Comparison

NRST vs Fly Virga

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

Head to head
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.

About

Fly Virga

This app allows pilots to submit and view real-time pilot reports (PIREPs) for flight planning and safety. Share valuable flight information, including pictures of weather conditions, with other pilots without needing ATC or a radio. Get graphical flight planning tools that alert you to PIREPs in your area and at your planned altitudes.

Highlights
  • Real-time PIREP submission
  • Submit PIREPs without ATC/radio
  • Include pictures with PIREPs
  • Graphical flight planning tools
  • Alerts for PIREPs in geographic area
  • Follow friends' PIREPs
  • Filter, sort, and search PIREPs on map
Features
Read full description

Pilots can now unleash the power of real time PIREPs for flight planning, management and safety. Virga is aviation’s only app that allows pilots to submit PIREPs without the need for ATC or the radio. An average of 5 screen taps is all it takes to submit a PIREP and share valuable flight information (INCLUDING PICTURES OF CONDITIONS OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW) with your friends and other pilots. Virga includes powerful graphical flight planning tools which alert you to PIREPs that have been submitted in your geographic area of interest and at the altitudes you plan to travel. Never be surprised by flight conditions ahead of you again. Virga also gives you the ability to follow the PIREPs submitted by your friends and colleagues. It is a great way to stay close to other pilots and follow reports from pilots you trust. Filter, sort, and search PIREPs easily on the map based on criteria that are of interest to you. Rest assured that you have access to not only ALL FAA/ATC PIREPs that have been submitted, but also all PIREPs provided by other Virga users. Virga users have the ability to submit photographic detail with their PIREPs, and we all know a picture is worth a thousand words! Fly confidently and safely, by reliably knowing what is around the corner when using Virga both on the ground and in the air! Virga is free to use with ads. An optional auto-renewing subscription removes the ads. Payment is charged to your Apple ID and renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Download Virga today!

Screenshots

NRST4 screens
Fly Virga4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NRST at 4.6 against Fly Virga's 3.7. NRST also leads on review sentiment (47% vs 33%). Fly Virga's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 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. Fly Virga asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NRST holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of NRST's written reviews are positive against 33% of Fly Virga's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NRST ships an update every 4 months, Fly Virga every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
NRST versus Fly Virga: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNRSTFly Virga
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (9 ratings) — better3.7 (18 ratings)
Positive reviews46.9% of reviews — better33.3% of reviews
Number of ratings918 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB92 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperToonsy NetAviation Apps, LLC

Customer experience

NRST

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

Fly Virga

All ratings18 ratings
Positive61.1%
Neutral11.1%
Negative27.8%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral22.2%
Negative44.4%

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
None

Fly Virga

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NRST free?
NRST is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Fly Virga free?
Fly Virga is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NRST or Fly Virga?
NRST is rated higher. NRST averages 4.6 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Fly Virga averages 3.7 from 18 ratings.
Do NRST or Fly Virga have ads?
Neither NRST nor Fly Virga shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NRST or Fly Virga?
NRST ships an update every 4 months, and Fly Virga every 3 weeks. Most recently, NRST was updated on November 1, 2026 and Fly Virga on November 3, 2026.

Other comparisons