Stratus Horizon Pro vs Tachbase
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Stratus Horizon Pro
This app provides a backup Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) for pilots, displaying pitch and bank information on a tablet. It also offers radio transcription and playback of air traffic control communications, converting audio to text for easy reference. Firmware updates for compatible devices are also available.
- Backup Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS)
- Responsive pitch and bank instrument display
- Automatic AHRS alignment
- Radio transcription and playback of ATC communications
- Visual assist for referencing audio clips
- Firmware updates for Stratus receivers
- Day, night, and heads-up display modes
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Backup Glass Cockpit on your iPad Stratus Horizon Pro displays a complete Attitude Heading Reference System (AHRS) for supplemental attitude information in your cockpit. Driven by a Stratus receiver, the AHRS feature will display a super responsive pitch and bank instrument on your iPad. It aligns itself automatically, so you can just turn it on and fly. This provides an excellent backup for emergency situations. Radio Transcription & Playback Plug in and play back. You’ll never have to say “say again” again when you use the radio playback feature. Plug in a Stratus Audio Cable to capture ATC communications for easy one-touch playback. Similar to how visual voicemail works, the ATC communications will be converted into text, providing a visual assist for referencing previous audio clips for playback. This enables pilots to receive a clearance, ATIS, or other important ATC communications without needing to write them down Stratus Audio Cable The Stratus Audio Cable (available to purchase for $49.99 from the Appareo web store) is needed to enable the radio transcription and playback feature. No cellular service or internet connection is required to operate the app. Stratus Device Management Download firmware updates for all models of Stratus portable ADS-B receivers, Stratus 1, 2, 1S, 2S, 2i, 3, 3i, and 4. Switch your Stratus 3 to "Open ADS-B Mode" to utilize its GDL-90 protocol that integrates Stratus with most flight apps. Stratus 4 defaults to GDL-90 mode. Enable notifications to get updates any time there is a firmware update to your portable device. Stratus Horizon Pro is a flight app that can be viewed in day mode, night mode, or via heads-up display. App Multitasking Stratus Horizon Pro supports app multitasking with split view and overlay view, so you can use radio transcription and playback alongside your favorite EFB. The EFB app must be able to support multitasking.
Tachbase
This app provides pilots with essential tools for flight planning, in-cockpit navigation, and flight logging. It offers offline access to charts, weather data, and airport information, enhancing situational awareness and simplifying post-flight record-keeping.
- Offline moving map with VFR/IFR charts
- Georeferenced approach plates and procedures
- Airport information and weather data
- Live traffic and weather with ADS-B receiver
- IFR/VFR flight plan filing and management
- Smart logbook with auto-logging and currency tracking
- Customizable checklists
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Tachbase is an electronic flight bag (EFB) for general aviation pilots — preflight planning, in-cockpit awareness, and logging in one fast, offline-first app for iPhone, iPad, and the web. TACHBASE ASSISTANT Ask in plain English — "Any NOTAMs at KSFO?", "Cat A minimums for the RNAV 31 at KPAO?", "Am I night current?" — and get answers looked up live, not from memory: weather, PIREPs and winds aloft; runways, crosswinds and Chart Supplement remarks; approach fixes and minimums from the plate; the FAR/AIM and FAA handbooks; and your own logbook, currency and aircraft. Runs on Tachbase's own servers — your questions never go to a third-party AI. Aviation only; sign in for your own records. Advisory, not an official briefing. FREE — EVERYTHING INCLUDED No subscription, nothing to buy. The moving map, charts and georeferenced plates, in-flight tools, and offline downloads all work without an account. Create a free account and nothing lives on one device: your logbook, flights, plans, aircraft, and checklists sync across iPhone, iPad, and the web. MOVING MAP Airports, airspace, navaids, fixes, airways, and MTRs — tap any feature for details. Airport diagrams draw on the map as you zoom in. Overlay VFR/IFR charts, live weather (radar, satellite, winds aloft, PIREPs, AIRMETs/SIGMETs), TFRs, and your route. Download states & territories offline. CHARTS & PLATES FAA approach plates, departure/arrival procedures, airport diagrams, and takeoff/alternate minimums — plus taxi diagrams where the FAA has none. Plates are georeferenced (your aircraft draws on the chart); drop any chart onto the map. AIRPORTS Frequencies, runway wind analysis, METARs/TAFs, NOTAMs, fuel & services, sunrise/sunset, and the chart supplement — all offline-ready. WEATHER Local Weather for your home or nearest airport: conditions, a plain-English TAF outlook and the 7-day forecast. Decoded METARs and TAFs, 270+ imagery products cached offline, FAA weather cameras, and FIS-B with an ADS-B receiver. NWS warnings, forecaster discussions and satellite loops arrive live from Tachbase's own GOES-18 satellite dish. TRAFFIC & FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS Connect any GDL90 ADS-B receiver — Stratux, Stratus 3, SkyEcho — for live traffic and weather. A PFD pairs an AHRS attitude indicator with an HSI that tracks your active leg or Direct-To. A customizable data bar adds terrain, obstacle, and traffic alerts with spoken callouts. FLIGHT PLANNING The route finder suggests routes ATC recently assigned — SIDs and STARs load with published legs on the map. Add approaches and airways; check a terrain profile with recommended MEA. Wind-corrected nav log with fuel planning, weight & balance, and PDF export. File, activate, amend, and close flight plans with Leidos Flight Services and official FAA/FSS briefings. Direct-To with holds and track lines. SMART LOGBOOK Log flights with approaches, passengers, and cost-splitting; auto-log with a GPS track; track FAA currency; and generate experience and 8710 reports. Import from ForeFlight or MyFlightbook, export CSV. Sign entries inline or via QR for instructor endorsements. AI APPS & DEVELOPERS Bring Tachbase into Claude or any MCP app, or build on our API: weather, airports, charts and regs — and, only with your approval, read-only access to your logbook, currency and aircraft. tachbase.com/developers PLUS: Home Screen widgets and a live Lock Screen flight activity; an aircraft hangar with weight & balance, POH takeoff/landing distances, and maintenance tracking; normal and emergency checklists; an E6B; an offline FAA library (FAR/AIM, handbooks, ACs); your own POHs and PDFs; iCloud backup; contacts; 8 themes. Tachbase supplements, not replaces, certified avionics and official sources. All data — aeronautical, weather, own-ship position — is for situational awareness only, not for primary or IFR navigation. Per FAA AC 91-78 and AC 120-76, the pilot in command must verify all information against official sources.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Tachbase at 5.0 against Stratus Horizon Pro's 3.8. Tachbase also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months). Stratus Horizon Pro's advantage is ratings volume (36 vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Stratus Horizon Pro sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Tachbase sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Tachbase holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stratus Horizon Pro has 36 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Stratus Horizon Pro ships an update every 2 months, Tachbase every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Stratus Horizon Pro | Tachbase |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (36 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 41.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 36 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 287 MB | 69 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Appareo Systems, LLC | 808 Heavy Industries LLC |
Customer experience
Stratus Horizon Pro
Tachbase
In-app purchases
Stratus Horizon Pro
- ATC Transcription - Monthly1 Month trial$4.991 Month
- ATC Transcription - Yearly1 Month trial$49.991 Year
Tachbase
- Tachbase Pro Monthly$5.991 Month
- Tachbase Pro Annual$59.991 Year









