Comparison

Radar Performance vs ACE Checklist Editor

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

Head to head
About

Radar Performance

This application calculates the geometry of aircraft weather radar beams relative to Earth, the freezing level, and the "bright band" for optimal weather detection. It identifies areas on the radar display where the beam is too high or low for effective weather detection and highlights potential ground returns.

Highlights
  • Calculates weather radar beam geometry
  • Considers Earth and freezing level
  • Identifies optimal detection altitudes
  • Shows areas of ineffective beam coverage
  • Highlights potential ground returns
  • Supports various radar models
Features
Read full description

Radar Performance calculates the geometry of aircraft weather radar beams with respect to the earth, the freezing level, and the band of altitudes that provide the maximum weather radar returns (the "bright band"). It also shows the areas on the radar display where the beam is too high or low to effectively detect active weather and areas where you may see ground returns. Radar Performance also includes an Overfly mode for confirming that the tops of lower-level convective weather remain safely below your aircraft. You choose a safe clearance altitude and a tactical range, and the app calculates the radar tilt at which the bottom of the beam just reaches that altitude at that range. With this tilt set, any weather returns indicate that the tops have penetrated your safety margin, so going around the weather is advised. Overfly mode is available at aircraft altitudes of 15,000 ft and above, and is inspired by Tom McGrath's "Snowplow" technique. Radar Performance supports a variety of weather radar models as well as a "generic" model. It is not specific to any aircraft type.

About

ACE Checklist Editor

Create, manage, and execute aviation checklists digitally. Designed for pilots, it offers offline functionality, professional templates, and multi-format import/export for enhanced safety and efficiency in the cockpit.

Highlights
  • Digital aviation checklist creation
  • Offline functionality
  • Multi-format import/export (ACE, ForeFlight, Dynon)
  • Professional templates
  • Challenge & Response format
  • Revision history
  • Smart organization by aircraft or phase of flight
Features
Read full description

Transform Your Aviation Safety with Professional Digital Checklists ACE Checklist Editor is the professional pilot's choice for creating, managing, and executing aviation checklists on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Designed by pilots for pilots, ACE brings the reliability of paper checklists into the digital age with powerful features that enhance safety and efficiency. WHY PILOTS CHOOSE ACE • Universal Compatibility - Import and export checklists in ACE (.ace), ForeFlight (.fmd), and Dynon formats • Industry-Standard ACE Format - Compatible with Garmin avionics and other systems that support ACE files • Works Offline - All your checklists are stored locally on your device. No internet required in flight • Professional Templates - Start with expertly crafted templates for popular aircraft or create your own from scratch • External Drive Sync - Keep your checklists synchronized across devices using external drives • Smart Organization - Group checklists by aircraft, phase of flight, or custom categories SAFETY-FIRST DESIGN • Challenge & Response Format - Clear distinction between checklist items and expected responses • Emergency Procedures - Quick access to critical checklists with high-visibility formatting • Warning & Caution Items - Color-coded alerts for critical items that demand attention • Revision History - Track all changes with complete version control • No Distractions - Clean, focused interface designed for cockpit use POWERFUL FEATURES • Multi-Format Import & Export - Share checklists in Garmin (.ace) [.gcl and .gplts coming soon], ForeFlight (.fmd), or Dynon formats with other pilots and avionics systems • ForeFlight Integration - Import your existing ForeFlight checklists and export back in encrypted .fmd format • Dynon Compatibility - Full support for Dynon SkyView checklist format with proper line wrapping • Multiple Aircraft - Manage checklists for your entire fleet in one app • Customizable Sections - Organize by phase of flight: Preflight, Startup, Taxi, Takeoff, Cruise, Landing, Shutdown • Rich Formatting - Add notes, references, conditional items, and amplified procedures • Search & Filter - Quickly find any checklist or item across your entire library BUILT FOR REAL PILOTS Whether you're a student pilot building good habits, a CFI managing training aircraft, or a professional pilot flying complex aircraft, ACE adapts to your needs: • Student Pilots: Learn proper checklist discipline with clear, organized procedures • Flight Instructors: Create standardized checklists for your training fleet • Aircraft Owners: Maintain custom checklists that match your specific equipment and STCs • Professional Pilots: Manage multiple aircraft types with airline-style formatting ONE APP, EVERY DEVICE • Native iPhone, iPad, and Mac apps, all in one download • Edit on the Mac with a full desktop window, menus, and keyboard • Document-based app - Open .ace files directly from Files, email, or other apps • iCloud backup keeps your data safe YOUR DATA, YOUR CONTROL • All checklists stored locally on your device but auto synced via iCloud to other devices you control. • No account required • Core checklist editing is available without a subscription; optional subscriptions and lifetime purchases unlock additional features • Export your data anytime in ACE, ForeFlight, or Dynon formats • Privacy-focused: We never see your checklists IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE ACE Checklist Editor is designed to assist pilots but does not replace your aircraft's official Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) or FAA-approved flight manual. Always verify checklist items against your aircraft's official documentation. Every aircraft is unique with different equipment and STCs. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Additional Terms: https://www.acechecklist.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.acechecklist.com/privacy

Screenshots

Radar Performance3 screens
ACE Checklist Editor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Radar Performance at 100% against ACE Checklist Editor's 50%. Radar Performance also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). ACE Checklist Editor's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, 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. ACE Checklist Editor sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Radar Performance asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Radar Performance holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Radar Performance's written reviews are positive against 50% of ACE Checklist Editor's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Radar Performance ships an update every 2 months, ACE Checklist Editor every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Radar Performance versus ACE Checklist Editor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRadar PerformanceACE Checklist Editor
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better3.8 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings44
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPOH Performance L.L.C.Patrick Michalina

Customer experience

Radar Performance

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

ACE Checklist Editor

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Radar Performance

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

ACE Checklist Editor

Subscriptions2
  • ACE Pro Monthly$5.991 Month
  • ACE Pro Annual$49.991 Year
One-time8
  • Fly Mode (Lifetime)$4.99
  • PDF Export (Lifetime)$9.99
  • Beechcraft Baron B55 (BE55)$9.99
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  • Beechcraft Baron B58P (B58T)$9.99
  • Beechcraft Duchess (BE76)$9.99
  • Piper JETPROP (PA46) Checklist$9.99
  • ACE File Access (Lifetime)$99.99

Questions

Is Radar Performance free?
Radar Performance is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ACE Checklist Editor free?
ACE Checklist Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Radar Performance or ACE Checklist Editor?
Radar Performance is rated higher. Radar Performance averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while ACE Checklist Editor averages 3.8 from 4 ratings.
Do Radar Performance or ACE Checklist Editor have ads?
Neither Radar Performance nor ACE Checklist Editor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Radar Performance or ACE Checklist Editor?
Radar Performance ships an update every 2 months, and ACE Checklist Editor every 9 days. Most recently, Radar Performance was updated on September 26, 2026 and ACE Checklist Editor on October 1, 2026.

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