# fDeck vs gapilots.org Flight Recorder

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: gapilots.org Flight Recorder at none against fDeck's 3. gapilots.org Flight Recorder also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). fDeck's advantage is ratings volume (330 vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. fDeck sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. gapilots.org Flight Recorder asks for nothing beyond the download.

gapilots.org Flight Recorder holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: fDeck has 330 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

fDeck ships an update every 3 weeks, gapilots.org Flight Recorder every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | fDeck | gapilots.org Flight Recorder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (330 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fdeck-flight-instruments/id1265762347/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gapilotsorg-flight-recorder/id1562142233/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **330** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 90.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 141 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Darren Yeates](https://appshunter.io/developer/1265762346) | [Tom felici](https://appshunter.io/developer/1530962252) |

## What reviewers say

### fDeck

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fdeck-flight-instruments/id1265762347)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| fDeck monthly lounge access | $3.99 | per month |
| fDeck annual lounge access | $24.99 | per year |
| fDeck lifetime lounge access | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Extremely easy to use and navigate
- 💡 Comprehensive aviation instruments (compass, altimeter, VSI, attitude indicator, ADF, VOR, HSI)
- 🎯 Useful for training, learning, and practice
- ✈️ Reliable backup instrument for real flights
- 🗺️ Integrated map and flight planning features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Intrusive ads in free version (full-screen, hard to close)
- 🔄 Compass and map pointer display inverted on some devices
- 🗺️ Map loading issues and missing sectional charts
- 🔌 X-Plane simulator connection glitchy and unreliable
- 📱 No iPad split-screen support

**Reported bugs**

- Compass inverted display
- Map pointer inverted
- VOR OBS reverse sensing (TO/FROM indication incorrect)
- Maps fail to load/display
- X-Plane simulator connection unreliable

**Requested features**

- 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


### gapilots.org Flight Recorder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gapilotsorg-flight-recorder/id1562142233)

This app provides real-time GPS tracking, telemetry monitoring, and flight recording for general aviation pilots and enthusiasts. It allows users to share their flight paths with a community and analyze performance statistics. Designed for ease of use in flight, it respects user privacy regarding shared data.

**Highlights:** Real-time GPS flight tracking, Telemetry monitoring, Flight recording and sharing, Community integration, Background tracking, Performance statistics analysis, Device integration for enhanced telemetry

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is fDeck free?

fDeck is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is gapilots.org Flight Recorder free?

gapilots.org Flight Recorder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, fDeck or gapilots.org Flight Recorder?

gapilots.org Flight Recorder is rated higher. fDeck averages 4.8 out of 5 from 330 ratings, while gapilots.org Flight Recorder averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do fDeck or gapilots.org Flight Recorder have ads?

Neither fDeck nor gapilots.org Flight Recorder shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, fDeck or gapilots.org Flight Recorder?

fDeck ships an update every 3 weeks, and gapilots.org Flight Recorder every 4 days. Most recently, fDeck was updated on November 6, 2026 and gapilots.org Flight Recorder on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*