# Holding Pattern Computer vs HeliPlates

The clearest difference is price: HeliPlates at Free against Holding Pattern Computer's $11.99. Holding Pattern Computer's advantage is ratings volume (176 vs 3) and iOS requirement (12.4 vs 16.6). On rating, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

HeliPlates is free to download; Holding Pattern Computer costs $11.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Holding Pattern Computer against 5.0 for HeliPlates. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Holding Pattern Computer has 176 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Holding Pattern Computer ships an update every 11 months, HeliPlates every 21 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Holding Pattern Computer | HeliPlates |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $11.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.9 (176 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/holding-pattern-computer/id1093542620/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heliplates/id1262922778/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **176** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 90.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 11 months** | Every 21 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 19 MB | 0 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aviation Mobile Apps, LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/286046308) | [California Department of Transportation](https://appshunter.io/developer/1193696576) |

## What reviewers say

### Holding Pattern Computer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/holding-pattern-computer/id1093542620)

Master complex flight maneuvers with intuitive, turn-by-turn guidance for various entry types and holds. This app analyzes wind patterns and flight dynamics to provide real-time, adaptive directions, minimizing pilot workload and maximizing path accuracy for safe navigation.

**Highlights:** Turn-by-turn guidance for Direct, Teardrop, and Parallel entries, Real-time wind correction and flight dynamics analysis, High-Precision Entry (HPE) system, Advanced Holding Pattern Solution (HPS), EFC algorithms, Hybrid Parallel/Teardrop entry method

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### HeliPlates

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heliplates/id1262922778)

This app provides detailed information on hospital heliports across California, including navigation coordinates, dimensions, and facility details. Users can view heliports on an interactive map or by hospital name, with aerial photos and approach paths included. Data can be saved for offline access.

**Highlights:** Interactive map of California hospital heliports, Detailed heliport information, Navigational coordinates, Aerial photos with approach paths, Offline data saving, Search by region, county, or hospital name

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Holding Pattern Computer free?

Holding Pattern Computer costs $11.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HeliPlates free?

HeliPlates is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Holding Pattern Computer or HeliPlates?

HeliPlates is rated higher. Holding Pattern Computer averages 4.9 out of 5 from 176 ratings, while HeliPlates averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Holding Pattern Computer or HeliPlates have ads?

Neither Holding Pattern Computer nor HeliPlates shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Holding Pattern Computer or HeliPlates?

Holding Pattern Computer ships an update every 11 months, and HeliPlates every 21 months. Most recently, Holding Pattern Computer was updated on September 25, 2026 and HeliPlates on June 4, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*