Comparison

Planningcharts vs FlySafe! ObstacleDetect

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

Head to head
About

Planningcharts

This app provides professional long-haul pilots with essential aviation charts and real-time airport data for enhanced situational awareness and safety. It allows for offline chart downloads and access to critical information like NOTAMs, WX/TAF, and airport-specific details.

Highlights
  • Offline chart downloads
  • Real-time NOTAMs and WX/TAF
  • Airport categorization and approach data
  • NAT crossing procedures and ATC information
  • Swipe navigation between charts
  • Automatic news downloads
Features
Read full description

Planningcharts ia a well-known tool used by thousands of professional long-haul pilots worldwide - New level of situational awareness and therefore dramatically increased safety - latest NOTAMs and WX / TAF to display real-time availability of all airports - EASA Threat and Error management built into every airport symbol All the Pilot's KnowHow you need is on one single chart, such as: - NAT crossing procedures - Common ATC frequencies - Time frame for ATC initial calls - Data Link (FANS/CPDLC) codes - Time frame for Data Link (FANS/CPDLC) log-in - IFBP (IATA Inflight Broadcasting Procedure) Reminder - Unique developed airport symbols, containing: - Airport categorisation - Approach directions and capability at a single glance - List of displayed airports, containing: - RFF (rescue and firefighting) category - Field elevation - Variation - Available runways with related approach and LDA (landing distance available) - Made by professional pilots for professional pilots. Key features: • Select your chart on our new interactive 3D Globe • Continues update of all data and charts for offline inflight use. • Automatic news download, when starting the App. • Feedback directly from chart view to our support. Without a subscription, you only have limited access to the app's functions. You can only view some charts and cannot save them as favorites. Our subscriptions give you access to all charts worldwide. There are different packages for a monthly, half-yearly and yearly subscription. Each package gives you full access to the product for as long as it lasts. Each subscription can be canceled at any time. The subscriptions follow the standard EULA from Apple https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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

Planningcharts4 screens
FlySafe! ObstacleDetect4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: FlySafe! ObstacleDetect at 100% against Planningcharts's 63%. Planningcharts's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Planningcharts sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $16.49 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Planningcharts ships an update every 2 weeks, FlySafe! ObstacleDetect every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Planningcharts versus FlySafe! ObstacleDetect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlanningchartsFlySafe! ObstacleDetect
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size81 MB67 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperApollodor Aviation GmbHDaniele Tona

Customer experience

Planningcharts

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative37.5%

FlySafe! ObstacleDetect

Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Planningcharts

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Membership3 Days trial$16.491 Month
  • Half Yearly Membership3 Days trial$80.996 Months
  • Yearly Membership3 Days trial$129.991 Year
3 purchases

FlySafe! ObstacleDetect

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly subscription$4.991 Month
  • Quarterly subscription$12.993 Months
  • Annual subscription$44.991 Year

Questions

Is Planningcharts free?
Planningcharts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FlySafe! ObstacleDetect free?
FlySafe! ObstacleDetect is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Planningcharts or FlySafe! ObstacleDetect have ads?
Neither Planningcharts nor FlySafe! ObstacleDetect shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Planningcharts or FlySafe! ObstacleDetect?
Planningcharts ships an update every 2 weeks, and FlySafe! ObstacleDetect every 4 weeks. Most recently, Planningcharts was updated on September 22, 2026 and FlySafe! ObstacleDetect on June 1, 2026.

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