fDeck vs FlySafe! ObstacleDetect
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/
FlySafe! ObstacleDetect
This app provides real-time obstacle detection for flights, offering visual and acoustic alerts up to 30 seconds before potential collisions. It features a continuously updated database of hazards and allows users to contribute to its accuracy.
- Visual and acoustic obstacle alerts
- Up to 30-second pre-impact warnings
- Continuously updated obstacle database
- Location sharing
- Real-time flight graph
- Flight recorder and data sharing
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FlySafe! is your flying companion, designed for iOS (iPhone and iPad) devices, to detect obstacles during flight. This innovative app features an advanced warning system, offering both visual and acoustic alerts to notify users of potential collisions, with warnings provided up to 30 seconds before an imminent impact. Key Features: - New intuitive interface - 5 different maps - 5 different position icons - Location sharing - Real-time flight graph - Flight recorder and data sharing (TXT and KML) - Obstacle position compass - Coordinate search - 3D map (in browser) - AR map (in browser) - Obstacle distance display - Creating a Route How It Works: FlySafe! detects hazards such as cables, masts, antennas, or any obstacles that may pose a danger to the crew and aircraft, providing both acoustic and visual warnings. The constantly updated database contains thousands of obstacles, currently available for Italy and Switzerland. The app uses acoustic and visual signals to indicate the time to impact, calculated based on the distance to the obstacle and the aircraft's speed: Red = 30 seconds Yellow = 20 seconds Green = 15 seconds The time is calculated dynamically: At lower speeds, the detection angle increases while the reading distance decreases. Conversely, at higher speeds, the detection angle decreases, and the reading distance increases. The visual alert offers a clear and intuitive representation of the obstacle's distance, while the acoustic alert ensures immediate attention, enabling a quick response. FlySafe! is designed with a user-friendly and intuitive interface, ensuring ease of use even in high-stress situations. Database and User Contributions: The obstacle database is updated daily, and users can contribute by logging onto Fly Obstacles to report new obstacles. Prices and Subscription Conditions: FlySafe! offers monthly, quarterly, and annual auto-renewing subscriptions, granting full access to the database for as long as your subscription remains active. Prices listed are for European customers; they may vary in other countries, with charges converted to local currency based on your location. Payment will be charged to the credit card linked to your iTunes account at the time of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless auto-renew is disabled at least 24 hours before the end of the current subscription period. Renewal charges will be applied to your account within 24 hours before the current period ends, with the renewal cost clearly indicated. You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal anytime by accessing your Account Settings after purchase. FlySafe! uses your precise location to display your position on the map, calculate the time of impact with obstacles, and ensure the app works properly. WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION, THE APP WILL NOT START! For more information, refer to our EULA (https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/). Maps provided by Mapbox (https://www.mapbox.com) . With FlySafe!, flying becomes not only an exciting experience but also remarkably safe, thanks to its advanced technology and its ability to anticipate and prevent potentially dangerous situations.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: fDeck at free with in-app purchases against FlySafe! ObstacleDetect's subscription. FlySafe! ObstacleDetect's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 90%). 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 $1.99 per month and FlySafe! ObstacleDetect sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
fDeck ships an update every 3 weeks, FlySafe! ObstacleDetect every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | fDeck | FlySafe! ObstacleDetect |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (328 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 90.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 328 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 4 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 137 MB | 67 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Darren Yeates | Daniele Tona |
Customer experience
fDeck
FlySafe! ObstacleDetect
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
FlySafe! ObstacleDetect
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
fDeck
- fDeck monthly lounge access$1.991 Month
- fDeck annual lounge access$14.991 Year
- fDeck lifetime lounge access$29.99
FlySafe! ObstacleDetect
- Monthly subscription$4.991 Month
- Quarterly subscription$12.993 Months
- Annual subscription$44.991 Year







