Comparison

Density Altitude + vs xcNav

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

Head to head
About

Density Altitude +

This app calculates density altitude and other atmospheric data using location, GPS, and onboard sensors. It's accurate even without a cellular connection and useful for pilots, racers, and sports enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Density Altitude calculation
  • Relative Air Density (RAD)
  • Altimeter setting
  • Humidity calculations
  • GPS and barometer integration
  • Location search
  • Offline functionality
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Instant and location accurate Density Altitude calculator/instrument app for iPhone and iPad that also finds relative air density (RAD), altimeter setting, relative humidity, specific humidity (grains/lb) and more. Super useful for pilots, especially in the backcountry. Many other uses for engine tuning, racing, sports, etc. * Seamlessly integrates weather data, GPS and your phone's onboard barometer to quickly and accurately calculate your density altitude, altimeter setting, relative air density, and more. * Takes humidity into account in all calculations, making it more accurate than the typical dry bulb approximation formula used by AWOS/ASOS, etc. * Works anywhere. Great without cellular connection as well, which makes it all the more useful in the backcountry and far away from ASOS/AWOS stations. * Location Search: Find atmospheric data (Density Altitude, etc.) at any point on Earth, from anywhere! Data Sensed and Calculated (all calculated with humidity): * Density Altitude * GPS Altitude * Temperature * Altimeter Setting * Absolute Pressure * Dew Point * Relative Humidity * Specific Humidity (grains/pound) * Air Density * Relative Air Density (RAD) * Dyno Correction The quickest way to get your Density Altitude! On the iPhone 6/6+ and newer iPads, it will use the built-in barometer and GPS. If you're in cell range, you don't need to supply any data. If you're out of cell range, all you need to supply is the outside air temperature. Designed not to need an internet connection, so it will work anytime and anywhere you need it. Great tool for pilots, drag racers, engine tuners, golfers, or anyone who needs to conveniently find their Density Altitude, Altimeter Setting, Relative Aid Density (RAD), Specific Humidity or Absolute Pressure. No ads or in-app purchases. We love feedback! Email us at densityaltitude@rateofclimb.com Disclaimer: Density Altitude+ uses available third party weather and elevation data to calculate atmospheric measurements, but Rate Of Climb does not guarantee that the original sources (including the National Weather Service, FAA and others) have provided data that is accurate, complete, timely, or properly formatted. Users should always contact official sources for the most accurate and timely updates. The service is not intended for use in situations in which the failure of the service could lead to death, personal injury, or severe physical or environmental damage. Your use of this application is at your sole risk.

About

xcNav

This app provides essential navigation tools for paramotor pilots, including waypoints, ETAs, and live location sharing. It also offers group chat, airspace charts, weather information, and proximity warnings with external hardware.

Highlights
  • Navigation tools (waypoints, ETAs)
  • Live location sharing
  • Group chat
  • Airspace sectional charts
  • Weather tools
  • ADSB-in proximity warnings
Features
Read full description

- Navigation tools (waypoints, ETAs, etc) - Live location sharing - Live shared waypoints - Group chat - Airspace sectional charts - Weather tools - ADSB-in with proximity warnings (requires external hardware)

Screenshots

Density Altitude +4 screens
xcNav4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Density Altitude + at 88% against xcNav's 20%. Density Altitude + also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (1K vs 4). xcNav's advantage is price (Free vs $3.99) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

xcNav is free to download; Density Altitude + costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Density Altitude + holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Density Altitude + has 1K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Density Altitude +'s written reviews are positive against 20% of xcNav's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Density Altitude + ships an update every 4 months, xcNav every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Density Altitude + versus xcNav: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDensity Altitude +xcNav
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (1K ratings) — better4.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews — better20.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#139 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB52 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRate Of Climb IndustriesCaleb Johnson

Customer experience

Density Altitude +

All ratings1,028 ratings
Positive97.3%
Neutral1.6%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral4.2%
Negative8.3%

xcNav

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive20.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative80.0%

Bugs and requests

Density Altitude +

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • GPS elevation doesn't always update reliably
  • No way to set altitude

Requested features

4 requests
  • Apple Watch Widget
  • Barometric pressure
  • Relative humidity for current location
  • Ability to manually enter values

xcNav

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Density Altitude +

No in-app purchases

None

xcNav

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Density Altitude + free?
Density Altitude + costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is xcNav free?
xcNav is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Density Altitude + or xcNav?
Density Altitude + is rated higher. Density Altitude + averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while xcNav averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Density Altitude + or xcNav have ads?
Neither Density Altitude + nor xcNav shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Density Altitude + or xcNav?
Density Altitude + ships an update every 4 months, and xcNav every 6 weeks. Most recently, Density Altitude + was updated on September 24, 2026 and xcNav on August 26, 2026.

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