ACARS vs VirtualFreedan
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ACARS
View ACARS aircraft transmissions on your iOS device without a bulky computer. Requires a radio scanner tuned to the aircraft band. Save decodes to a file or transfer to your computer.
- View ACARS transmissions on iOS
- Save decoded packets to a file
- Transfer data to computer via iTunes
- Built-in aircraft model database
- Add custom plane information
- Color-coded packet fields
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Want to display ACARS transmissions, without using a bulky computer? ACARS lets you view ACARS aircraft transmissions on your iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. A radio/scanner capable of tuning the 118-136 MHz aircraft band is required. Just set it next to the radio's speaker, tune in an ACARS frequency, and watch the decodes. Or, for even better reception, use a pair of earbuds, plugged into the radio’s headphone jack, rather than the internal speaker. You can save decoded ACARS packets to a file to view later, or transfer to your computer via iTunes. Aircraft model information for many planes in a built in database is displayed along with the decoded packets. You can also add your own plane information to the database. Packet fields are color coded on iOS 6 and later. Buy your copy right now, and start decoding and displaying ACARS transmissions in minutes.
VirtualFreedan
Virtually experience a new style of Japanese Buddhist altar. This app allows you to interact with a virtual altar, light candles, burn incense, ring a bell, and customize it with photos and names. It's designed to let you explore the "FreeDan" before considering a purchase.
- Virtual altar experience
- Light candles and incense
- Ring a virtual orin
- Customize with photos
- Customize with names
- Open and close altar doors
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Japanese Hikone buddhist altar "Nanaplus" presented new style "FreeDan" created by traditional technology of 350 years. It is a new prayer item in the everyday life that we aimed. With this application, you can experience the lineup of "FreeDan" virtually. · Can Fire candles and incense. · Can ring a orin. · You can customize photos and name. · The door can be opened and closed. Please experience "FreeDan" with this application and consider buying the real "FreeDan".
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: VirtualFreedan at Free against ACARS's $2.99. VirtualFreedan also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months). ACARS's advantage is ratings volume (14 vs 2) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 12.0). On ads, in-app purchases 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
VirtualFreedan is free to download; ACARS costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
VirtualFreedan holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ACARS has 14 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of ACARS's written reviews are positive against 50% of VirtualFreedan's.
ACARS ships an update every 12 months, VirtualFreedan every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and June 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ACARS | VirtualFreedan |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.0 (14 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 41.4% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 14 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 6.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 48 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Black Cat Systems | Masahiko Nogami |
Customer experience
ACARS
VirtualFreedan
In-app purchases
ACARS
No in-app purchases
VirtualFreedan
No in-app purchases
