# SidePilot — user reviews > 56 indexed App Store user reviews of SidePilot by Tom Brereton, rated 4.00/5 from 98 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidepilot/id1138193193/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidepilot/id1138193193.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 61 · 4★ 8 · 3★ 10 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 16 ## Newest reviews (15 of 56) ### 2/5 — Unable to install the firmware on the drone *2025-11-08* Sorry for the twin stars.. Followed the instructions and tried to update the copter firmware. It abruptly ended and now my drone has a solid red orange led light lit up. The controller is unable to pair or locate the drone. It keeps displaying waiting for Solo. Can you help pls ### 3/5 — Langage *2025-08-07* Très bonne application , dommage que ce ne soit pas en Français car pour les réglages c’est galère quand on comprend pas l’anglais…… 😡 Dommage aussi que l’on ne puisse pas mettre le solo 3DR à jour …. **Developer response:** Hi Mickado, Thank you for your feedback, we do plan to add translation in future versions. In the meantime, if you have any questions on what settings mean, please email me at tom@sidepilot.net Thank you, Tom ### 4/5 — Much Better now in Dec 24 *2024-12-14* I had an early version and haven’t flown the drone in a while, and the drone wasn’t very stable figuring out if the gyros needed recalibration was fairly complicated, and this new version the app itself told me the gyros needed reconfiguration went into the configuration and walked me through it simply by hitting, turning on its side hitting next. excellent Job improvements. The drone is much more stable as well Probably because the gyros are properly configured now ### 3/5 — Issues with controller set up *2024-09-27* While connect to drone and app I cannot change the a b button configuration for flight modes . Either app freezes or shuts down. Really would like the function to work properly. **Developer response:** Hi! Thanks for the feedback. The latest release (2.0.9) has a bug fix included which should resolve your issue. Thanks! ### 4/5 — Great App for Flying *2024-03-03* I enjoy the SidePilot app for flying my Solo again! Only negative was the firmware issues. However, after finding an awesome Facebook group (JB’s 3DR Solo Owners Group) and getting firmware from that resource, my solo is finally in the air again! Overall, I recommend SidePilot and it's developer works hard to make it better / correct issues! Just completed my first flight with SidePilot, Solo preformed well, app was great, and the video streaming worked! ### 3/5 — Will Improve Rating If *2024-02-15* Update via Facebook “working on an update to correct the issue” There is a few of us user that have been stuck on the ground due to “Compass Calibration” errors. I've emailed and reached out to the Facebook page. Was hoping the latest update would address the issue, but it didn't. App is great if it fully worked. Will improve the rating and review if I ever get some help on this Compass Calibration error issue. App looks good, have had little to no issues connecting to the go pro for live-streaming, and the app is designed to help pilots (pre flight check list, on screen commercial aircraft, and more on the map) ### 5/5 — Solo app for iPhone *2023-11-27* I’m using the app to fly my solo drone with! And it works great. I can’t imagine what you could do without the help of this amazing app. Keep Flying ### 5/5 — Saved my drone *2023-05-08* Without this app, I would not be able to use my drone anymore. It does the job well worth the money spent. ### 5/5 — Excited to see developer starting again. Please keep doing up dates! *2022-12-31* Excited to see developer starting again please keep doing updates! ### 4/5 — Will not let youUpdate controller out of pre flight *2022-10-22, version 2.0.5.1* Why! ### 5/5 — Gimbal left right movement *2022-10-06* I have up and down movement but no left and right. The rest of the app works great. Just have to edit a leg on post out. Like the waypoints. ### 4/5 — Great app but GoPro problems *2022-04-09* The app is great! My issue is I can’t control my GoPro with it. I have the GoPro Hero 4 Black. The red circle is in the screen but does nothing. I have video feed and at the top of the screen i would be able to see time moving if it was recording but I can’t get it to start recording via the app. Can someone help? Ascconcepts@gmail **Developer response:** Hi Aaric, Sorry to hear you are having issues with controlling the recording on your GoPro, I hope to resolve this with update 2.0.5 coming soon. In the meantime, you can start/stop GoPro by clicking in the tilt paddle on the Solo controller. Hope that helps. Thanks, Tom ### 5/5 — Too many issues *2021-10-24* 2.0 currently has too many bugs. From parameters not loading from vehicle to calibrations not functioning. Used to be a pretty good app prior to this new version. Will update my review when things are fixed. ### 5/5 — Much better than original 3dr app *2021-10-13* Resurrected my dormant SOLO.. Works great and s very intuitive. Have not tried all the camera function yet but the utilities and update features appreciated the most. Well done Tom ### 5/5 — Thank you *2021-10-06* Thank you for giving us our drones back!! Works great! Well worth the money! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Waste of my money *2026-02-24* This app does not connect to my 3DR Solo Drone. It’s only a way to exploit money from hardworking people. Every time I turn on my drone and the app it says the same drone connected every time. The video camera (GoPro Hero4) shows no video, just like in the picture the developer featured himself. People don’t waste your money on a worthless app. I’m not here to pay your bills. **Developer response:** Hi, I’m sorry to hear that you are having issues connecting to your Solo. Have you connected your phone to your Solo’s wifi network? And do you have any messages on the controller when it is turned on? And did you tap the connect button on the top right of the app? Feel free to email me at tom@sidepilot.net for more troubleshooting. I’d love to get you back flying! Thanks! ### 1/5 — Hard *2026-01-17, version 2.1.6* Trying to download this, I will try again. My control says miss match two solo and waiting for solo. ### 1/5 — Bad *2025-05-13* I can not connect to my dron **Developer response:** Hi, can you please elaborate on the issue you are experiencing? Please contact support at tom@sidepilot.net for assistance. Thank you! ### 1/5 — Don’t use this app *2024-12-11, version 2.1.0.2* It messed up my drone I did the reset to get onto this app and I downloaded the new update and it ruined my drone ### 1/5 — Terrible. *2021-12-14* Used with 3DR Solo drone. DOES NOT work properly. Has caused my drone to crash twice when trying to land and destroy its propellers. I’ll preface this with saying that I never had ANY issues like this with the stock 3DR app before 3DR disappeared from the App Store…no crashes or any other bugs like below. I updated all necessary firmware; the app will allow drone to fly but has several issues. - When trying to land, the drone will get squirrely and randomly throttle up even though I’m holding the throttle all the way down as required when landing - it will have quick spurts of full throttle then stop, then full throttle again (all while throttle is held down at 0%). It tends to catch two side legs on the ground, then flip over and destroys the props, and will not shut off no matter what you do with the throttle or any buttons. I had to hold the drone in my hand with the throttle held down, but it continued to throttle itself up until the battery finally died. - Will not trigger the GoPro to begin recording. - Will not allow parameter changes to be synced to drone. - With full, healthy battery the app says that the battery is critically low within 1 minute of flight time and wants to return “home”. This app is terrible. Don’t use it. **Developer response:** Hi JYedi263, Sorry to hear you’re having issues with your Solo. I’d just like to point out that the throttle issues you described have nothing to do with the app as it does not control your throttle in any way, and you should refer to the 3DR Solo owners Facebook group for advice on that, as it is odd behaviour. For your gopro issues, is your gopro in the stock Solo gimbal? Are you able to take a photo/start recording using the paddle on the controller? If you are not able to then it isn’t an app issue and may be a gimbal issue. For parameter issue, please send me an email at tom@sidepilot.net with details on what isn’t getting saved to the Solo. For the battery, unfortunately as the Solo is quite old now, the batteries are far past their useful date and will not hold a full charge for long. If the app is indicating critical battery, then it is likely that the battery is reporting that to Solo itself and is once again, not an app issue. These ‘issues’ you describe should be easily resolved if you would like to get in contact with me for assistance. Thanks, Tom ### 1/5 — Useless *2021-03-25, version 1.4.1* Does not work No support ### 1/5 — Closes constantly *2020-12-28, version 1.37* Bought it and thinking it would be good app replacing the 3DR solo app. End up wasting money ### 1/5 — Crashed my drone into water *2020-12-26, version 1.37* Was flying for 5 min abs then camera disconnected and lost connectivity. Pop up came up that said “swipe to arm” and only way to get rid of it was to swipe the icon. Next thing I know my GoPro is gone into sea with my solo 3dr. I retrieved it but the thing is shot now. $12 app cost me 500+! This is downright absurd. ### 1/5 — NO ME FUNCIONÓ *2020-09-01* Mi control esta en Modo Update. Con ésta app NO SE PUEDE ACTUALIZAR. No la compres si necesitas poner tu drone al dia. Inverti $17.99 US y los perdi. La única namera es usar un dispositivo androide y comprar la app SOLEX. Suerte! ### 1/5 — Awful *2020-07-28, version 1.36.4* Don’t buy this app. Bought this for my 3DR Solo and it didn’t work at all. Had a lot of problems with it glitching and it would not connect to the remote. Wouldn’t do anything to get the drone in the air and I strongly recommend that you don’t waste your time buying this app. Truly awful! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Excellent *2026-05-24* A great app. Gets my 3DR Solo flying again. All I need now is reliable batteries ### 5/5 — Excellent *2025-11-18* Perfect app for flying your Solo or any Arducopter compatible drone. **Developer response:** Thanks for the great feedback! ### 5/5 — Solo *2025-06-09* iPhone app for the Solo drone. It’s always being updated by Tom . The drone is a beast and it has a gimbal that holds a GoPro camera for great photos! I’ve been using this app for years now and it works really great ### 5/5 — 3dr Solo *2025-05-23* This app has kept my Solo flying and I have watched this app go through the changes. Thank you for all the work put into this and keeping my old Solo flying. Cheers. **Developer response:** Hi Cory, glad you are enjoying it! If you ever have any suggestions or improvements, free to send me an email at tom@sidepilot.net Thanks! Tom ### 5/5 — Excellent app *2024-12-22* Would be lost without this, Saved my Solo from a certain death❤️ **Developer response:** Thanks for the great feedback! ### 5/5 — Excellent for my Solo *2024-12-21* I just installed this app to get my Solo back in the air and it works so much better than the original factory program, the Solo runs so much more stable. Lots of features that I may never need but you never know when they may come in handy. Thank you! So pleased! **Developer response:** Thanks for the great feedback, glad to have you as a SidePilot user! ### 5/5 — Plug and play *2024-07-04* This app is pretty amazing. It just works. One thing that I have to work out is why many functions are “unsupported” (I think that’s what the voice was saying). Any ideas? Thanks for the useful app. Very much worth the money. ### 5/5 — 3DR Solo drone *2024-03-02* Tom this app is so great! You should be proud of the quality work you’ve done for all of us Solo iPhone pilots. I couldn’t even imagine how I could even be able to get my drone in the air without this incredible app. Thanks so much Tom ### 5/5 — Great App *2024-02-10* What would we do without the app that you have built for us on iPhone or iOS devices. I am still flying my 3DR Solo drone because of this app. I’m still learning all this application does for the drone. Tom thanks so very much ### 5/5 — Brought my Solo back to life *2023-12-03* I don’t really leave reviews ever, but this app is so fantastic that I almost felt obligated to. Like a lot of people, when support ended for my Solo drone, the app was gone and I had eventually moved on with my phone so I could no longer fly my drone. Recently I dusted it off to see if I could get it going again and immediately had issues with calibration, but since the app was gone I couldn’t calibrate it, and couldn’t even fly it in manual mode. I found this app and used it to upgrade the firmware on both the drone and the controller with ease, and I was also able to calibrate the drone and get it flying with my live video feed working as well. I’m just now starting to mess with the map and waypoints and everything, but it looks intuitive so far, and there is good documentation provided. If you have a 3DR Solo that’s dead in the water, this app gives you everything you need to get her back in the air. I *highly* recommend it. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-24.*