Comparison

SAE Aero Design vs Comms

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

Head to head
About

SAE Aero Design

This app provides essential information for participants, volunteers, and spectators of the SAE Aero Design competition. Access real-time news, event schedules, site maps, and team lists, with offline access to crucial details.

Highlights
  • Competition news and announcements
  • Push notifications for updates
  • Offline access to maps and schedules
  • Team lists
  • Competition guides
Features
Read full description

The SAE Aero Design app was custom built for the SAE Aero Design community: competitors, volunteers, spectators, and sponsors. Using the app, you’ll have access to competition news, maps, schedules, team list, and more. • Push Notifications & Announcements - Be automatically notified about important competition announcements as well as of weather-related impacts while on-site. 

• Maps & Schedules - Access the most up to date maps, schedules, and competition guides--available in the app even if you don’t have data service coverage at the competition site.

About

Comms

Practice realistic air traffic control radio communications using AI and speech recognition. Build confidence with over 35 scenarios, from basic taxi instructions to complex airspace transitions. Get instant feedback on your phraseology and accuracy.

Highlights
  • AI-powered speech recognition
  • Realistic ATC scenarios
  • Instant feedback on phraseology
  • Transcript review
  • Practice anytime, anywhere
  • Guided responses
Features
Read full description

Master Your Radio Skills. Fly with Confidence. Practice real ATC conversations by speaking into your phone. Comms uses AI and speech recognition to simulate realistic radio exchanges — so you can build confidence before keying the mic in the cockpit. Whether you're preparing for your first solo or sharpening your skills before a checkride, Comms helps you sound like you've been on frequency for years. 35+ Realistic ATC Scenarios - Taxi clearances, progressive taxi, and runway crossings - Takeoff, pattern work, and departures from towered and non-towered fields - VFR flight following — requesting, canceling, and handoffs - Class Bravo and Charlie airspace clearances and transitions - CRAFT clearances, IFR pop-ups, and holding instructions - Approaches, go-arounds, and missed approach procedures - Landing at towered and non-towered airports - Filing PIREPs, opening/closing flight plans, and requesting diversions - VFR into IMC emergency scenarios How It Works - Listen to ATC instructions with realistic controller audio - Respond by speaking your readback out loud - Get instant feedback on accuracy and phraseology - Review your full transcript after each session Built for Student Pilots - Designed for the calls that make new pilots nervous - Practice anytime — no airplane, no instructor, no pressure - Progress from basic taxi calls to complex airspace scenarios - Guided responses help you learn correct phraseology Perfect For - Student pilots preparing for solo or checkride - Private pilot candidates building radio confidence - Flight instructors looking for a training aid - Rusty pilots getting back on frequency Download Comms and take the stress out of talking to ATC. Focus on what matters most — flying the airplane. Terms of use - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

SAE Aero Design2 screens
Comms4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Comms at 4.3 against SAE Aero Design's 3.0. Comms also leads on review sentiment (35% vs 0%) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 10 months). SAE Aero Design's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 12) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads 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

Both are free to download. Comms sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. SAE Aero Design asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Comms holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Comms has 303 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of SAE Aero Design's written reviews are positive against 35% of Comms's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SAE Aero Design ships an update every 10 months, Comms every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
SAE Aero Design versus Comms: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSAE Aero DesignComms
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.3 (303 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews35.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2303 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSAEKHV Digital LLC

Customer experience

SAE Aero Design

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Comms

All ratings302 ratings
Positive79.8%
Neutral4.6%
Negative15.6%
Written reviews68 reviews
Positive35.3%
Neutral13.2%
Negative51.5%

Bugs and requests

SAE Aero Design

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Comms

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes and becomes unusable after account setup
  • Incompatible with latest iOS versions
  • Provides incorrect information that goes against FAA guidelines

Requested features

3 requests
  • More detailed and comprehensive pilot scenarios
  • Improved voice recognition and speech-to-text accuracy
  • Better alignment with FAA instructions and procedures

In-app purchases

None

SAE Aero Design

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Comms

Subscriptions4
  • Comms Premium Weekly2 variants$6.997 Days
  • Comms Premium Monthly2 variants$14.991 Month
  • Comms Premium Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Comms Premium Yearly3 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time6
  • Study Guide Private Pilot w/Premium$9.99
  • 25 Scan Credits$9.99
  • Pro - Unlock All Comms$12.99
Show 3 more
  • Study Guide Commercial Pilot$14.99
  • 50 Scan Credits$14.99
  • Study Guide Private Pilot$19.99

Questions

Is SAE Aero Design free?
SAE Aero Design is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Comms free?
Comms is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SAE Aero Design or Comms?
Comms is rated higher. SAE Aero Design averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Comms averages 4.3 from 303 ratings.
Do SAE Aero Design or Comms have ads?
Neither SAE Aero Design nor Comms shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SAE Aero Design or Comms?
SAE Aero Design ships an update every 10 months, and Comms every 9 days. Most recently, SAE Aero Design was updated on September 30, 2026 and Comms on October 30, 2026.

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