AirRoster vs OffBlock: Which Crew Roster App Should You Actually Use in 2026?
- Wingman Log
- Apr 2
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 13
Last Updated: 13 April 2026 | 9 min read | Crew Roster Apps
OffBlock has been around since 2018 and tries to do a lot of things at once: roster viewer, pilot logbook, crew messaging, tax integration. The ambition is clear. But when you are a crew member who just needs to see your next report time, check your schedule from any device, and share it with family, a Swiss Army knife app is not always the best answer.
AirRoster was built with a different philosophy. Do one thing. Do it on every device. Make it work automatically.
This comparison looks at where each app stands in 2026 and which one actually serves crew better on a daily basis.
What Is OffBlock?
OffBlock is a German-built iOS app that bundles a pilot logbook, roster viewer, crew messaging, and tax tool integration into a single product. It has been available since 2018 and is developed by OffBlock GmbH.
The app's core proposition is consolidation: one app for everything a pilot needs. In practice, this means a lot of features competing for screen space, and an experience that works significantly better on one platform than another.
OffBlock connects to roster systems including AIMS eCrew, NetLine, Jeppesen Crew Access, RAIDO, Sabre, and several others. It offers calendar sync, crew lists, push notifications for roster changes, and a companion OffBlock Family app for non-flying family members.
The Android problem. OffBlock's own Google Play listing states that the Android app is in an early phase with fewer features than iOS. This is not a minor caveat. Android users do not get the full logbook, full statistics, or the complete feature set. In 2026, shipping a limited Android app is a significant gap, particularly for crew in regions where Android is the dominant platform.
What Is AirRoster?
AirRoster is a dedicated crew roster app by Wingman Avtech, available on iOS, Android, and web. It supports 400+ airlines across AIMS eCrew, ARMS, CAE Crew Access, Sabre, NavBlue RAIDO, CESAR, Netline, CAE FLICA, PDC CrewConnex, and more.
AirRoster does not try to be a logbook, a messaging platform, or a tax tool. It syncs your roster automatically from your airline's scheduling system, displays it cleanly, caches it offline, and lets you share it with family and friends. That focus is deliberate.
For crew who want a logbook alongside their roster, Wingman Pilot Logbook (from the same developer) is a separate purpose-built product with direct eGCA upload, CA-39 generation, and 50+ logbook export formats. The two apps share the same airline ecosystem but each does its job without compromise.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Roster Import
OffBlock connects to a handful of airline scheduling systems and offers manual import as a fallback. Some users have reported import issues tied to airline-side changes, with resolution depending on whether the issue sits with the airline or the app. The experience can vary significantly by airline.
AirRoster connects directly to scheduling systems covering 400+ airlines. One tap, automatic sync, no login loop, no manual fallback needed. Daily auto-import means your roster is always current without you touching the app.
Platform and Device Coverage
This is where the gap is widest.
OffBlock:Â Full feature set on iOS only. The Android app is explicitly described by the developer as early-phase with limited features. No web access at all.
AirRoster:Â Full feature parity across iOS, Android, and web browser. The same roster view, offline access, and family sharing works identically everywhere. A crew member on layover can check their schedule from a hotel computer at app.airroster.com without installing anything.
For crew flying with airlines where Android devices are standard issue, or for cabin crew who overwhelmingly use Android in markets like India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, OffBlock is not a viable daily tool. AirRoster is.
Offline Access
OffBlock caches roster data locally on iOS once synced.
AirRoster has an active offline architecture. Auto-caches on every sync across all three platforms. Full loaded period available offline including multiple weeks ahead. Works in airplane mode.
Family Sharing
OffBlock requires family members to download a separate companion app (OffBlock Family), create a setup, and maintain it.
AirRoster family sharing requires nothing from the recipient. No app download, no account creation, no installation. You share a link and your family sees your schedule. For the partner or parent who just wants to know when you are home, the difference in friction is significant.
Friends and Crew Connections
OffBlock offers friend connections and common off-day finding within its user base.
AirRoster supports cross-airline friend connections with opt-in privacy. Search by name or employee ID across 400+ supported airlines. No limit on connections. Because AirRoster's airline coverage is broader, the network effect is stronger: your colleague on a different carrier is more likely to be on AirRoster than on OffBlock.
Calendar Sync
OffBlock offers calendar export and automatic sync to iCloud, Google, or other calendars. This is a Pro feature behind the paywall.
AirRoster provides calendar export to standard calendar apps.
In-App Messaging
OffBlock includes private chat and group messaging.
AirRoster does not. Crew already have WhatsApp, Telegram, and airline-specific crew apps for messaging. Building another messaging layer into a roster app adds complexity without solving a real problem.
Tax Tool
OffBlock integrates with easy dutyplan, a German tax return tool. This is specifically relevant to crew based in Germany and has limited utility for crew elsewhere.
AirRoster does not include tax integration. This is not a gap for the vast majority of crew globally.
Pilot Logbook
OffBlock includes a built-in logbook with EASA and FAA compliant exports, smart flight logging, aircraft management, and digital signatures. For iOS pilots who want roster and logbook in one app, this is a feature AirRoster deliberately does not replicate.
AirRoster is a roster app, not a logbook. For pilots who need a logbook, Wingman Pilot Logbook is the dedicated product from the same developer, with direct eGCA upload for Indian pilots, CA-39 generation, 50+ export formats, and auto roster import from 400+ airlines. Two purpose-built tools working together will always outperform one app trying to do everything.
Airline and Region Coverage
OffBlock's user base skews heavily European, reflecting its German origin and the easy dutyplan integration. Its scheduling system coverage is weighted toward European carriers.
AirRoster covers 400+ airlines with specific support for Indian carriers (IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, Star Air), Gulf airlines, Southeast Asian, European, UK, and US carriers. For crew based outside Western Europe, AirRoster's coverage is substantially wider.
Side-by-Side Summary
Feature | AirRoster | OffBlock |
iOS | Full features | Full features |
Android | Full features | Early phase, limited |
Web browser | Full features | Not available |
Airlines supported | 400+ | Smaller set, Europe-focused |
Auto roster sync | One tap, daily auto-import | Available for supported systems |
Offline access | All platforms, multi-week cache | iOS only |
Family sharing | No app needed, no account needed | Requires separate OffBlock Family app |
Cross-airline friends | 400+ airlines, no limit | Within OffBlock user base |
Pilot logbook | No (use Wingman Pilot Logbook) | Built-in, iOS only |
In-app messaging | No | Yes |
Tax tool | No | Germany only (easy dutyplan) |
Calendar sync | Standard export | Auto-sync (Pro feature) |
India coverage | Direct support for major carriers | Not specifically supported |
Price | Free tier with full roster access | Free tier with ads; Pro ~€29.99/year |
Where OffBlock Falls Short
Android is an afterthought. In 2026, releasing an app where the Android version is explicitly labelled as early-phase is a structural limitation, not a temporary gap. A large proportion of airline crew globally use Android. OffBlock does not serve them.
No web access. There is no way to check your roster from a desktop browser, a hotel computer, or any device where you have not installed the app. AirRoster works at app.airroster.com from any browser.
Family sharing requires effort from your family. Asking a non-tech-savvy partner or parent to download, install, and set up a separate companion app is friction that AirRoster eliminates entirely.
Limited geographic reach. OffBlock's coverage and feature focus are centred on European airlines. Crew in India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and other regions will find gaps in airline support.
Feature bloat. Combining a logbook, roster, messaging, and tax tool in one app means each feature competes for development resources and screen real estate. The logbook is the strongest component. The roster viewer, which is what crew actually open every day, does not get the singular focus it deserves.
When OffBlock Might Still Work for You
If you are an iOS-only pilot, flying for a European airline that OffBlock supports, and you specifically want a combined logbook and roster in one app, OffBlock is functional for that use case. The logbook component is its strongest feature.
If the easy dutyplan tax integration matters to you (Germany-based crew), that is a genuine niche benefit no other roster app offers.
But those are narrow conditions. For the majority of crew worldwide, they do not apply.
Who Should Use AirRoster
You don't want an iOS Lock in. OffBlock does not fully support you across platforms like Android, PCs, laptops, Web browsers. AirRoster does.
You want web access. AirRoster works in any browser. OffBlock does not have a web product.
You fly for an airline that uses any of the major roster system. AirRoster has direct support for these airlines. OffBlock does not.
You want family sharing that actually works simply. No app download, no account creation required from your family.
You are cabin crew. AirRoster is built for pilots and cabin crew. OffBlock's feature set is pilot-centric with the logbook as its centrepiece.
You want your roster app to just be a roster app. Fast, clean, reliable, on every device. No logbook screens to navigate past, no messaging layer, no tax tool for a country you do not live in.
How to Get Started with AirRoster
Open AirRoster on iOS, Android, or in your browser at app.airroster.com
Select your airline from 400+ supported carriers
Tap to sync and your roster imports automatically
Share with family using a simple link, no app required on their end
Set up daily auto-sync and never think about it again
Your roster, on every device, always current, always offline-ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OffBlock's Android app the same as iOS? No. OffBlock's own Play Store listing states the Android app is in an early phase with fewer features than iOS. Android users do not get the full logbook, complete statistics, or the full feature set.
Does AirRoster have a pilot logbook? No. AirRoster is a dedicated roster app. For logbook needs, Wingman Pilot Logbook (from the same developer) is a separate product with direct eGCA upload, CA-39 generation, and 50+ logbook export formats.
Does OffBlock work on web? No. OffBlock is a mobile app for iOS and Android only. There is no web version. AirRoster is accessible from any browser at app.airroster.com.
Is OffBlock free? OffBlock has a free tier with basic features and advertising. OffBlock Pro costs approximately €29.99 per year or €2.99 monthly and includes roster import, calendar sync, advanced statistics, and the full logbook.
Is AirRoster free? Yes. AirRoster has a free tier with full roster access. Try it at app.airroster.com with no payment details required.
Can I use both? Yes. Some crew use OffBlock for its logbook and AirRoster for reliable cross-device roster access. The two apps serve different purposes and are not mutually exclusive. Though if you are using Wingman Pilot Logbook for your logbook needs, there is no reason to keep OffBlock.
Does AirRoster support the same airlines as OffBlock? AirRoster supports 400+ airlines across AIMS eCrew, ARMS, CAE Crew Access, NavBlue RAIDO, CESAR, Sabre, Netline, CAE FLICA, PDC CrewConnex, and more. AirRoster's airline coverage is substantially broader, particularly outside Europe.
Which app is better for Indian pilots? AirRoster, clearly. It directly supports IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, Star Air, and other Indian carriers. OffBlock does not have specific India scheduling system integrations. For logbook needs, Wingman Pilot Logbook offers direct eGCA upload and CA-39 generation.
Does AirRoster work offline? Yes. AirRoster auto-caches your roster on every sync across iOS, Android, and web. Your full loaded period is available offline including multiple weeks ahead.
The Bottom Line
OffBlock tries to be four products in one app and delivers its best experience to a narrow audience: iOS pilots at European airlines who want a combined logbook and roster. Outside that profile, the gaps are real: a limited Android app, no web access, family sharing that requires a separate app download, and airline coverage that thins out significantly beyond Europe.
AirRoster does one thing and does it for everyone. Your roster, on every device, synced automatically from 400+ airlines, with family sharing that requires zero effort from your family. It works for pilots and cabin crew, on iOS and Android and web, across India, the Gulf, Europe, the US, and Southeast Asia.
If your roster app is something you open every single day, it should be built like something you open every single day. Not bolted onto a logbook as a secondary feature.
Feature information sourced from official app store listings, developer documentation, and terms of use as of early 2026. OffBlock Android feature limitations are per the developer's own Play Store listing.