SidePilot vs Veeniix RID
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SidePilot
This application serves as a comprehensive ground control station for drones equipped with ArduPilot autopilot. It enables users to monitor drone telemetry, create flight plans, manage parameters, and view live video feeds. The app supports various connection methods, including WiFi and Bluetooth, and offers advanced features like object tracking and cinematic orbit modes.
- ArduPilot drone control (ArduCopter, ArduPlane, ArduRover)
- Real-time telemetry display (altitude, position, orientation)
- Waypoint and geofence creation/editing
- Live video feed and YouTube streaming
- Follow Me and Orbit modes
- Parameter editing and calibration
- ADSB for nearby aircraft warnings
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The BEST ArduPilot GCS for iPhone and iPadOS! Works with ArduPilot autopilot via WiFi, Bluetooth Low Energy or Cellular connection, including 3DR Solo. Supports ExpressLRS MAVLink telemetry. NOTE: You must have either WiFi, Cellular or Serial Bluetooth connection to your drone. User Manual is available at https://sidepilot.net Features: • Supports ArduCopter, ArduPlane and ArduRover via ELRS, WiFi or Bluetooth. • Displays current drone location, with information such as altitude, yaw, pitch and roll. • Internet ADSB to display nearby aircraft and provide warnings. • Create, edit and delete waypoints and geofences. • Audible alerts for important information. • Edit, save and load parameters. • Perform a Pre-Flight checklist with live weather information. • Low battery warnings and alerts. • View onboard video, and live stream it to YouTube. • Record telemetry logs and export for sharing. • Follow Me - Have your drone follow you using your devices GPS location, or visually with Object Tracking. • Orbit mode - Automatically orbit an object for a fantastic cinematic shots! • Grid Waypoints - Create a survey grid to fly. • Tap to fly - Tap a location on the map to send your drone there! • Perform calibrations at the field. • DroneCAN Viewer and parameter editor. • And many, many more... Quick-start guide (Using a WiFi connection): 1. Turn on drone and connect using WiFi. 2. Start SidePilot, navigate to settings and select either WiFi UDP, TCP or 3DR Solo (as applicable). 3. If setting up WiFi manually, click on WiFi Settings and input the correct IP address and port that the MAVLink protocol is running over. 4. Go back to the main screen and press the connect button on the top right. The app will begin displaying information about the drone. If not, double check your WiFi settings. Please post suggestions and bug reports on the SidePilot Facebook page or via email to tom@sidepilot.net WARNING: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Note: iPads without cellular do not have GPS capability unless tethered to a iOS Device with cellular, and even then it is poor and not suitable for navigation.
Veeniix RID
This utility app provides drone broadcast information and serves as a tool for managing the broadcast module. It guides users to FAA compliance registration, helps locate lost drones, and allows checking broadcast data.
- Drone broadcast information
- Broadcast module tool
- FAA compliance registration guidance
- Drone location tracking
- Lost drone finder
- Broadcast data checking
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This APP broadcasts information for drones and serves as a tool for the use of the broadcast module. 1. Follow the navigation to the FAA website for compliance registration. 2. Check the drone location and find it if it is lost. 3. Check the broadcast data.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Veeniix RID at Free against SidePilot's $13.99. Veeniix RID also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and review sentiment (67% vs 57%). SidePilot's advantage is rating (3.9 vs 3.7) and ratings volume (108 vs 3). On ads, in-app purchases 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
Veeniix RID is free to download; SidePilot costs $13.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
SidePilot holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SidePilot has 108 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of SidePilot's written reviews are positive against 67% of Veeniix RID's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
SidePilot ships an update every 6 weeks, Veeniix RID every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SidePilot | Veeniix RID |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $13.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.9 (108 ratings) — better | 3.7 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | 66.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 108 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #122 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 119 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 17+ |
| Developer | Tom Brereton | Zhuhai Baize Innovation Technology Co., Ltd |
Customer experience
SidePilot
Veeniix RID
Bugs and requests
SidePilot
Reported bugs
51 issues- App does not connect to drone
- No video feed from GoPro
- Firmware update failures
- Controller not pairing
- Drone stuck in 'waiting for Solo' state
Show 46 moreShow fewer
- App freezes or crashes during operation
- Drone becomes unstable during landing
- GoPro recording not triggered
- Parameter changes not syncing
- Inaccurate battery level warnings
- Compass calibration errors
- Map not loading
- Laggy video feed
- App crashes when pressing record button
- App closes constantly
- Drone crashes due to app malfunction
- Camera disconnects during flight
- Lost connectivity during flight
- Drone stuck in 'Preflight Update' mode
- WiFi connection alert 'No internet connection'
- Gimbal left-right movement not working
- GoPro Hero 4 Black control issues
- Drone gets squirrely and throttles up during landing
- Drone flips over and destroys props
- Drone does not shut off
- Issues with controller setup (A/B buttons)
- App freezes or shuts down when changing button configurations
- Functions showing as 'unsupported'
- Parameters not loading from vehicle
- Calibrations not functioning
- Laggy live feed
- Live feed shows drone in air after landing
- GPS position does not match map in PRC
- App crashes when trying to connect Solo to app
- Live feed freezes during flight
- Switching from video to photo freezes app
- App closes constantly
- Camera disconnected and lost connectivity
- Pop-up 'swipe to arm' cannot be dismissed
- Drone crashes into water
- Lags horribly
- Feed completely freezes
- App is useless
- Almost caused loss of drone
- Lag and photo function issues
- Video lags
- Freezes mid-flight when switching modes
- Awful lag issues with live feed
- Developer stopped responding to questions
- GPS position does not match map
- App crashes every time to connect Solo to app
Requested features
11 requests- French language option
- Ability to update Solo 3DR
- Fix GoPro control issues
- Fix compass calibration errors
- Add support for GoPro video settings in air
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- Add imperial measurements
- Improve waypoint setup practicality
- Fix GPS position matching map in PRC
- Add lighting configuration options
- Add smart shots functionality
- Add A/B button functionality
Veeniix RID
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
SidePilot
No in-app purchases
Veeniix RID
No in-app purchases
