Comparison

Recon vs Avionics Buddy

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

Head to head
About

Recon

Capture accurate 3D data using photogrammetry and your device's lidar sensor. Process data locally for privacy or in the cloud. Includes optional scaling with April Tags and exports in e57 format for further analysis.

Highlights
  • Photogrammetry and lidar fusion
  • Cloud or on-device processing
  • Optional April Tag scaling
  • e57 format export
  • Privacy-focused local processing
Features
Read full description

Recon-3D is a scanning application that fuses photogrammetry and the lidar sensor on the iPhone/iPad Pro. The data can be processed on the cloud or in case of sensitive data, directly on the device only with no data transmitted over the internet. The app provides optional scaling via April Tags which immediately adjusts the scale of the 3D model to match real-world reference measurements. The data can be exported to other programs for inspection, analysis and visualization in e57 format. Privacy Policy: https://www.recon-3d.com/privacypolicy Terms of Use: https://www.recon-3d.com/termsandconditions

About

Avionics Buddy

Enhance your flight simulation experience with live telemetry, maps, and customizable gauges on your Apple devices. Monitor aircraft position, weather, and flight statistics, and access airport information and approach helpers.

Highlights
  • Live aircraft telemetry
  • Follow-mode map
  • Customizable cockpit gauges
  • Trip Computer
  • Lifetime Logbook
  • Airport search and library
  • Runway approach helpers
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone, iPad or Mac into a live companion display for Microsoft Flight Simulator with live telemetry, maps, customizable gauges, airport information, weather, flight statistics, approach helpers, missions and challenges—all without leaving the simulator window. See your aircraft position on the map, monitor altitude, heading, airspeed, ground speed and vertical speed, browse airports, inspect runways, check live airport weather and use visual approach helpers while you fly. Take on Missions & Challenges and give your flights a destination. Choose from included challenges or download additional mission packs, explore airports around the world and complete each objective by flying there in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Avionics Buddy automatically recognizes your landings, tracks your challenge progress and awards medals as you complete them. Avionics Buddy is built for sim pilots who want to extend their Microsoft Flight Simulator setup beyond the main screen. Use it as a beautifully designed cockpit display on your desk or as an additional avionics screen in a larger multi-monitor simulator setup. Its adaptive interface makes use of the available screen space across iPhone, iPad and Mac, letting you build your own flight deck using the Apple devices you already own. Track your current flight with the Trip Computer, including distance, fuel, speed, altitude, wind and temperature. Continue building your Lifetime Logbook with accumulated flight time, takeoffs, landings, distance flown and personal records across all your simulator sessions. Search more than 80,000 airports, save your favorites, display selected airports on the map, inspect runways and review live weather before departure. Export and import your Airport Library to back up your saved airports or transfer them between your iPhone, iPad and Mac. Stay connected to your flight, even when Microsoft Flight Simulator is running on another screen. Key Features • Missions & Challenges with automatic landing detection, progress tracking and medals • Downloadable mission packs with detailed mission briefings – https://www.avionicsbuddy.com/missions/ • Live aircraft telemetry from Microsoft Flight Simulator • Follow-mode map with aircraft position, heading and selectable aircraft icons • Customizable cockpit gauges with multiple layouts, styles and live Session Gauge metrics • Trip Computer with live flight statistics for every session • Lifetime Logbook with cumulative flight time, takeoffs, landings, distance and records • Awards and medals earned through your flying • Search over 80,000 airports with favorites and map integration • Export and import your Airport Library between Apple devices • Runway approach helpers for visual alignment during simulator arrivals • Live airport weather with wind, pressure, clouds and current conditions • Optional cabin sound effects, including seatbelt announcements and other immersive details • Adaptive layouts across iPhone, iPad and Apple Silicon Mac • Local network connection through the free Avionics Buddy Bridge for Windows • No account required • No cloud telemetry How it works 1. Start Microsoft Flight Simulator on your Windows PC. 2. Download and run the free Avionics Buddy Bridge for Windows – https://www.avionicsbuddy.com/#bridge 3. Scan the QR code with Avionics Buddy on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. 4. Fly with live telemetry on your second screen. Avionics Buddy is intended for Microsoft Flight Simulator entertainment use only. It is not designed for real-world navigation, flight training, flight planning or operational aviation use. Avionics Buddy is not affiliated with Microsoft, Asobo Studio, Working Title, OurAirports or any aircraft manufacturer.

Screenshots

Recon4 screens
Avionics Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Recon at Free against Avionics Buddy's $3.99. Recon also leads on iOS requirement (16.1 vs 18.0). Avionics Buddy's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). On 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

Recon is free to download; Avionics Buddy costs $3.99 up front. Recon sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $99.99 per month. Avionics Buddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Recon ships an update every 2 months, Avionics Buddy monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Recon versus Avionics Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReconAvionics Buddy
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating4.8 (275 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings275 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size94 MB68 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRecon-3D Inc.Sharif El Fatatry

Customer experience

Recon

All ratings275 ratings
Positive96.4%
Neutral0.7%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral4.2%
Negative20.8%

Avionics Buddy

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

Bugs and requests

Recon

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Program crashes when hitting save
  • App requires update in rural areas without data
  • Camera is laggy and slow to update screen after update
  • Permission problems block app usage
  • App shows 'Oops' screen asking for permission despite all permissions granted
Show 2 more
  • Sign up process is not working
  • Password recovery is not working

Requested features

1 request
  • Tool for measuring in the app

Avionics Buddy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Recon

Subscriptions2
  • Recon3D One Month Subscription$99.991 Month
  • Recon3D 1 Year Subscription$599.991 Year
One-time3
  • 5 Additional Uploads$49.99
  • 10 Additional Uploads$79.99
  • Recon3D 1 Year Subscription$299.99
None

Avionics Buddy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Recon free?
Recon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Avionics Buddy free?
Avionics Buddy costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Recon or Avionics Buddy have ads?
Neither Recon nor Avionics Buddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Recon or Avionics Buddy?
Recon ships an update every 2 months, and Avionics Buddy monthly. Most recently, Recon was updated on October 15, 2026 and Avionics Buddy on October 10, 2026.

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