# Air Traffic Control vs FlightDeck

The clearest difference is rating: FlightDeck at 4.5 against Air Traffic Control's 1.8. FlightDeck also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 18 months) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 48). Air Traffic Control's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Air Traffic Control sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and FlightDeck sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

FlightDeck holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FlightDeck has 1.5K ratings behind it against 48, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 19% and 18% positive.

Air Traffic Control ships an update every 18 months, FlightDeck every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Air Traffic Control | FlightDeck |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.8 (48 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/air-traffic-control-live-atc/id1488559916/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flightdeck-flight-tracker/id6759628645/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 48 | **1.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **18.6% of reviews** | 18.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | — | **#44** |
| Size | 25 MB | 163 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Josue Montano](https://appshunter.io/developer/1483997007) | [Attracts](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867627998) |

## What reviewers say

### Air Traffic Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/air-traffic-control-live-atc/id1488559916)

Listen to live, real-time audio from air traffic control towers and operations worldwide. Explore hundreds of active feeds from major airports and follow conversations between pilots and controllers. Ideal for aviation enthusiasts and professionals seeking a unique perspective on airport operations.

**Highlights:** Real-time ATC audio feeds, 300+ active global feeds, Background playback, Explore global airports, Search and browse by airport, Favorite frequencies, Dark mode support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual Premium Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Air traffic Premium | $44.99 | one-time |


### FlightDeck

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flightdeck-flight-tracker/id6759628645)

**Currently charting:** #44 Top Grossing · Travel (US App Store)

This app provides real-time flight tracking with AI-generated insights, offering context beyond raw data. It highlights notable aircraft, weather conditions, and airport details, with customizable alerts and emergency detection.

**Highlights:** Real-time flight tracking map, AI-generated flight briefs, Notable aircraft spotting, Weather intelligence overlays, Detailed airport information, Customizable flight alerts, Emergency squawk detection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| FlightDeck Pro | $6.99 | per 7 days |
| FlightDeck Pro | $12.99 | per 7 days |
| FlightDeck Pro | $19.99 | per month |
| FlightDeck Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| FlightDeck Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| FlightDeck Pro | $69.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Air Traffic Control free?

Air Traffic Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is FlightDeck free?

FlightDeck is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Air Traffic Control or FlightDeck?

FlightDeck is rated higher. Air Traffic Control averages 1.8 out of 5 from 48 ratings, while FlightDeck averages 4.5 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do Air Traffic Control or FlightDeck have ads?

Both Air Traffic Control and FlightDeck show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Air Traffic Control or FlightDeck?

Air Traffic Control ships an update every 18 months, and FlightDeck every 4 days. Most recently, Air Traffic Control was updated on October 26, 2026 and FlightDeck on October 29, 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.*