fDeck vs Planningcharts
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
fDeck
This app provides a comprehensive flight deck with realistic instruments for aviation enthusiasts and pilots. It includes navigation tools, real-time weather, and traffic data, functioning as both a training aid and a supplementary instrument set.
- Realistic flight instruments (HSI, VOR, ADF, etc.)
- Interactive aviation moving map
- Live weather and ADS-B traffic data
- Radio navigation training simulation
- Worldwide aviation database
- X-Plane flight simulator integration
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fDeck turns your iPhone or iPad into a working aircraft instrument panel - a graphically beautiful flight deck for your pocket, with live weather, real ADS-B traffic, a flight planner and a powerful radio-navigation trainer. Trusted by 50,000+ pilots, student pilots and flight-sim enthusiasts worldwide. 100% ad-free. A FULL PANEL OF INSTRUMENTS Every instrument is hand-crafted to look and behave like the real thing - responsive, animated, and controlled with intuitive touch. Mix and match any combination to build your own flight deck: • Synthetic Vision (Vision PFD) • Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) • VOR receiver • Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) • Artificial Horizon • Altimeter (GPS/Baro) • Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) • Aircraft compass with heading bug • Groundspeed indicator • Chronometer with fuel totaliser • Live weather & wind, with TAF/METAR in raw or decoded form Every instrument has its own built-in video tutorial. LEARN TO NAVIGATE Pan your aircraft anywhere on the map and watch every instrument respond in real time. Tune any VOR, NDB or radio aid from a worldwide database - or build your own virtual navaids to practise tracking radials, intercepts and holds. The best radio-navigation trainer you can carry. PLAN YOUR FLIGHT Build a flight plan and slave any instrument to it. Waypoints transition automatically as you fly, so every needle keeps pointing exactly where it should - no re-tuning between legs. FLY WITH CONFIDENCE • Worldwide aviation database: 20,000+ airports and navaids, updated monthly • Aviation moving map with airspace, airports and navaids • Optional 5/10/20NM range rings and enhanced radial lines • Live ADS-B traffic with a built-in traffic avoidance (TCAS) system • Tag your own aircraft registration to silence alerts on yourself • Export your tracks as GPX or KML FOR YOUR HOME COCKPIT Drive the instruments straight from X-Plane or Microsoft Flight Simulator via the flight simulation connection, and turn any device into a secondary instrument panel. PRIVACY YOU CAN TRUST No ads. No tracking across other apps. We never sell your data and collect only what is needed to run the app. NEW IN VERSION 3.0 • Vision: a brand-new synthetic vision PFD (early access - 2D now, 3D coming soon) • Now 100% ad-free • Microsoft Flight Simulator support, alongside X-Plane FDECK PREMIUM fDeck is free to download and use. Become a Premium member to unlock: • Premium and Early Access instruments (including Vision) • Unlimited user navigation stations • Monthly navigation database updates • Map weather overlays & live virtual radar • Live ADS-B traffic with TCAS alerting • Live TAF & METAR reports • Unlimited X-Plane & MSFS flight simulation connection • Crazy fast support from the dev! Premium is available as a monthly or annual subscription, or as a one-time lifetime purchase. • Payment is charged to your Apple account at confirmation of purchase • Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the period ends • Manage or cancel anytime in your account settings IMPORTANT fDeck is a training aid and a supplementary/backup instrument. It is not a certified instrument and must not be used as a primary means of navigation. Questions or ideas? I read every email personally - just use "Contact the developer" in the app, or the contact page on my website: https://fdeck.app/support/#contact Full details of our Terms of Service and Privacy policy can be found at the following URLs: Terms of Use: https://fdeck.app/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://fdeck.app/privacy/
Planningcharts
This navigation tool provides pilots with essential real-time airport data, procedures, and safety information on interactive charts. It offers continuous updates for offline use, enhancing situational awareness and safety during flights. Access to all charts worldwide requires a subscription.
- Interactive 3D Globe chart selection
- Real-time NOTAMs and WX/TAF data
- Offline inflight chart updates
- EASA Threat and Error management
- Airport categorization and approach data
- Common ATC frequencies and procedures
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Planningcharts ia a well-known tool used by thousands of professional long-haul pilots worldwide - New level of situational awareness and therefore dramatically increased safety - latest NOTAMs and WX / TAF to display real-time availability of all airports - EASA Threat and Error management built into every airport symbol All the Pilot's KnowHow you need is on one single chart, such as: - NAT crossing procedures - Common ATC frequencies - Time frame for ATC initial calls - Data Link (FANS/CPDLC) codes - Time frame for Data Link (FANS/CPDLC) log-in - IFBP (IATA Inflight Broadcasting Procedure) Reminder - Unique developed airport symbols, containing: - Airport categorisation - Approach directions and capability at a single glance - List of displayed airports, containing: - RFF (rescue and firefighting) category - Field elevation - Variation - Available runways with related approach and LDA (landing distance available) - Made by professional pilots for professional pilots. Key features: • Select your chart on our new interactive 3D Globe • Continues update of all data and charts for offline inflight use. • Automatic news download, when starting the App. • Feedback directly from chart view to our support. Without a subscription, you only have limited access to the app's functions. You can only view some charts and cannot save them as favorites. Our subscriptions give you access to all charts worldwide. There are different packages for a monthly, half-yearly and yearly subscription. Each package gives you full access to the product for as long as it lasts. Each subscription can be canceled at any time. The subscriptions follow the standard EULA from Apple https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: fDeck at free with in-app purchases against Planningcharts's subscription. fDeck also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 61%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.4). Planningcharts's advantage is chart position (#200 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. fDeck sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Planningcharts sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $18.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
fDeck holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: fDeck has 330 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of fDeck's written reviews are positive against 61% of Planningcharts's.
fDeck ships an update every 3 weeks, Planningcharts every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.
| Parameter | fDeck | Planningcharts |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (330 ratings) — better | 4.4 (5 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 90.0% of reviews — better | 61.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 330 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | #200 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 141 MB | 80 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Darren Yeates | Apollodor Aviation GmbH |
Customer experience
fDeck
Planningcharts
Bugs and requests
fDeck
Reported bugs
9 issues- Compass inverted display
- Map pointer inverted
- VOR OBS reverse sensing (TO/FROM indication incorrect)
- Maps fail to load/display
- X-Plane simulator connection unreliable
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- VSI inaccuracy compared to actual aircraft instruments
- App incompatible with iPhone SE screen format
- Ads cannot be closed and require app restart
- Weather pressure readings 1mb inaccurate
Requested features
9 requests- Compass horizontal configuration support (180 degrees)
- CarPlay functionality for in-vehicle navigation
- EFIS version for advanced glass cockpit simulation
- Local NOTAM integration
- CAA airspace overlay for UK users
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- User-defined waypoints with latitude/longitude input
- Primary flight display (PFD) for airliner-style instruments
- Accurate elevation data for locations
- iPad split-screen compatibility
Planningcharts
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
fDeck
- fDeck monthly lounge access$3.991 Month
- fDeck annual lounge access$24.991 Year
- fDeck lifetime lounge access$49.99
Planningcharts
- Monthly Membership3 Days trial$18.491 Month
- Half Yearly Membership3 Days trial$94.996 Months
- Yearly Membership3 Days trial$144.991 Year
Questions
Is fDeck free?
Is Planningcharts free?
Which has better reviews, fDeck or Planningcharts?
Do fDeck or Planningcharts have ads?
Which is updated more often, fDeck or Planningcharts?
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