Comparison

F3A Zone Pro vs GSD Drone Calculator

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

Head to head
About

F3A Zone Pro

Features
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F3A Zone Pro - A great way of simplifying marking out a F3A manoeuvring zone. F3A Zone Pro adds the ability to email the box to one or more friends (who also have F3A Zone Pro) - and each person can then walk toward a pole position! This makes setting up the box even quicker - no longer does one person need to walk to all three positions to identify them - now three people can head to a position each, looking at exactly the same box! When you are practicing aerobatics (or setting up a competition site) there is no really good way of setting up some box markers to identify the F3A ‘box’. Most often you will see someone kneeling on the ground with a sighting board moving about on top of a transmitter case, with some guys guessing where 150m may be (and its usually a big guess), and trying to position the box marker poles. There is lots of arm waving and phone calling to sort out where they should be placed. Being a keen F3A pilot, I have come up with something of a solution to these problems – F3A Zone. It is an app for iPhone and is available for FREE on the apple app store (just search for ‘F3A Zone’). First the limitations: The app uses GPS, which has ‘variable’ accuracy. This app is a superb way of getting all 3 box markers at 150m (plus/minus a few meters) – in fact, it is the only practical way of doing this. As far as the 60 degree box angle goes, I have found the GPS positions to be at least as accurate and reproducible as a sighting board. I would be interested to hear how you get on! Remember, you can always use a sighting board to confirm the angles, knowing at least all 3 poles are at 150m. You only need to follow a few simple steps: 1. Select how far out you want the poles positioned – typically 150m out from the pilot – other distance options are there if you have a river, etc in your way! 2. On the next screen, wait for the GPS indicator to turn green. 3. Stand where the pilot will stand and hit ‘pilot position’ 4. Walk directly toward center – at least 10m – and for best accuracy a bit further like 50m or more and hit ‘on the way to center’. The further you walk here the better – this is important. 5. Now select ‘draw box’. The box marker positions are drawn on the map, along with lines joining these to the pilot position. 6. Now walk toward where the first box marker needs to go. You can zoom in on the map as you get close to the box pole positions, and locate them really accurately. Zoom back out as you head to the next marker position. Notes: When you start the app, wait until your GPS fix becomes accurate (green indicator) before selecting the pilot position. The positioning relies on GPS – this app is about the only practical way to position all 3 poles at 150m. In our experience, we would say the 60 degree box angles are more reproducible with this app than a sighting board wobbling on a transmitter case. But check these angles till you have confidence in the app at your location. You can of course ‘save the box’ – saved boxes can be retrieved at a later date to set up exactly the same site again. The app additionally reports both distance from pilot position (just for fun), and also distance out perpendicular to the no fly line. This provides an easy method of seeing how far out someone is flying. Define the pilot position and ‘on the way to center’ as normal, then walk to say one corner of the box (somewhere safe) in line with where a pilot is flying – the ‘distance out’ is reported. Airfield elevation is also shown. Remember, the app uses GPS – so it is not accurate enough to use to mark a ‘close in box’ at the far edge of the strip for practicing. It is good for marking out a box at 150m.

About

GSD Drone Calculator

Calculate Ground Sample Distance (GSD) for drone missions with this intuitive tool. Input drone specs and camera details to get precise GSD values for optimal mapping, surveying, and photography. Streamline your data collection and enhance accuracy for all aerial endeavors.

Highlights
  • Accurate GSD calculations
  • Input drone and camera specifications
  • Real-time GSD values
  • Optimize flight planning
  • Intuitive user interface
  • Save calculations
  • Image resolution insights
Features
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Discover the power of precise Ground Sample Distance (GSD) calculations with the revolutionary GSD Drone Calculator app for iOS. Designed exclusively for drone enthusiasts, this cutting-edge tool takes your aerial endeavors to new heights by providing accurate GSD values for optimal mapping, surveying, and photography missions. Unlock the potential of your drone as you harness the advanced capabilities of GSD Drone Calculator. With its intelligent algorithms and state-of-the-art technology, this app delivers unparalleled accuracy in GSD calculations, ensuring your data is reliable and your results are impeccable. Using GSD Drone Calculator is a breeze. Simply input your drone's specifications, including flight altitude, camera resolution, and sensor details, and let the calculator handle the rest. In seconds, you'll have real-time GSD values at your fingertips, enabling you to plan your flights with utmost precision. Whether you're an aerial photographer capturing stunning vistas, a mapping professional conducting detailed surveys, or a researcher studying landscapes, GSD Drone Calculator is your trusted companion. Seamlessly integrate it into your workflow to optimize your data collection, enhance your mapping accuracy, and streamline your decision-making processes. The intuitive user interface of GSD Drone Calculator makes it effortless to navigate through the app's robust features. Customize your settings, explore different calculation algorithms, and save your calculations for future reference. The app also provides valuable insights into image resolution, image overlap, and other crucial factors influencing GSD. Stay ahead of the curve with regular updates and improvements that ensure GSD Drone Calculator remains at the forefront of drone technology. Our dedicated team of developers and industry experts continuously enhance the app's performance and add new features to meet your evolving needs. Whether you're a novice drone pilot or a seasoned professional, GSD Drone Calculator empowers you to make informed decisions, optimize your flights, and achieve superior data accuracy. Download GSD Drone Calculator now and take your drone operations to unprecedented levels of precision and efficiency. Explore the possibilities and redefine your aerial potential with GSD Drone Calculator. Contact: qpbd@ukr.net TERMS OF USE: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

F3A Zone Pro1 screens
GSD Drone Calculator3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: GSD Drone Calculator at Free against F3A Zone Pro's $0.99. F3A Zone Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence and device support 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

GSD Drone Calculator is free to download; F3A Zone Pro costs $0.99 up front. GSD Drone Calculator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. F3A Zone Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

F3A Zone Pro ships an update every 2 months, GSD Drone Calculator monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
F3A Zone Pro versus GSD Drone Calculator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterF3A Zone ProGSD Drone Calculator
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating—4.0 (3 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrew PalmerRoman Akhromieiev

In-app purchases

None

F3A Zone Pro

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

GSD Drone Calculator

Subscriptions2
  • Month3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Annual3 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$29.99

Questions

Is F3A Zone Pro free?
F3A Zone Pro costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is GSD Drone Calculator free?
GSD Drone Calculator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do F3A Zone Pro or GSD Drone Calculator have ads?
GSD Drone Calculator shows ads; F3A Zone Pro does not.
Which is updated more often, F3A Zone Pro or GSD Drone Calculator?
F3A Zone Pro ships an update every 2 months, and GSD Drone Calculator monthly. Most recently, F3A Zone Pro was updated on September 25, 2026 and GSD Drone Calculator on October 24, 2026.

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