# SIMS Mobile vs AutoPylot For Drones

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SIMS Mobile at none against AutoPylot For Drones's 4. AutoPylot For Drones's advantage is ratings volume (5.4K vs 4) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AutoPylot For Drones sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. SIMS Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for SIMS Mobile against 4.9 for AutoPylot For Drones. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AutoPylot For Drones has 5.4K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

SIMS Mobile ships an update every 3 months, AutoPylot For Drones monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SIMS Mobile | AutoPylot For Drones |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sims-mobile/id1465156153/reviews)** | [4.9 (5.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/autopylot-for-drones/id1612739014/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **5.4K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 76.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 44 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TEXSAR Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1463256986) | [AutoPylot, INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1612739436) |

## What reviewers say

### SIMS Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sims-mobile/id1465156153)

This app serves as a companion for a search and rescue information management system. It offers tools to aid in search and rescue operations.

**Highlights:** SAR Information Management System companion, Facilitates search and rescue operations, Information management tools

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### AutoPylot For Drones

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/autopylot-for-drones/id1612739014)

This app provides FAA-approved services for drone pilots, including B4UFLY status, LAANC airspace authorizations, and operational awareness. It simplifies flight planning with airspace visualization, weather tools, and customizable safety checklists.

**Highlights:** FAA-approved B4UFLY and LAANC services, Instant flight readiness indicator, Simplified airspace visualization, Near real-time LAANC authorizations, Operational awareness of airspace restrictions, Customizable safety checklists, All-in-one mission management

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AutoPylot+ (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| AutoPylot+ (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| AutoPylot+ (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| AutoPylot+ (Annual) | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast LAANC approval
- 🚀 Intuitive app
- 🚀 Streamlined flight planning
- 👍 Polished weather maps

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Missing controlled airspaces
- 🐛 Lack of local/regional restriction maps
- 🐛 No iPad support
- 🐛 Inability to edit missions
- 🐛 Restrictive LAANC request shapes

**Reported bugs**

- Miscategorizing flights as requiring ATC approval
- Lack of controlled airspace information in certain regions

**Requested features**

- Ability to edit missions
- Support for polygonal LAANC requests
- Integration with FAA TFR website
- Access to weather data before LAANC submission
- Support for Part 107 and recreational missions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SIMS Mobile free?

SIMS Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is AutoPylot For Drones free?

AutoPylot For Drones is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SIMS Mobile or AutoPylot For Drones?

SIMS Mobile is rated higher. SIMS Mobile averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while AutoPylot For Drones averages 4.9 from 5.4K ratings.

### Do SIMS Mobile or AutoPylot For Drones have ads?

Neither SIMS Mobile nor AutoPylot For Drones shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SIMS Mobile or AutoPylot For Drones?

SIMS Mobile ships an update every 3 months, and AutoPylot For Drones monthly. Most recently, SIMS Mobile was updated on November 3, 2026 and AutoPylot For Drones on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*
