The Paragliding Variometer App for iPhone & Apple Watch
Turn your iPhone & Apple Watch into a precise variometer with acoustic feedback, wind display and much more.
+2.4
m/s
Alt
1,847 m
What Pilots Say
Reviews from the App Store
News
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about Vario One.
Which devices are supported?
The most precise pressure sensors are in the Apple Watch 6, 7, 8, 9 and of course the Apple Watch Ultra. For iPhones, this applies to iPhone 12 Pro Max and later. These easily keep up with dedicated high-end variometers.
Can I try the app for free?
Yes, you can install and run the app independently on both the Watch and iPhone. You can try Vario One free for 3 days with no obligation. If you don't like it, you can cancel the subscription with a few taps at no cost. If you enjoy it, you can choose a plan (1 week, 3 months, 1 year) or simply wait – after 3 days the annual subscription activates automatically.
Who do I contact for support?
You can reach the Vario One team anytime at info@vario-one.com.
Is the display easy to read?
iPhone: To ensure best readability, we have a switch to change the design from dark to light mode (Dark Mode vs. White Mode). Apple Watch: We have built in a stronger contrast for the black tones compared to the iPhone. This also extends battery life while ensuring good visibility on the device.
iPhone: How can I mount the iPhone for flying?
There are mounts for hardware variometers that attach to the leg with velcro. Get a cheap case for your iPhone, attach the velcro counterpart to it, and you can mount your iPhone just like any other vario.
iPhone: Can I fly in landscape mode?
Of course! The app was built so you can use it in both portrait and landscape mode. In landscape mode, the compass is on the left and all other data on the right.
iPhone: Can I transfer my flight logbook to a new iPhone?
Yes, very easily. Go to Settings and enable "Sync Flight Logbook", then sign in with your Apple Account. Your logbook is stored on our server. When switching to a new iPhone, simply enable the sync again and all your flights will be back.
iPhone: How do I close the app?
Close it like any other iPhone app: swipe up from the bottom edge and pause in the middle, then swipe up over the app to close it.
Apple Watch: How can I keep the app in the foreground for hours?
On the main screen, swipe left and tap "Start Flight". The main screen will stay active and the vario will beep constantly – even in the background. Don't forget to tap "Stop Flight" after landing.
Apple Watch: How long does the battery last while flying?
Very well: tests showed ~92% battery remaining after one hour of active use. Tested with an Apple Watch 7.
Apple Watch: How do I display the compass with wind indicator in large format?
Double-tap the compass to expand it to full size. The wind is shown as an arrow inside the compass and rotates with the wind direction – so you always know where the wind is coming from.
Apple Watch: Can I use the Watch app WITHOUT an iPhone?
Yes! Vario One for Apple Watch is designed to work without an iPhone. The Apple Watch has its own precise sensors including barometer, GPS and a speaker. At just 38.8 g (aluminium model), it's probably the lightest vario with this feature set.
Apple Watch: Can the Apple Watch really output audio beeps?
Yes, we worked hard on this! Vario One outputs your climb rate as audio beeps through the Watch speaker. The tone curve was optimised together with league pilots and flight school instructors.
Apple Watch: I can't hear any beeps – what should I do?
If Vario One isn't outputting beeps, the volume is too low. Try this: 1. Open Vario One and turn the crown forward – does the volume change? 2. If not: open the "Now Playing" app on your Apple Watch (red icon with 5 bars). Select your Apple Watch as the device in the top left and increase the volume. This has worked for all support cases so far!