Comparison

Hot Air vs GA Flight Tracker

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

Head to head
About

Hot Air

This app serves as a comprehensive flight companion for hot air balloon pilots. It offers features like live tracking, flight recording, navigation, and wind profiling, all tailored for ballooning. It supports pilots from students to commercial operators for planning, execution, and post-flight analysis.

Highlights
  • Live tracking on maps
  • Wind profiling by altitude
  • Waypoint navigation
  • Automatic flight recording
  • Custom map overlays
  • Offline map caching
  • Real-time flight sharing
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Hot Air is a complete balloon flight companion, built by balloon pilots for balloon pilots. From preflight planning to postflight review, it delivers live tracking, flight recording, waypoint navigation, wind profiling, and more — all designed specifically for the unique needs of hot air ballooning. Whether you’re a student pilot, a commercial operator, or flying for fun, Hot Air helps you stay organized, informed, and connected. Features include: • Live tracking on street or satellite maps • Wind profiling by altitude during climb and descent • Waypoint navigation with bearing, distance, and estimated time • Automatic flight recording with 3D export support • Custom map overlays (KML/KMZ) • Offline-capable with map caching • Real-time flight sharing with crew or friends • Detailed flight logs for crew, passengers, propane, and temperature • Flight summaries and totals for logs or checkrides • Interactive map history of takeoffs and landings • Export to HTML, KML, or GPX • Payload calculator for accurate weight and balance • Integrated weather data and forecasts • Improved UTM 4x4 waypoint format support Additional features: • Real-time heading projection • Built-in data backup and restore • Localized in English, French, Czech, and Slovak • Fully optimized for iPhone and iPad (portrait and landscape) Note: Continued use of GPS can reduce battery life. Use an external battery for longer flights.

About

GA Flight Tracker

This aviation app provides pilots and enthusiasts with essential navigation, safety, and planning tools. It offers offline VFR charts, obstacle alerts, and real-time weather updates to enhance flight safety and efficiency. The app also includes flight recording and an interactive note board for in-flight information.

Highlights
  • Inline flight planning
  • Offline VFR charts
  • Obstacle alerts
  • Real-time weather updates
  • Flight recording
  • Interactive note board
  • Aircraft traffic tracking
Features
Read full description

The Ultimate Pilot Navigation & Safety Companion Take to the skies with General Aviation Flight Tracker, the all-in-one app designed to make every flight safer, more efficient, and stress-free. Whether you're a seasoned pilot or a passionate aviation enthusiast, this app brings cutting-edge tools to your fingertips, even when you're offline. Key Features to Elevate Your Flying Experience: Inline Flight Planning Plan your journey seamlessly with tools designed for precision and simplicity. Flight Plan Navigation Log Track your route and progress with a detailed navigation log that includes expected airport conditions and anticipated runways in use. Flight Recording Record and review your flights, complete with Altitude and Speed graphing for a quick visual reference of performance during the flight. Offline VFR Charts & Airport Information Access essential navigation charts and airport details, even when you're out of signal range. Offline Obstacle Alerts Fly with confidence, knowing obstacle warnings are just a tap away—no internet required. Interactive Note Board Jot down squawk codes, taxi instructions, IFR details, and more while in-flight. Aircraft Traffic Tracking & Audible Alerts Stay informed with real-time aircraft traffic and obstacle notifications to ensure safer skies. Up-to-Date Obstacle Data & Weather Insights - Obstacle database refreshed daily. - Real-time METAR and TAF updates to help you stay ahead of weather changes. - Dynamic weather map overlays for an at-a-glance understanding of conditions. Plane Tracking & Enhanced Safety Tools Track your aircraft and others in the area with pinpoint accuracy. Why Pilots Love General Aviation Flight Tracker - Offline First: Built for reliability even when you're off the grid. - Daily Updates: Always stay current with the latest obstacle and weather data. - Simple & Intuitive: Tools that enhance safety without adding complexity. - Whether you’re navigating complex routes, tracking weather conditions, or jotting down critical in-flight notes, General Aviation Flight Tracker is your trusted co-pilot in the cockpit. Download Today! Fly safer, plan smarter, and enjoy the freedom of the skies with General Aviation Flight Tracker—your indispensable aviation tool. Ready to take off? Download now and experience the future of flight navigation!

Screenshots

Hot Air4 screens
GA Flight Tracker4 screens

Verdict

The call

Hot Air and GA Flight Tracker both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 90% of Hot Air's written reviews are positive against 25% of GA Flight Tracker's. Hot Air also leads on ratings volume (578 vs 4) and chart position (#102 vs unranked). GA Flight Tracker's advantage is price (Free vs $9.99). On rating, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

GA Flight Tracker is free to download; Hot Air costs $9.99 up front. Hot Air sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per year and GA Flight Tracker sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Hot Air against 5.0 for GA Flight Tracker. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hot Air has 578 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of Hot Air's written reviews are positive against 25% of GA Flight Tracker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Hot Air versus GA Flight Tracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHot AirGA Flight Tracker
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (578 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews — better25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings578 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 5 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#102 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.514 — better
Further details — not scored
Size129 MB149 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCato Technologies LLCGorkem Yuksel

Customer experience

Hot Air

All ratings578 ratings
Positive96.9%
Neutral1.7%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews90 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral3.3%
Negative6.7%

GA Flight Tracker

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Bugs and requests

Hot Air

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashing after latest update
  • Freezing when switching to camera
  • Flight tracking not syncing to logbook

Requested features

5 requests
  • Option to disable Glympse sharing
  • Ability to switch between mph and knots
  • More customization options for overlays and pins
  • Flight data sync between iPhone and iPad
  • Playback capability for past flights

GA Flight Tracker

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Hot Air

Subscriptions3
  • Offline Maps$2.991 Year
  • Pro$3.991 Month
  • Pro$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Offline Map Subscription$2.99
10 purchases

GA Flight Tracker

Subscriptions2
  • GAFT Monthly1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • Flight Review Subscription1 Month trial$14.991 Month
One-time8
  • VFR Map for Seward$19.99
  • VFR Map for St Louis$19.99
  • VFR Map for Twin Cities$19.99
Show 5 more
  • VFR Map for Washington$19.99
  • VFR Map for W Aleutian Is E2 variants$19.99
  • VFR Map for W Aleutian Is W$19.99
  • VFR Map for Whitehorse$19.99
  • VFR Map for Witchita$19.99

Questions

Is Hot Air free?
Hot Air costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is GA Flight Tracker free?
GA Flight Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hot Air or GA Flight Tracker?
GA Flight Tracker is rated higher. Hot Air averages 4.9 out of 5 from 578 ratings, while GA Flight Tracker averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Hot Air or GA Flight Tracker have ads?
Neither Hot Air nor GA Flight Tracker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hot Air or GA Flight Tracker?
Hot Air ships an update every 5 days, and GA Flight Tracker every 5 days. Most recently, Hot Air was updated on November 1, 2026 and GA Flight Tracker on October 7, 2026.

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