Comparison

X vs Flight Deck AR

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

Head to head
About

X

This app displays your X-Plane simulator flight data on a map in real-time. Connect your device to the same network to view speeds, altitudes, and flight plans from Simbrief.

Highlights
  • Real-time flight data display
  • Connects to X-Plane 11/12
  • View speeds and altitudes
  • Download Simbrief flight plans
  • Automatic network discovery
Features
Read full description

iPhone and iPad app to run in parallel with your X-Plane simulator (it supports both X-Plane 11 and X-Plane 12). Make sure your device is connected to the same network as the machine where X-Plane is running and the app will automatically find it and will link to it. Once linked, your flight data will start arriving to the app and therefore displayed in the map. On the Menu you can see flight information like your speeds and altitudes. You can also connect and download your current flight plan from Simbrief to get some extra flight information like arrival, destination, flight time, distance traveled, etc. Enjoy!

About

Flight Deck AR

Transform your mobile device into a head tracker for X-Plane. Experience natural cockpit views that follow your head movements without any extra hardware or complex setup. Enjoy enhanced immersion in your flight simulations.

Highlights
  • Real-time head tracking with device camera
  • Native X-Plane integration
  • Zero-setup, plug-and-fly functionality
  • Supports all X-Plane aircraft
  • Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, macOS, Linux)
  • Auto-pause when face is not detected
  • Per-aircraft settings
Read full description

Turn your iPad or iPhone into a powerful head tracker and fly more naturally. No clips, no sensors, no plugins, no IP configurations. Just launch the app and your cockpit view follows your head instantly. Why Flight Deck AR? • Native integration: built directly on X-Plane’s official UDP/Datarefs. • Cross-platform: works with X-Plane on Windows, macOS, and Linux. • Zero setup: no IP config, no DLLs, no drivers, no emulation, no calibration. Plug & fly. • All aircraft supported: from Laminar defaults to complex add-ons. • Simple hardware: just your iPad or iPhone camera. • Lightweight & smooth: optimized for performance and stability. Features: • Real-time head tracking with your device’s camera • Native X-Plane integration (UDP & datarefs) • Full integration, zero-config, with X-Camera plugin • Camera controls, with custom head-tracked cameras for each Aircraft • Auto-Pause: pause the sim if face is not detected for a prolonged period. • Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux • Zero setup: launch, connect, and fly • Supports all aircraft (default + add-ons) • Uses only your iPad or iPhone camera • Smooth, lightweight, and responsive head tracking • Ready-to-use presets for common scenarios • Advanced settings for fine-tweaking • Per Aircraft settings. Each configuration of the tracker is linked automatically and independently to the currently loaded Aircraft. • No extra hardware required • Control the App from your X-Plane joystick • Eye Tracking (BETA) Fly naturally Move your head, look around. Lean forward to read instruments. Glance left and right on final. With Flight Deck AR, your cockpit becomes as alive as the real thing, without extra gear. Compatibility • Requires X-Plane 11 or 12 on Windows, macOS, or Linux. • No additional plugins or configuration needed. • Compatible devices: iPhone X and later (all models) iPhone SE (3rd generation and later) iPad Pro 11-inch (all models) iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later) iPad Air (4th generation and later) iPad mini (6th generation and later) The future of head tracking Unlike TrackIR or FreeTrack, Flight Deck AR is built for X-Plane, not hacked around it. It’s the first head tracker that works wherever X-Plane does, and it just works. Flight Deck AR. Plug & fly. Flight Deck AR transforms your iPad or iPhone into a powerful head tracker for X-Plane. Using just your device’s camera, you can move your head naturally and watch the cockpit view respond instantly. Enjoy a more immersive flying experience without wires, sensors, or complicated setups. Made for X-Plane pilots who want immersion, simplicity, and performance. Terms of use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

X3 screens
Flight Deck AR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: X at none against Flight Deck AR's 1. X also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.6). Flight Deck AR's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). On price, review sentiment, ads and monetization model 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. Flight Deck AR sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. X asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

X ships an update every 5 weeks, Flight Deck AR fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
X versus Flight Deck AR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterXFlight Deck AR
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperXavier Ramos OliverVisuality srl

Customer experience

X

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Flight Deck AR

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

X

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Flight Deck AR

One-time1
  • Flight Deck AR PRO$11.99

Questions

Is X free?
X is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Flight Deck AR free?
Flight Deck AR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do X or Flight Deck AR have ads?
Neither X nor Flight Deck AR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, X or Flight Deck AR?
X ships an update every 5 weeks, and Flight Deck AR fortnightly. Most recently, X was updated on September 8, 2026 and Flight Deck AR on September 22, 2026.

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