the menu — write a note and attach a screenshot; your report includes a summary of what you changed this session so issues get resolved faster. No account required. • FAA or Transport Canada as the global default, with per-calculation overrides. • Local or Zulu time display; 12- or 24-hour clock. PRE-DEPARTURE DECISION ONLY This app is an advisor. The pilot in command remains solely responsible for verifying that the selected time is appropriate for the actual conditions, fluid, and aircraft at the moment of departure. Always cross-reference the current published holdover tables. DATA SOURCES • FAA Holdover Time Guidelines (current revision) • Transport Canada Holdover Time Guidelines (current revision) • NOAA Aviation Weather Center (aviationweather.gov) for live METAR observations SUBSCRIPTION Holdover Calculator is an auto-renewable annual subscription, with a free trial for new subscribers. Pricing is shown in the app before you subscribe. • Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. • The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the period ends. • Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID account settings. • Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. PRIVACY Location is requested only to identify the nearest weather station; your coordinates are sent solely to NOAA to run that query and are never stored or shared with us. No ads, no analytics, no tracking. Privacy Policy: https://kilolimallc.github.io/legal/holdover-calculator/privacy.html Terms of Use (EULA): https://kilolimallc.github.io/legal/holdover-calculator/terms.html Disclaimer: https://kilolimallc.github.io/legal/holdover-calculator/disclaimer.html

About

ATIS Relay

Access real-time ATIS and weather information for over 160 US airports. Get live audio, transcripts, and digital ATIS updates. Features include METARs and customizable home screen widgets.

Highlights
  • Live ATIS audio and transcripts
  • Digital ATIS for 76 airports
  • Free community access to ATIS
  • METARs and interpreted METARs
  • Customizable METAR widgets
  • Text message ATIS updates (subscription)
Features
Read full description

ATIS Relay: Accurate ATIS & Weather Information Access real-time, up-to-date ATIS information for more than 160 airports across the US with ATIS Relay. FEATURES • Live ATIS Audio & Transcripts: on-demand ATIS recordings and transcripts for 80+ US airports that do not have digital ATIS yet. • Digital ATIS: Up to date ATIS information for all 76 airports in the D-ATIS program. Get the latest information at a glance. • Free Community Access: Retrieve digital ATIS and previously recorded transcripts without a subscription. • METARs: Quickly determine current flight rules and view interpreted METARs • METAR Widgets: Customize your device with various-sized METAR widgets, providing quick weather updates right on your home screen (subscription required). • More Subscription Benefits: Gain full access to all features, including the option to request ATIS transcripts. Subscribers can also get ATIS updates via text message, helping you get ahead of the airplane when paired with a satellite connection. ATIS Relay is ideal for professional pilots, general aviation pilots, student pilots, flight sim enthusiasts, and aviation enthusiasts. DISCLAIMER: ATIS information is not guaranteed to be error free. Please verify with official sources. This is not an official FAA weather data source and is not intended for operational use. Any use for flight planning is at your own risk.

Screenshots

Holdover Calculator4 screens
ATIS Relay4 screens

Verdict

The call

Holdover Calculator and ATIS Relay both sit at 5.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 83% of Holdover Calculator's written reviews are positive against 0% of ATIS Relay's. Holdover Calculator also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 9 months) and chart position (#191 vs unranked). ATIS Relay's advantage is monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Holdover Calculator sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per year and ATIS Relay sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Holdover Calculator against 5.0 for ATIS Relay. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Holdover Calculator's written reviews are positive against 0% of ATIS Relay's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Holdover Calculator ships an update every 6 weeks, ATIS Relay every 9 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Holdover Calculator versus ATIS Relay: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHoldover CalculatorATIS Relay
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 9 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
Best chart rank#191 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB20 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKilo Lima Management, LLCFord Davis

Customer experience

Holdover Calculator

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%

ATIS Relay

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Holdover Calculator

Subscriptions1
  • 1 Year Subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Year
2 purchases

ATIS Relay

Subscriptions2
  • ATIS Relay Plus (Monthly)$5.991 Month
  • ATIS Relay Plus (Annual)$24.991 Year

Questions

Is Holdover Calculator free?
Holdover Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ATIS Relay free?
ATIS Relay is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Holdover Calculator or ATIS Relay?
Holdover Calculator and ATIS Relay are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.
Do Holdover Calculator or ATIS Relay have ads?
Neither Holdover Calculator nor ATIS Relay shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Holdover Calculator or ATIS Relay?
Holdover Calculator ships an update every 6 weeks, and ATIS Relay every 9 months. Most recently, Holdover Calculator was updated on October 24, 2026 and ATIS Relay on October 24, 2026.

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