Comparison

TruAirspeed vs CX

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

Head to head
About

TruAirspeed

This utility calculates true airspeed, pressure altitude, density altitude, and Mach number. It accounts for compressibility effects and offers unit choices and keypad styles. Users can also input a correction factor for their airspeed indicator.

Highlights
  • True airspeed calculation
  • Pressure and density altitude calculation
  • Mach number calculation
  • Compressibility effects accounted for
  • Choice of input/result units
  • Calculator or telephone keypad options
  • Airspeed indicator correction factor
Features
Read full description

TruAirspeed is a True Airspeed Calculator for the iPhone and iPad. It's a bit different from other true airspeed calculators, in which the pressure altitude is an input. This requires resetting the altimeter to the standard sea level pressure of 29.92"Hg to read the pressure altitude. With TruAirspeed, you input the indicated altitude and the Kollsman window's pressure setting — the app then calculates the pressure altitude, density altitude, true airspeed and mach number for you. The calculations involved take full account of compressibility effects, but not shock waves, so it's limited to subsonic, non-transonic flight only. You have a choice of units for inputs and results, and you may choose either a calculator-style keypad (top row: 7-8-9) or a telephone-style keypad (top row: 1-2-3). You may also set a correction factor for your bird's airspeed indicator/pitot-static system, if you know it (mine is 0.95).

About

CX

This aviation tool simplifies flight planning for pilots. It offers accurate calculations for time, speed, distance, fuel, and more, along with unit conversions and a built-in calculator. Designed for ease of use, it guides users through flight planning and execution with a natural menu flow.

Highlights
  • Flight planning calculations
  • Time, speed, distance functions
  • Fuel and altitude calculations
  • Unit conversions (12 categories)
  • Weight and balance calculations
  • Holding pattern details
  • Built-in calculator, clock, timer
Currently charting
Read full description

Based on the ASA CX-3® Flight Computer for pilots, this CX-3 app makes flight planning simple by taking confusion out of the equation. Fast, versatile and easy to use, the CX-3® delivers accurate results quickly and efficiently. Whether used for flight planning, ground school, or FAA Knowledge Exam preparation, the menu organization reflects the order in which a flight is normally planned and executed, resulting in a natural flow from one function to the next with a minimum of keystrokes. Multiple aviation functions can be performed on the CX-3® flight computer including those related to time, speed, distance, heading, wind, fuel, altitude, cloud base, standard atmosphere, glide, climb & descent, weight & balance, as well as a holding pattern function to help determine entry method and holding details. The CX-3® has 12 unit-conversions: Distance, Speed, Duration, Temperature, Pressure, Volume, Rate, Weight, Rate of Climb/Descent, Angle of Climb/Descent, Torque, and Angle. These 12 conversion categories contain 38 different conversion factors for over 100 functions. A calculator, clock, timer, and stopwatch are also built in along with multiple settings for lighting, backlighting, themes, time zones and more.

Screenshots

TruAirspeed4 screens
CX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: TruAirspeed at Free against CX's $19.99. TruAirspeed also leads on review sentiment (71% vs 36%) and rating (4.1 vs 3.7). CX's advantage is update cadence (every 8 months vs every 24 months) and chart position (#74 vs unranked). On ratings volume, 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

TruAirspeed is free to download; CX costs $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TruAirspeed holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 8 and 11 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of TruAirspeed's written reviews are positive against 36% of CX's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

TruAirspeed ships an update every 24 months, CX every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on June 2, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
TruAirspeed versus CX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTruAirspeedCX
PriceFree — better$19.99
Rating4.1 (8 ratings) — better3.7 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews — better35.7% of reviews
Number of ratings811 — better
Update frequencyEvery 24 monthsEvery 8 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#74 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.2
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJames PettyASA

Customer experience

TruAirspeed

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%

CX

All ratings11 ratings
Positive63.6%
Neutral9.1%
Negative27.3%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive35.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative57.1%

In-app purchases

None

TruAirspeed

No in-app purchases

None

CX

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TruAirspeed free?
TruAirspeed is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CX free?
CX costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TruAirspeed or CX?
TruAirspeed is rated higher. TruAirspeed averages 4.1 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while CX averages 3.7 from 11 ratings.
Do TruAirspeed or CX have ads?
Neither TruAirspeed nor CX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TruAirspeed or CX?
TruAirspeed ships an update every 24 months, and CX every 8 months. Most recently, TruAirspeed was updated on June 2, 2026 and CX on September 22, 2026.

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