NRST vs SkyTimer
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
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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.
SkyTimer
This app automatically logs flights, tracks fuel burn, and manages tank levels in real-time from your wrist, phone, or iPad. It provides detailed flight logs and can export data, acting as a cockpit companion for pilots.
- Automatic flight logging
- Real-time fuel tracking
- Multi-tank and engine support
- Worldwide airport database
- Smart fuel balancing
- Detailed flight logs
- Cross-device sync
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SkyTimer is the cockpit companion that tracks your fuel and logs your flight. It draws your aircraft's fuel system as it really is, tells you when to switch tanks, and records takeoffs, landings, and times on its own. On iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. *** YOUR FUEL, TRACKED *** SkyTimer estimates fuel used and remaining in every tank, live, from time on each tank and your aircraft's fuel burns. Change fuel flow mid-flight as conditions change, or pick a burn you've set up, like Rich of Peak, Lean of Peak, or Economy Cruise. - Your fuel system, drawn as it really is: from a 172 on Both to a twin with crossfeed, with up to 7 tanks and 4 engines. - Fuel Management Plans set the tanks each flight starts on and when to switch: by time on tank, fuel used, or fuel transferred. Smart Balance keeps your tanks even. - Works with a wide range of fuel selectors, transfer pumps, and crossfeeds. - Start from a catalog of common aircraft, or set up your own. Fuel quantities are estimates. Always confirm fuel with your gauges and a visual check. *** YOUR FLIGHT, LOGGED *** Smart Track uses GPS ground speed and your aircraft's Vso to detect takeoffs and landings, day and night. SkyTimer logs block and flight times, out/off/on/in times, and every airport, including stops, from a built-in worldwide airport database that works without Internet. Automatic detection needs a device with built-in GPS. Every flight goes into your logbook with fuel used, time on tanks, and Hobbs and Tach. Add notes, edit a trip, and export to CSV or LogTen. *** THE NEAREST AIRPORT, WHERE TO LOOK FOR IT *** Nearest gives you the closest airport like a traffic call, "KATW, 9 o'clock, 7 miles," with its runways, frequency, and elevation. *** ON iPHONE, iPAD, AND APPLE WATCH *** On iPad, run SkyTimer full screen or beside your EFB in Split View, Slide Over, or a window. On iPhone, the Live Activity and Dynamic Island keep fuel and times in view while you fly with your EFB. On iPhone Duo, open it up to see fuel, Nearest, and your trip side by side. On Apple Watch, every feature is on your wrist, and the watch keeps tracking on its own if your phone stays behind. Your aircraft and flights sync across your devices with iCloud. *** FREE TO START *** SkyTimer is free to download and logs block and flight times at no charge. SkyTimer Plus unlocks: - Fuel tracking and Fuel Management Plans - Automatic takeoff and landing detection - Unlimited flight storage - Multiple aircraft - Trip editing and export - iCloud sync, and in-flight sync between iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch One subscription unlocks Plus on all your devices. --------------------- Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Prices may vary by location. --------------------- Privacy Policy: https://skytimer.app/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://skytimer.app/terms/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: NRST at 4.6 against SkyTimer's 4.0. SkyTimer's advantage is monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). On price, review sentiment, 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
Both are free to download. NRST sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year and SkyTimer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
NRST holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 22 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 47% of NRST's written reviews are positive against 54% of SkyTimer'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, SkyTimer fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NRST | SkyTimer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (9 ratings) — better | 4.0 (22 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 46.9% of reviews | 53.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 9 | 22 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Freemium — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 172 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Toonsy Net | Framework Learning, LLC |
Customer experience
NRST
SkyTimer
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
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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
SkyTimer
- Monthly Plus Subscription$2.491 Month
- Annual Plus Subscription$17.991 Year









