# VatView vs X

The clearest difference is ads: X at none against VatView's shown. X also leads on review sentiment (38% vs 25%) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). VatView's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 5 months). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

VatView ships an update weekly, X every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and September 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VatView | X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.8 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-plane-12-control-pad/id6701986565/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **23** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **37.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | **Free** |
| Size | 54 MB | 3.0 GB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oren Geva](https://appshunter.io/developer/1507163513) | [Laminar Research](https://appshunter.io/developer/290619948) |

## What reviewers say

### VatView

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vatview/id1562497035)

Track air traffic controllers and flight information on the VATSIM network. View active ATC stations, frequencies, and ATIS messages. Explore an interactive map showing pilots and controllers, or search for airport-specific flight data.

**Highlights:** Interactive VATSIM map, Live METAR weather data, Filterable pilot and ATC lists, Airport-specific flight information, Enroute and FSS control areas, ATC bookings

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-plane-12-control-pad/id6701986565)

Control your desktop flight simulator from your mobile device. Connect wirelessly over your local network to manage X-Plane 12 with pro-level precision. Experience a new way to interact with your flight simulation.

**Highlights:** Local LAN control, X-Plane 12 integration, Pro-level precision, Mobile device interface, Wireless connectivity

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VatView free?

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

### Is X free?

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

### Do VatView or X have ads?

VatView shows ads; X does not.

### Which is updated more often, VatView or X?

VatView ships an update weekly, and X every 5 months. Most recently, VatView was updated on June 5, 2026 and X on September 2, 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.*