Comparison

NRST vs Sky Widgets

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

Sky Widgets

Read full description

Smart, customizable avionics widgets and safety alerts: built by a pilot, for pilots. Have you ever made a mistake while flying? Could that mistake have been avoided if you had systems in place to inform you of an issue before it was too late? As the creator of Sky Widgets, I'll be the first to say yes. I've forgotten to raise my flaps until I've already oversped them, landed with a tailwind when I didn't mean to, and even accidentally closed a fuel valve before opening the other. While I continually strive to become a better pilot, I recognize that none of us are perfect. As a software engineer, I see the potential for technology to provide that extra layer in the Swiss cheese. Having access to the right data at the right time helps us make better decisions and ultimately improves the safety of flight. I believe so strongly in the mission of Sky Widgets that even while designing the avionics layout for my own plane, I intentionally left an empty area in my panel for an iPad to allow my vision of Sky Widgets to have a dedicated spot. Sky Widgets isn't a rigid, locked down UI that forces you into fixed layouts with features you don't need for your mission. You design your dashboards around what matters to you and when in your flight you need it. • Custom Flight Dashboards: Build personalized layouts for engine data, flight telemetry, and cockpit alerts without clutter. • Smart Conditional Triggers: Set custom logic and visual cues to catch critical flight parameter changes early. • Avionics Updates: Ever forgotten to copy over your avionics update files from your computer to your USB drive? Sky Widgets lets you use your phone instead to easily transfer these onto your USB drive. • Independent & Privacy-First: Built by a fellow pilot committed to making your flights safer. Your data stays on your device. Sky Widgets will never replace your primary instruments or your responsibility as PIC. Think of it as a customizable co-pilot in your flight bag, offering specialized monitoring and tools that traditional EFIs or EFBs leave out. Start building your first dashboard now.

Screenshots

NRST4 screens
Sky Widgets4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Sky Widgets at every 2 weeks against NRST's every 4 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 and Sky Widgets sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $79.00 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NRST ships an update every 4 months, Sky Widgets every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
NRST versus Sky Widgets: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNRSTSky Widgets
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (8 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews46.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings8 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB99 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperToonsy NetLeighty Digital LLC

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
1 purchases

Sky Widgets

Subscriptions1
  • Sky Widgets Plus (Founding)3 Months trial$79.001 Year

Questions

Is NRST free?
NRST is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sky Widgets free?
Sky Widgets is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do NRST or Sky Widgets have ads?
Neither NRST nor Sky Widgets shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NRST or Sky Widgets?
NRST ships an update every 4 months, and Sky Widgets every 2 weeks. Most recently, NRST was updated on October 14, 2026 and Sky Widgets on October 4, 2026.

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