Comparison

SidePilot vs RunCam Fly

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SidePilot

This portable ground station app connects to ArduPilot drones via WiFi, Bluetooth, or cellular. It provides real-time drone data, waypoint management, and advanced flight modes like Follow Me and Orbit. It also includes ADSB integration and live video streaming capabilities.

Highlights
  • Real-time drone telemetry display
  • Waypoint and geofence creation
  • ADSB aircraft integration
  • Follow Me and Orbit flight modes
  • Live video streaming
  • Parameter editing and calibration
Features
Read full description

This is the BEST ardupilot companion app. 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.

About

RunCam Fly

Read full description

RunCam Fly is a powerful and user-friendly drone ground station app that fully supports ArduPilot and PX4 flight controllers, providing a seamless flying experience and precise control. Key Features: Flight Tuning: Supports MAVLink/CRSF protocols with a complete parameter configuration interface for real-time ArduPilot/PX4 tuning Telemetry Monitoring: Real-time display of altitude, speed, battery voltage, GPS data, and other critical flight information Map Navigation: Switch between vector and satellite maps, track flight paths in real time, and enable auto-follow mode Mission Planning: Intuitive waypoint mission editing with support for multiple waypoint types and one-click mission uploads Flight Recording: Automatically logs flight data, supports flight path replay and data analysis Voice Alerts: Smart voice notifications for flight status, battery levels, signal loss, and other critical events 3D Attitude Indicator: Provides a clear visualization of aircraft attitude for enhanced flight control Failsafe Protection: Configurable GCS, long/short signal loss protection to minimize flight risks Connection Methods: Supports Bluetooth / TCP / UDP connections Compatible with MAVLink / CRSF protocols Works with ArduPilot / PX4 / INAV / Betaflight flight controllers Safety Features: All data is stored locally to protect user privacy Multi-layer failsafe protection for enhanced flight security Real-time monitoring and alerts to ensure reliable operation RunCam Fly – Smarter, Safer, and More Efficient Drone Control!

Screenshots

SidePilot4 screens
RunCam Fly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RunCam Fly at Free against SidePilot's $13.99. RunCam Fly also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

RunCam Fly is free to download; SidePilot costs $13.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SidePilot ships an update every 6 weeks, RunCam Fly every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SidePilot versus RunCam Fly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidePilotRunCam Fly
Price$13.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (98 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings98 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTom BreretonRunCam

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 more
  • 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 more
  • 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

RunCam Fly

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

SidePilot

No in-app purchases

None

RunCam Fly

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SidePilot free?
SidePilot costs $13.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is RunCam Fly free?
RunCam Fly is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SidePilot or RunCam Fly have ads?
Neither SidePilot nor RunCam Fly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SidePilot or RunCam Fly?
SidePilot ships an update every 6 weeks, and RunCam Fly every 4 days. Most recently, SidePilot was updated on October 13, 2026 and RunCam Fly on October 10, 2026.

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