# ACARS vs Knives Illustrated

The clearest difference is price: Knives Illustrated at Free against ACARS's $2.99. Knives Illustrated also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 6 months vs every 12 months). ACARS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 14) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 11.2). On review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Knives Illustrated is free to download; ACARS costs $2.99 up front. Knives Illustrated sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per 6 months. ACARS asks for nothing beyond the download.

Knives Illustrated holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 47 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of ACARS's written reviews are positive against 43% of Knives Illustrated's.

ACARS ships an update every 12 months, Knives Illustrated every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ACARS | Knives Illustrated |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.0 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acars/id386825917/reviews) | **[4.4 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knives-illustrated/id643412052/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **47** |
| Positive reviews | 41.4% of reviews | **42.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 2 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 11.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Black Cat Systems](https://appshunter.io/developer/301047032) | [Engaged Media Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1456235175) |

## What reviewers say

### ACARS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acars/id386825917)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Knives Illustrated

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/knives-illustrated/id643412052)

This digital magazine subscription covers all aspects of knives, from tactical and pocket to outdoor blades. It offers safety tips, survival strategies, and the latest information on manufacturers, dealers, and new gear. Ideal for enthusiasts, hunters, campers, and professionals who value preparedness.

**Highlights:** Tactical, pocket, and outdoor knife coverage, Safety tips and survival strategies, New gear and accessories showcases, Expert tests and evaluations, Knife manufacturer and dealer information, Digital magazine subscription format

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Knives Illustrated | $8.99 | per 6 months |
| Knives Illustrated | $12.99 | per year |
| Knives Illustrated | $15.99 | per year |
| January-February 2013 | $3.99 | one-time |
| December 2012 | $3.99 | one-time |
| November 2013 | $3.99 | one-time |
| January-February 2015 | $3.99 | one-time |
| January-February 2014 | $3.99 | one-time |
| January-February 2016 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Jan-Feb 2017 | $3.99 | one-time |
| May-June 2015 | $4.99 | one-time |
| May-June 2014 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Knives BG Jan/F... (id:715391) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Knive Illustrated 2 Back Issue Bundle | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ACARS free?

ACARS costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Knives Illustrated free?

Knives Illustrated is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ACARS or Knives Illustrated?

Knives Illustrated is rated higher. ACARS averages 3.0 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Knives Illustrated averages 4.4 from 47 ratings.

### Do ACARS or Knives Illustrated have ads?

Neither ACARS nor Knives Illustrated shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ACARS or Knives Illustrated?

ACARS ships an update every 12 months, and Knives Illustrated every 6 months. Most recently, ACARS was updated on September 23, 2026 and Knives Illustrated on September 16, 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.*