Comparison

NRST vs Virtual VOR

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

Virtual VOR

This navigation app allows users to place a VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) beacon anywhere on a map. It provides VOR-DME and ADF gauges for flight simulation or training purposes.

Highlights
  • Place VOR beacons anywhere
  • VOR-DME gauge display
  • ADF gauge display
  • Customizable VOR placement
Features
Read full description

Virtual VOR-DME, cast your VOR wherever you want, and get a VOR-DME and ADF gauges.

Screenshots

NRST4 screens
Virtual VOR3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Virtual VOR at 86% against NRST's 47%. Virtual VOR also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ratings volume (46 vs 8). NRST's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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. Virtual VOR asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NRST holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Virtual VOR has 46 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 47% of NRST's written reviews are positive against 86% of Virtual VOR's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NRST ships an update every 4 months, Virtual VOR every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and August 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
NRST versus Virtual VOR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNRSTVirtual VOR
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (8 ratings) — better4.0 (46 ratings)
Positive reviews46.9% of reviews85.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings846 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperToonsy NetGev Simon

Customer experience

NRST

All ratings8 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive46.9%
Neutral6.3%
Negative46.9%

Virtual VOR

All ratings46 ratings
Positive76.1%
Neutral4.3%
Negative19.6%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative14.3%

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

Virtual VOR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NRST free?
NRST is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Virtual VOR free?
Virtual VOR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NRST or Virtual VOR?
NRST is rated higher. NRST averages 4.5 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Virtual VOR averages 4.0 from 46 ratings.
Do NRST or Virtual VOR have ads?
Virtual VOR shows ads; NRST does not.
Which is updated more often, NRST or Virtual VOR?
NRST ships an update every 4 months, and Virtual VOR every 5 months. Most recently, NRST was updated on September 14, 2026 and Virtual VOR on August 23, 2026.

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