Comparison

AeroADSB vs btrd

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

Head to head
About

AeroADSB

Visualize real-time aircraft traffic on a map using data from ADS-B receivers. It also provides an attitude and heading reference system, displaying airspeed, altitude, and heading. Weather data (METAR/TAF) is available with an unlock.

Highlights
  • Real-time aircraft traffic display
  • Map-based visualization
  • Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS)
  • Airspeed, altitude, and heading display
  • METAR/TAF weather data
  • Offline operation with receiver
Features
Read full description

Receives and displays aircraft traffic data on map from ADS-B receivers (e.g., Stratux, ADSBee, SkyEcho) which support GDL 90 protocol. It also includes an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS; if device provides data) including airspeed, altitude, and heading as well as display of METAR/TAF (one-time unlock necessary).   Please check your region for weather data reception availability first before purchasing unlock data feature. Requires GDL 90 data to be sent to (default) port 4000 via UDP (can be changed in settings). Works entirely independent from internet connection and with ADS-B receiver only.

About

btrd

This app analyzes your aircraft landings using device motion sensors to provide a smoothness score and fun ratings. Review your landing history, compare with friends on leaderboards, and even practice in simulator mode.

Highlights
  • Landing smoothness score
  • Fun landing ratings
  • Landing history and stats
  • Airport context
  • Pilot profile and public boards
  • Groups and leaderboards
  • Simulator mode
Features
Read full description

Landing scores and history for pilots. btrd uses your device’s motion sensors to estimate touchdown smoothness. Record a landing, then review your score, touchdown G, and conditions after landing when safe. REVIEW YOUR TOUCHDOWN See your landing score and rating, from BUTTERED to CHOPPED, with touchdown and conditions details in one place. Choose Small, Large, or Heavy aircraft categories for category-specific scoring. KEEP YOUR LANDING HISTORY Your Landing Log brings past sessions together so you can review scores, airports, and touchdown details. It tracks your btrd sessions, not flight hours. COMPARE YOUR LANDINGS See your position on global and airport leaderboards. Personal scores and leaderboard eligibility are separate, so a saved result may not count toward rankings. FLY WITH A GROUP Create or join a Group, compare results with other members, and switch between your Group leaderboards. SHARE YOUR RESULT Create a landing card with your score and flight details to share with friends or your flying group. RECORD FROM IPHONE OR APPLE WATCH Start and stop sessions from iPhone or Apple Watch. Sign in with Apple to recover your account and synced Landing Log. SET UP BEFORE APPROACH Secure your device and start recording before approach. Leave it alone during critical phases of flight, then stop and review your result after landing when safe. btrd provides estimated post-flight feedback for recreation. It is not a flight instrument, flight training device, safety system, or substitute for pilot judgment. A smoothness score is not a measure of landing safety. Always follow aircraft procedures and your instructor’s guidance.

Screenshots

AeroADSB4 screens
btrd4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: btrd at 5.0 against AeroADSB's 1.7. btrd also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). AeroADSB's advantage is ratings volume (28 vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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. AeroADSB sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. btrd asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

btrd holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AeroADSB has 28 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
AeroADSB versus btrd: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAeroADSBbtrd
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.7 (28 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews3.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings28 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLakehorn AGAeroSmooth Labs LLC

Customer experience

AeroADSB

All ratings28 ratings
Positive17.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative82.1%
Written reviews29 reviews
Positive3.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative96.6%

btrd

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

AeroADSB

One-time1
  • Data Unlock$4.49
None

btrd

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AeroADSB free?
AeroADSB is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is btrd free?
btrd is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AeroADSB or btrd?
btrd is rated higher. AeroADSB averages 1.7 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while btrd averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do AeroADSB or btrd have ads?
Neither AeroADSB nor btrd shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AeroADSB or btrd?
AeroADSB ships an update every 2 months, and btrd every 2 months. Most recently, AeroADSB was updated on October 5, 2026 and btrd on October 11, 2026.

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