NRST vs AviateHub
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.
AviateHub
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AviateHub is built for VFR pilots who want planning, aviation charts, briefing, navigation, and community in one cockpit-grade mobile app. BUILT BY ONE PILOT-IN-TRAINING AviateHub is a solo project from a software developer who left high-tech to pursue aviation — and built the planner they wished existed while learning to fly. It started as a personal tool for real flights; now it's shared with pilots who want the same thing. Things won't always be perfect. If something breaks, a quick note through Support helps more than a one-star review — your feedback genuinely shapes what ships next. PLAN YOUR ROUTE • Tap the map to build multi-leg VFR routes • Search airports and VFR fixes • Snap to official navaids and edit waypoints easily • Add return legs to your departure airport • Rehearse your flight with map simulation before you take off • Map winds aloft with per-leg wind barbs and direction/speed readouts AVIATION CHARTS & MAP MODES • Chart-friendly basemap aviation overlay by default • Airspace, airports, and navaid symbology on the map • One-tap dark mode for a cockpit-style map at night or in low light • Keep your route, winds, and navigation HUD in either map mode BRIEF WITH CONFIDENCE • Departure and arrival METAR/TAF with flight category • Winds aloft at your planned altitude — on the map and in your navigation log • Wind-corrected magnetic headings in your navigation log • Full route details: leg distances, courses, ETE, fuel burn, TOC/TOD, and vertical profile FLY WITH LIVE GPS NAVIGATION • Track-up map rotation keeps your heading in front of you • Cockpit bar with compass heading, live wind, altitude, distance, and ETA • North compass when the map rotates • Real-time cross-track error and distance to next fix • Live ETA and arrival detection • Voice copilot for leg changes, off-track alerts, airspace warnings, and arrival notices SMART AIRSPACE • Controlled and restricted airspace loaded along your route • In-flight breach alerts and spoken warnings • Stay aware of the sectors that matter to your flight AIRCRAFT PROFILES • Save cruise speed, climb performance, fuel burn, and more • Weight & balance envelope and compass deviation card • Aircraft data flows into saved plans, briefing, and offline bundles SAVE, UPDATE & SHARE • Save private or public flight plans • Update your own routes when plans change • Discover community routes, like, rate, and comment • See load and completion counts when pilots fly your plans OFFLINE MODE (AviateHub Pro) • Cache your route, per-leg winds aloft, departure and arrival METAR/TAF, nav log, airspace, aircraft profile, and corridor map tiles — including the aviation chart overlay • Keep navigating when cell service disappears — GPS keeps working FREE VS PRO Free includes interactive VFR planning, aviation charts with overlay, dark mode map toggle, live navigation with track-up map, METAR/TAF and winds aloft briefing, map wind barbs, smart airspace, voice copilot, community features, a starter aircraft profile, and up to 3 saved flight plans. AviateHub Pro unlocks offline flight bundles (including chart map tiles), unlimited saved plans, and your full aircraft fleet. Subscriptions are optional and managed through your Apple ID. IMPORTANT AviateHub is a VFR planning and navigation aid. It is not a substitute for official charts, NOTAMs, regulatory compliance, or pilot-in-command judgment. Always verify weather, airspace, and route information before and during flight. How to use: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jWIDlFgfxu4 Support: https://aviatehub.app/contact Privacy: https://aviatehub.app/privacy Terms: https://aviatehub.app/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: AviateHub at monthly 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
Both are free to download. NRST sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year and AviateHub sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
NRST ships an update every 4 months, AviateHub monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NRST | AviateHub |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (9 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 46.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 9 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 69 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Toonsy Net | Ivan Larenas |
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
AviateHub
- AviateHub Pro — Monthly$3.991 Month
- AviateHub Pro — Yearly$44.991 Year









