ArcGIS Earth vs FDsidekick
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ArcGIS Earth
Explore and visualize geographic data in an intuitive 3D environment. Supports a wide range of data sources, including online services and local files. Offers tools for analysis, placemark management, and creating immersive tours.
- 3D geographic data visualization
- Connect to ArcGIS Online/Enterprise
- Support for local data files
- Interactive analysis tools
- Placemark collection and sharing
- Create and share tours
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ArcGIS Earth is designed for everyone and provides user-friendly 3D experiences. Data support ArcGIS Earth allows you to use a variety of items from ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, local data, and web services: • Browse web scenes, map services, image services, scene services, and feature services. • Browse local files including mobile scene packages (MSPK), KML, KMZ, tile packages, and scene layer packages (SLPK). • Support has been added for Living Atlas of the World. Key features • Connect to ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise. • Tap to identify features. • Support has been added for collecting, editing, and sharing placemarks. • Interactive analysis tools include Measure, Line of Sight, and Viewshed. • Create and share tours with geotagged photos. • Search for places and switch locators. • Start-up tips and guidance for hand gestures are included. • Record and preview GPS tracks, and share with your organization.
FDsidekick
This app offers quick access to preflight and inflight notes and utilities. It includes features for customizing notecards, viewing imported PDFs, and a specialized aviation calculator. You can also create PA scripts and jot down notes with stylus support.
- Customizable Notecard with Autofill
- PDF Reference Viewer
- Aviation Calculator
- PA Script Creator
- Touch/Stylus Notepad
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FDsidekick provides ease-of-access for preflight and inflight notes and utilities. -Notecard: Customize and Autofill your card for easy flight plan review -References: Easily view imported PDFs -Calculator: With Aviation-related functions and memory -PA: Easily create a script for the Welcome Aboard PA -Notepad: Jot down notes via touch with support for Apple Pencil
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: FDsidekick at 5.0 against ArcGIS Earth's 3.5. FDsidekick also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months). ArcGIS Earth's advantage is ratings volume (45 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
FDsidekick holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ArcGIS Earth has 45 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
ArcGIS Earth ships an update every 3 months, FDsidekick every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ArcGIS Earth | FDsidekick |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.5 (45 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 35.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 45 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 145 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ESRI | Erik Patrinostro |
Customer experience
ArcGIS Earth
FDsidekick
In-app purchases
ArcGIS Earth
No in-app purchases
FDsidekick
No in-app purchases
