Comparison

fDeck vs NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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/

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

fDeck4 screens
NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

fDeck ships an update every 3 weeks, NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
fDeck versus NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterfDeckNOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (329 ratings) — better4.6 (303 ratings)
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews — better51.9% of reviews
Number of ratings329 — better303
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size141 MB58 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDarren YeatesHermann Hoelter

Customer experience

fDeck

All ratings329 ratings
Positive95.7%
Neutral2.7%
Negative1.5%
Written reviews70 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral2.9%
Negative7.1%

NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)

All ratings297 ratings
Positive91.9%
Neutral2.7%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive51.9%
Neutral14.8%
Negative33.3%

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
Show 4 more
  • 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
Show 4 more
  • 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

3 purchases

fDeck

Subscriptions2
  • fDeck monthly lounge access$3.991 Month
  • fDeck annual lounge access$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • fDeck lifetime lounge access$49.99
None

NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is fDeck free?
fDeck is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) free?
NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, fDeck or NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)?
fDeck is rated higher. fDeck averages 4.8 out of 5 from 329 ratings, while NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) averages 4.6 from 303 ratings.
Do fDeck or NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) have ads?
Neither fDeck nor NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, fDeck or NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR)?
fDeck ships an update every 3 weeks, and NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) every 2 months. Most recently, fDeck was updated on October 29, 2026 and NOTAM Briefing (VFR/IFR) on October 29, 2026.

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