NRST vs Nearest Airport
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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
Read full descriptionHide 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.
Nearest Airport
This standalone watch application helps general aviation pilots quickly find nearby airports during flight. It displays crucial details like distance, heading, elevation, runway specs, and communication frequencies. The interface uses color-coded backgrounds to differentiate airport types and offers a "Map It" feature for visualizing your position relative to an airport.
- Locate nearby airports
- Display distance and heading
- Show field elevation and runway info
- Provide communication frequencies
- Color-coded airport type backgrounds
- Map view with airport details
- Search airports by identifier
Read full descriptionHide full description
This standalone watch app allows GA pilots to locate quickly, nearby airports while in flight. Intuitive user interface provides the current distance from, the magnetic heading to, field elevation, runway information (lengths, widths, directions, pattern, and lighting), communication frequencies, and published remarks for nearby airports. Backgrounds are color coded to match sectional charts as to identify towered and non-towered airports. A slightly different shade is used for private airports. View current location relative to a selected airport with "Map It" feature. Click on the airport identifier while viewing the map to have important information read aloud. (text-to-speech) Requires Watch OS version 10.0 or higher. Includes a search feature that allows searching for airports by identifier, or partial match (limited to 100 results for performance). Does not require data connection to operate. Includes all airports registered with the FAA as of the current version release date.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: NRST at Free against Nearest Airport's $0.99. NRST also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.0). Nearest Airport's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence 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
NRST is free to download; Nearest Airport costs $0.99 up front. NRST sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year. Nearest Airport asks for nothing beyond the download.
NRST holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 6 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 47% of NRST's written reviews are positive against 50% of Nearest Airport's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
NRST ships an update every 4 months, Nearest Airport every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NRST | Nearest Airport |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.6 (9 ratings) — better | 3.0 (6 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 46.9% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Subscription | Paid — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Toonsy Net | JONOTHON CONE |
Customer experience
NRST
Nearest Airport
In-app purchases
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
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Device Only1 Month trial$14.991 Year
- Device and Watch1 Month trial$17.991 Year
- Device and Watch1 Month trial$24.991 Year
Nearest Airport
No in-app purchases









