Comparison

Virtual Dashboard vs Apex

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

Head to head
About

Virtual Dashboard

Create custom dashboards using your device's sensors to display speed, altitude, and more. Navigate with a map featuring route planning, points of interest, and breadcrumb tracking. Customize units, themes, and map views for a personalized experience.

Highlights
  • Customizable sensor gauges
  • Speedometer and odometer
  • GPS and barometric altimeter
  • Artificial horizon
  • Navigational map with overlays
  • Route planning and ETA
  • Points of interest search
Features
Read full description

Bring your iPhone and iPad's sensors to life on Virtual Dashboard. Arrange a variety of different gauges to create your own custom dashboards. You can choose from: ○ Speedometer (with peak hold) ○ Odometer (distance travelled, resettable) ○ GPS Altimeter (absolute altitude) ○ Barometric Altimeter (relative altitude) ○ Accelerometer (with peak hold) ○ Artificial Horizon (pitch and roll) ○ Compass (with magnetic heading and true track indicator) ○ Elapsed time (with average speed) Swipe to display a navigational map with resizable gauge overlays. You can select from road, bike, nautical chart, satellite, topographic, and survey (blank) modes.  The map shows your current coordinates, track, and heading, and drops breadcrumb markers as you travel. Tap to set a destination and the map displays your distance, bearing, direction to steer, and ETA to the destination. Search the map for points of interest or street addresses. Customize your units, map features, and gauge behavior. Select from one of the many available themes (theme requires in-app purchase). Connect your external MFI GPS device and see faster updates. We currently support the Bad Elf GPS units.

About

Apex

This GPS-based app transforms your device into a precise speedometer and trip tracker. It records detailed journey statistics like speed, distance, and elevation, with customizable interfaces and background tracking capabilities.

Highlights
  • Precise real-time speed measurement
  • Comprehensive trip recording
  • Advanced elevation tracking
  • Detailed trip statistics
  • Trip history and management
  • Customizable interface
  • Background tracking
Features
Read full description

Transform your iPhone or iPad into a professional-grade speedometer and trip tracking device with Speedometer X, the ultimate GPS-based speed measurement and journey recording app. Note: Speedometer X requires a subscription to use. A free trial is available. PRECISE SPEED MEASUREMENT Experience real-time speed tracking with GPS accuracy that rivals dedicated speedometer devices. Whether you're driving, cycling, running, or engaging in outdoor activities, Speedometer X provides instant, accurate speed readings in large, easy-to-read digits. Choose from multiple speed units including kilometers per hour (KM/H), miles per hour (MPH), and knots. COMPREHENSIVE TRIP RECORDING Go beyond simple speed tracking with full trip recording capabilities. Start recording your journey with a single tap and capture detailed statistics including average speed, top speed, total distance, duration, and elevation data. Pause and resume recordings as needed, ensuring you never lose important trip data. ADVANCED ELEVATION TRACKING Monitor your vertical movement with precise altitude tracking. Speedometer X records your current altitude, maximum and minimum elevations reached, and calculates total elevation gain and loss throughout your journey. Perfect for hiking, cycling, and outdoor adventures. DETAILED TRIP STATISTICS Every recording session provides comprehensive analytics including: - Real-time and average speed measurements - Top speed achieved during the trip - Total distance covered with precise GPS tracking - Trip duration with moving time and stopped time tracking - Elevation statistics with gain and loss calculations - Route visualization on interactive maps TRIP HISTORY & MANAGEMENT Access your complete trip history with the built-in trip management system. Review past journeys, rename trips for easy identification, and view detailed statistics for each recording session. Your trip data is securely stored locally on your device. CUSTOMIZABLE INTERFACE Personalize your experience with flexible customization options: - Choose preferred speed units (KM/H, MPH, or knots) - Select altitude units (meters or feet) - Customize appearance with light, dark, or system theme - Control screen orientation with auto, portrait, or landscape lock GPS STATUS MONITORING Stay informed about your GPS signal quality and location services status. Speedometer X provides real-time feedback on GPS accuracy and location permission status, ensuring reliable speed readings. BACKGROUND TRACKING Continue recording trips even when the app is in the background. Speedometer X maintains accurate GPS tracking and data collection, so you can use other apps or lock your device while maintaining precise monitoring. PRIVACY FOCUSED Your location data and trip information remain private and secure on your device. Speedometer X does not share your personal data with third parties. PERFECT FOR MULTIPLE ACTIVITIES Whether you're a professional driver, cyclist, runner, hiker, or outdoor enthusiast, Speedometer X adapts to your needs. Use it for vehicle speed monitoring, cycling performance tracking, running activity monitoring, hiking adventure recording, marine activities, or any activity requiring precise speed and location tracking. Download Speedometer X today and experience the most comprehensive speed tracking and trip recording solution available on iOS. Privacy Policy: https://curlydoggo.com/speedometer/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Virtual Dashboard4 screens
Apex4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Virtual Dashboard at free with in-app purchases against Apex's subscription. Virtual Dashboard also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). Apex's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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. Virtual Dashboard sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Apex sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Virtual Dashboard against 4.4 for Apex. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 25 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Virtual Dashboard ships an update every 5 months, Apex monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Virtual Dashboard versus Apex: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVirtual DashboardApex
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (13 ratings) — better4.4 (25 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1325 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKevinnovate, LLCCurly Doggo Limited

Customer experience

Virtual Dashboard

All ratings12 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral8.3%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Apex

All ratings25 ratings
Positive92.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Virtual Dashboard

One-time2
  • Donate for Development$0.99
  • Unlock All Themes$2.99
7 purchases

Apex

Subscriptions7
  • Speedometer X Pro Weekly$3.997 Days
  • Speedometer X Pro Weekly3 Days trial$3.997 Days
  • Speedometer X Pro Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
Show 4 more
  • Speedometer X Pro Yearly3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Speedometer X Pro Yearly$19.991 Year
  • Speedometer X Pro Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Speedometer X Pro Yearly$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Virtual Dashboard free?
Virtual Dashboard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Apex free?
Apex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Virtual Dashboard or Apex?
Virtual Dashboard is rated higher. Virtual Dashboard averages 4.5 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Apex averages 4.4 from 25 ratings.
Do Virtual Dashboard or Apex have ads?
Neither Virtual Dashboard nor Apex shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Virtual Dashboard or Apex?
Virtual Dashboard ships an update every 5 months, and Apex monthly. Most recently, Virtual Dashboard was updated on November 3, 2026 and Apex on November 5, 2026.

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