If you run a dropzone, you've almost certainly used or evaluated Burble — it's the long-standing incumbent in dropzone software, and it earned that position. This page is an honest comparison from the team behind XRW: where Burble is strong, where the industry has moved, and where XRW takes a different approach.
The short version
Burble is mature, feature-deep and familiar to manifest staff worldwide — built up over many years, created by a DZO for DZOs. XRW is the modern take: one platform designed mobile-first for the hangar floor, with dedicated dashboards for riggers and event organisers, a free jumper app, and one transparent price instead of per-module fees.
| What matters | XRW | Burble |
|---|---|---|
| Manifest & load management | ✓ Real-time, phone/tablet-first | ✓ Mature, desktop-centred |
| Online bookings & payments | ✓ Included | ✓ Separate module (Burble Bookings) |
| Mobile experience | ✓ Mobile-first throughout — run the DZ from the hangar floor | ◐ BurbleMe app for jumpers; core DZM is desktop-focused |
| Jumper app | ✓ Free — logbook, manifest, tickets, gear, waivers | ✓ BurbleMe (self-manifest, logbook) |
| Rigging loft dashboard | ✓ Dedicated — reserves, repacks, rig history | ✕ Not a dedicated module |
| Events & boogie dashboard | ✓ Dedicated organiser dashboard | ◐ Event organisation within DZM |
| Pricing model | ✓ One transparent price, all features included | ◐ Base + per-module pricing |
| Contracts | ✓ No long-term lock-in | ◐ Longer-term agreements common |
| Staff training time | ✓ Designed to learn in a day | ◐ Deeper system; longer onboarding typical |
| Track record | ◐ Newer platform, growing | ✓ Years of edge cases; large install base |
| Gift cards | ◐ On the roadmap | ✓ Burble Gifts marketplace |
Where Burble is genuinely strong
Fairness first: Burble has run manifests at dropzones around the world for years. Its feature set encodes an enormous number of real-world edge cases, its manifest UI is familiar to travelling staff, and its gift-card marketplace is a real revenue channel. If your operation is deeply invested in that ecosystem, it works — that's why it's the incumbent.
Where the industry has moved
What dropzones tell us they want in 2026 looks different from what software offered in 2010: mobile-first workflows for staff who work beside the plane, not at a desk; instant confirmations and automated follow-up for customers who expect Amazon-grade responsiveness; transparent pricing without per-module surprises; and real-time sync so manifest, riggers and jumpers stop relaying state by radio. Independent industry write-ups make the same point — legacy dropzone software is increasingly described as built for a desktop era and slow to evolve.
Where XRW is different
Every role gets a real home. Not just manifest: a dedicated rigging-loft dashboard (reserves, repacks, auditable rig history) and a dedicated event-organiser dashboard (publish, sell, manage entrants). Most platforms bolt these on; we built them in.
The phone is the platform. XRW is designed for the hangar floor — boarding calls, gear checks and manifest changes happen where the work happens.
One price, everything included. No module matrix. No "that dashboard costs extra". No multi-year lock-in — if XRW is good, you'll stay because it's good.
The jumper app is free, forever. Logbook, licences, manifest, tickets, gear and waivers in every jumper's pocket — because the whole DZ runs smoother when jumpers self-serve.
Which should you choose?
If you want the longest track record and are comfortable with a desktop-centred workflow and modular pricing, Burble remains a serious option. If you want a modern, mobile-first platform with riggers and events as first-class citizens and one transparent price, that's exactly why XRW exists. Book a demo and compare them side by side on your own operation.
We aim to keep this comparison accurate and fair. Burble™ is a trademark of its owner; product details are drawn from public information and may change — spotted something out of date? Tell us: hello@xrw.app. Last reviewed: September 2026.