Comparison

Helivac vs SDVFR Next

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

Head to head
About

Helivac

This app provides pilots with offline access to the latest French aeronautical charts. It automatically checks for updates when online and displays the most recent downloaded version when offline, ensuring you always have current navigation data for French airfields.

Highlights
  • Offline VAC chart storage
  • Automatic internet update verification
  • Display latest downloaded chart offline
  • Search fields by name or ICAO code
  • Favorites and recent charts tabs
  • Portrait and landscape display
  • Print and share charts
Features
Read full description

Helivac : une application de pilotes pour les pilotes. Helivac est une application gratuite qui stocke au premier lancement toutes les cartes VAC françaises et qui privilégie avant l’affichage la vérification par Internet que la carte stockée est la dernière version disponible. Si l’accès à Internet est disponible, l’application propose d’enregistrer et d’afficher la dernière mise à jour de la carte. Si l’accès à Internet n’est pas disponible (en altitude par exemple), l’application affiche automatiquement la dernière version téléchargée de la carte. Donc, quelles que soient les conditions réseau, vous disposez toujours d’une carte VAC plus ou moins récente pour tous les aérodromes français. Une mise à jour mensuelle est mise en ligne par le SIA et Helivac vous en informe pour vous en proposer le téléchargement complet. La date de la prochaine mise à jour du SIA est visible sur la page Info de Helivac. Les données téléchargées proviennent du site public du SIA: http://www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr L’application nécessite une version iOS 9.0 ou supérieure. La suspension de la mise en veille pendant le téléchargement initial complet est automatique. Fonctionnalités : - Stockage des cartes sur votre appareil pour une consultation sans connexion à internet - Affichage des terrains par nom ou code OACI - Recherche de terrains par nom ou code OACI - Onglet favoris regroupant vos cartes préférées - Onglet récent regroupant les dernières cartes consultées - Affichage des cartes en portrait et paysage - Affichage des cartes en plein écran par un simplement tapotement de doigt sur l’écran - Impression et partage des cartes - Prise en charge du multitâche sur les iPad compatibles

About

SDVFR Next

This app provides pilots with advanced navigation tools, including detailed European maps, weather forecasts, and flight planning capabilities. It supports custom waypoints, GPS tracking, and the ability to display multiple map layers simultaneously for comprehensive situational awareness.

Highlights
  • European vector maps
  • Day/night map styles
  • Customizable waypoints
  • GPS tracking and alerts
  • Weather forecasts (METAR, TAF, Wintems)
  • Flight planning and logging
  • Multi-device synchronization
Read full description

This application is designed for pilots of aircraft operating under visual flight rules (VFR). Coverage: Artic, France, British Isles, Eastern Europe, Iberia, Balkans, Italia, Scandinavia, Central Europe Features: - Application in English or French - Home made Europe vector map - Day and night styles - Remove upper airspaces with a ceiling filter - Traditional SDICAO map still available - Free ICAO additional maps (14 countries) - Chargeable maps available (see shop at https://skydreamsoft.fr) - Online maps (plan, terrain, satellite, hybrid) - Use your maps in MBTiles format - Use your map layers (KML, GeoJSON, SHP) - Display several maps simultaneously - Change maps according to zoom - Manage your custom waypoints - Georeferenced VAC maps (automatic zoom mode) - GPS tracking (speed vector & time bubbles) - Be alerted in the event of loss of GPS or traffic stream (GDL90) - Estimation of wind aloft - Height estimation (accurate terrain model) - Magnetic declination - Map options (auto-center, orientation) - Direct function (including localities search) - Live track - Replay tracks - Customisable black box - Export of tracks in KML and GPX formats - 2D and 3D track display - Stopwatches - VFR & IFR Notams - Zones from SUPAIP - RTBA (very low altitude network) activations - Double-tap airspace details - Flight profile - Navigation profile - Create your navigations in just a few clicks - Configurable flight log - Take into account climb/descent times - Drift and effective wind taken into account - Overlaps (radio navigation) - Help with choosing frequencies - Export and import of GPX, KML, PLN (Flight Simulator) and FPL (Garmin) navigations - METAR & TAF & SIGMET (raw and decoded) - Wintems (18 levels and 24-hour forecasts) - WINTEM and TEMSI weather maps from Météo-France - Weather radar - Data sheets for your aircraft - Weight and balance screen - Fuel estimates - Narrow route briefing (weather, airfields and notams on your route) - Generation of complete flight report - French documentation (VAC, AIP, ULM, SUP AIP, FFA ICARUS) - Load your personal documents and associate them with custom waypoints - Library of VFR & weather guides, map supplements, legends, etc. - Replace GPS with your flight simulator (FS2020/4, FSX, P3D, X-Plane, FlightGear, AeroFly) - Use SafeSky or your traffic detection unit with GDL90 - Synchronise navigations, aircraft, custom points and tracks between your devices - Numerous customisation options!

Screenshots

Helivac4 screens
SDVFR Next4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: SDVFR Next at every 9 days against Helivac's every 4 months. SDVFR Next also leads on review sentiment (72% vs 50%). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Helivac ships an update every 4 months, SDVFR Next every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 6 level
Helivac versus SDVFR Next: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHelivacSDVFR Next
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews72.4% of reviews — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.5
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB71 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJulien RozéSKYDREAMSOFT OOD

Customer experience

Helivac

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

SDVFR Next

Written reviews29 reviews
Positive72.4%
Neutral20.7%
Negative6.9%

In-app purchases

None

Helivac

No in-app purchases

None

SDVFR Next

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Helivac free?
Helivac is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is SDVFR Next free?
SDVFR Next is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Helivac or SDVFR Next have ads?
Neither Helivac nor SDVFR Next shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Helivac or SDVFR Next?
Helivac ships an update every 4 months, and SDVFR Next every 9 days. Most recently, Helivac was updated on October 14, 2026 and SDVFR Next on October 18, 2026.

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