CMDR vs Open Lap
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CMDR
This app delivers the latest news from the Elite: Dangerous universe quickly and efficiently. It helps users stay informed about important in-game events, such as server downtime, by making news items content-aware for easy calendar integration.
- Fast Galnet News delivery
- Content-aware event integration
- Calendar synchronization
- Clean and lean interface
- Offline news access (implied by 'sat on a train')
Read full descriptionHide full description
Keep up with Galnet wherever you are. CMDR is a companion for Elite Dangerous players. Read the latest Galnet news on iPhone and iPad in a focused reader built for commanders. • Read Galnet and use the app in English, French or German. • Browse older transmissions as you scroll. • Read previously downloaded articles without a connection. • Mark articles as read or unread with a swipe. • Choose card or compact lists and Default, Midnight or Charcoal themes. • Share article text or links with other commanders. Your reading history and preferences stay on your device. CMDR has no adverts or analytics and does not collect your personal data. Optional tips support the developer without unlocking features. Offline reading covers articles already saved on your device. Fetching new or older articles, external links and remote article resources requires a connection. Fly safe, CMDR. o7 CMDR is an independent companion app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Frontier Developments. Elite Dangerous and related properties belong to Frontier Developments plc.
Open Lap
Manage your slot car races with this app, offering practice, qualifying, and race modes. Customize car settings, track intermediate times, and receive voice alerts for events like low fuel. Supports Carrera DIGITAL 124/132 systems.
- Race management modes (practice, qualifying, race)
- Individual car settings (speed, brake, fuel)
- Intermediate/sector time tracking
- Personalized voice alerts
- Pace car and yellow flag control
- Bluetooth connectivity via Carrera AppConnect
Read full descriptionHide full description
Open Lap is a simple, no-nonsense slot car race management app for Carrera® DIGITAL 124/132 systems. In a nutshell, Open Lap lets you - connect your mobile device via Bluetooth using Carrera AppConnect®, or a suitable serial to USB On-The-Go adapter cable. - take it easy during free practice, go for fastest lap in qualifying, or compete in lap or time based race sessions. - get informed about important events, such as fastest laps or low fuel conditions, by personalized voice messages. - adjust vehicle speed, brake force and fuel tank size for each car individually. - measure up to three intermediate or sector times (S1, S2, S3) using Carrera® Check Lane or compatible equipment. - send out the pace car in case of emergency, or temporarily disable lap counting during a "yellow flag" phase. Some features, such as the start light and pace car buttons, will require Carrera® Control Unit firmware version 3.31 or higher. Carrera® Check Lane support generally requires at least firmware version 3.36.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Open Lap at none against CMDR's 4. Open Lap also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 79%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). CMDR's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 13 months) and ratings volume (16 vs 4). On price, ads and device support 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. CMDR sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Open Lap asks for nothing beyond the download.
Open Lap holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 16 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of CMDR's written reviews are positive against 100% of Open Lap's.
CMDR ships an update every 4 weeks, Open Lap every 13 months. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.
| Parameter | CMDR | Open Lap |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (16 ratings) | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 79.2% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 16 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks — better | Every 13 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 23 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Peter Stanley | Philipp Anné |
Customer experience
CMDR
Open Lap
In-app purchases
CMDR
- Delicious snack for the Dev$0.99
- Small coffee for the Dev$1.99
- Medium coffee for the Dev$2.99
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Large coffee for the Dev$3.99
Open Lap
No in-app purchases
