Comparison

SidePilot vs CoreWing

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

CoreWing

Features
Read full description

CoreWing Team proudly introduces the all-new CoreWing App. Whether you use INAV or ArduPilot, this app enables professional-level tuning directly from your mobile device. Free yourself from the computer: connect your phone directly to the flight controller, view and modify parameters in real time, and enjoy a smooth and efficient debugging experience. With a clean and intuitive interface, the app is easy to use. Combined with one-click setup features, even beginners who are new to flight controller tuning can quickly complete aircraft configuration. More powerful features are waiting for you to explore. Key Features • Parameter Setup: Supports Mavlink / MSP protocols and provides a complete parameter configuration interface, delivering an experience close to native ground control stations. Real-time parameter reading, writing, and one-click setup make tuning easier and more efficient. • Telemetry View: Displays key flight data in real time, including voltage, current, battery capacity, altitude, flight distance, GPS status, heading, aircraft position, and more, helping you stay fully aware of your aircraft status. • Waypoint Planning: Designed for ArduPilot firmware, supporting multiple waypoint types and one-click mission upload. Take full control of autonomous flight missions. • Map Navigation: Supports switching between vector and satellite maps, displays real-time flight tracks, and provides automatic map-follow mode for more intuitive positioning. • Flight Logs: Records flight data and supports flight track replay, allowing every flight to be reviewed and traced. • Firmware Update: Supports one-click flashing of ArduPilot and INAV firmware without installing drivers, making firmware upgrades easier than ever. • Module Update: Supports one-click firmware updates for CoreWing wireless modules, bringing continuous optimization and a better user experience over time. • Parameter Storage: Supports cloud saving and sharing of ArduPilot and INAV parameters, making it easy to reuse configurations anytime and share them with fellow pilots. • ELRS Firmware Update: Supports firmware flashing for ELRS transmitters and receivers, making upgrades simple and worry-free for more stable flights. • Find My Aircraft Tool: No need to panic after an unexpected crash. Enter the coordinates to quickly locate your aircraft and easily recover your device. Connection Methods Supports BLE / WiFi connection for CoreWing flight controllers. Compatible with flight controllers running CoreWing INAV / ArduPilot firmware. Contact Us Thank you for choosing the CoreWing App. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact us through the following methods: • Tap “Me — Feedback” in the app to submit your issue • Follow our official WeChat account: CoreWing • Call our official customer service hotline: +86 15018866740

Screenshots

SidePilot4 screens
CoreWing4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: CoreWing at Free against SidePilot's $13.99. CoreWing also leads on update cadence (weekly 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

CoreWing 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, CoreWing weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SidePilot versus CoreWing: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidePilotCoreWing
Price$13.99Free — better
Rating4.0 (98 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings98 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB130 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTom BreretonZhuhai Kuyi Technology Co., Ltd.

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

CoreWing

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

SidePilot

No in-app purchases

None

CoreWing

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SidePilot free?
SidePilot costs $13.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is CoreWing free?
CoreWing is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SidePilot or CoreWing have ads?
Neither SidePilot nor CoreWing shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SidePilot or CoreWing?
SidePilot ships an update every 6 weeks, and CoreWing weekly. Most recently, SidePilot was updated on October 13, 2026 and CoreWing on September 27, 2026.

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