fDeck vs NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)
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/
NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)
This app helps general aviation pilots quickly access and understand critical air traffic information before flights. It allows users to define flight paths, filter notices, and view them on a map or in text. An integrated translation feature makes notices more accessible.
- Custom NOTAM queries for departure/destination
- Filter NOTAM results
- Interactive map view of NOTAMs
- Automatic NOTAM translation
- Up-to-date flight information
- Support for VFR and IFR
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With the NOTAM Briefing App, pilots in general aviation can quickly and easily retrieve relevant NOTAM information (Notice to Airmen). The app supports efficient flight preparation by providing a clear and comprehensive display of current air traffic restrictions and notices. Pilots can define departure and destination airports, apply filters, and view the results in a text-based overview or on an interactive map. An integrated translation feature allows NOTAMs to be translated from their original English into other languages, making them easier to understand. Features: - Custom Queries: Retrieve relevant NOTAMs for specified departure and destination airports. - Filter Options: Adjust results to meet specific requirements and preferences. - Map View: Visualize NOTAMs on an interactive map for better situational awareness. - Automatic Translation: Translate NOTAMs from English into other languages. - Up-to-Date Information: All data is based on the latest available updates. - VFR and IFR: Display NOTAMs for both Visual and Instrument Flight Rules. About the App: NOTAM Briefing is designed to provide pilots with a reliable and user-friendly tool for flight planning. The app is free of charge and combines modern features with an intuitive interface to enhance safety and efficiency in general aviation. Important Note: While every effort is made to provide accurate information, no guarantee of correctness is given. Please report any errors or issues to mail@flugbetrieb.com. Download now and stay informed.
Screenshots
Verdict
fDeck and NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 90% of fDeck's written reviews are positive against 52% of NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)'s. fDeck also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) asks for nothing beyond the download.
fDeck holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 329 and 303 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of fDeck's written reviews are positive against 52% of NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)'s.
fDeck ships an update every 3 weeks, NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.
| Parameter | fDeck | NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (329 ratings) — better | 4.6 (303 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 90.0% of reviews — better | 51.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 329 — better | 303 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 141 MB | 58 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Darren Yeates | Hermann Hoelter |
Customer experience
fDeck
NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)
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
NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)
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
NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is fDeck free?
Is NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) free?
Which has better reviews, fDeck or NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)?
Do fDeck or NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) have ads?
Which is updated more often, fDeck or NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)?
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