Comparison

HotStepper vs PlaneSpotting

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

Head to head
About

HotStepper

Navigate to any destination on Earth with an augmented reality companion. This app guides you visually by having a character walk you to your chosen location. Simply select a destination on the map and follow your AR sidekick.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality navigation
  • AR character guide
  • Destination selection on map
  • Visual walking directions
  • Uses cellular data for navigation
Features
Read full description

HotStepper is your first Augmented Reality sidekick to any destination on Earth. HotStepper features a confident dude who, when he’s not dancing, will walk you to any location you need to go. All you need to do is go outside, pick a destination on the map and then just follow him as he does his thing. HotStepper uses cellular data to navigate the world so please make sure it’s switched on when using the app.

About

PlaneSpotting

Track civilian and military aircraft registered in the UK. Log sightings with details like location and photos, or record flight information. Export your data for analysis and bulk import.

Highlights
  • UK aircraft registration database
  • Log sightings with photos
  • Record flight details
  • Data export and import
  • Browse aircraft by type
  • Regular updates
Features
Read full description

PlaneSpotting is the ultimate app for anybody involved with the aviation industry in the UK from professional pilots to plane spotters! It contains the details of every civilian flying machine registered to fly in the UK - more than 20,000 of them! Increasing numbers of UK Military aircraft (current and historic) are also being added with each update. The standard version database is updated annually. If you require the very latest registrations we recommend our Premium Subscription which is updated every two weeks with, typically, 70 registration changes. For Sightings you only need to save the Registration but you can also add: Location, Photo (camera or library), Date & notes. For Flights you only need Origin & Destination but you can also add: Registration (adding number automatically generates a spot), Photo (camera or library), Departure Date & Time (defaults to current date & time for quick save on boarding), Arrival Date & Time & Notes. You can view your data via Trip or Location or Browse the entire internal app database via type! You can export your data for viewing via a spreadsheet, this will also allow you to add sightings or flights in bulk and then import the file. We encourage your interaction with us via our dedicated website or directly from within the app. If you provide us with a default type image (assuming you have copyright permissions) your name and the URL of your choice will be included in the next update! Premium Subscription details: Subscription price: £4.99 Description: Provides our Premium Service database for users who need the very latest UK registrations. Trial duration: None Offered Subscription duration: 1 year Please read below about the auto-renewing subscription nature of this product: Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable Terms of Use: http://www.plane-spotting.co.uk/privacyPolicy.htm Privacy Policy: http://www.plane-spotting.co.uk/privacyPolicy.htm

Screenshots

HotStepper4 screens
PlaneSpotting4 screens

Verdict

The call

HotStepper and PlaneSpotting both sit at 4.1 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of PlaneSpotting's written reviews are positive against 60% of HotStepper's. HotStepper's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. PlaneSpotting sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.49 per year. HotStepper asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

PlaneSpotting holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 13 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of HotStepper's written reviews are positive against 100% of PlaneSpotting's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HotStepper ships an update every 8 days, PlaneSpotting fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
HotStepper versus PlaneSpotting: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHotStepperPlaneSpotting
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (28 ratings)4.3 (13 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings28 — better13
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size117 MB175 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperNexus ProductionsImagekings Limited

Customer experience

HotStepper

All ratings30 ratings
Positive76.7%
Neutral3.3%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative32.0%

PlaneSpotting

All ratings13 ratings
Positive84.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.4%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

HotStepper

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

PlaneSpotting

Subscriptions1
  • Premium Service Database$5.491 Year

Questions

Is HotStepper free?
HotStepper is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PlaneSpotting free?
PlaneSpotting is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, HotStepper or PlaneSpotting?
PlaneSpotting is rated higher. HotStepper averages 4.1 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while PlaneSpotting averages 4.3 from 13 ratings.
Do HotStepper or PlaneSpotting have ads?
Neither HotStepper nor PlaneSpotting shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HotStepper or PlaneSpotting?
HotStepper ships an update every 8 days, and PlaneSpotting fortnightly. Most recently, HotStepper was updated on October 24, 2026 and PlaneSpotting on October 29, 2026.

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