Comparison

CloudAhoy vs VatMap

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

Head to head
About

CloudAhoy

This app provides pilots with detailed post-flight analysis and performance evaluations. It automatically segments flights, scores maneuvers, and offers various visual tools to identify areas for improvement. Get a comprehensive understanding of your flying proficiency shortly after landing.

Highlights
  • Automated flight segmentation
  • Objective maneuver scoring
  • 2D/3D flight visualization
  • Chart and map overlays
  • HUD cockpit view
  • Flight data import
  • Instrument approach comparison
Features
Read full description

CloudAhoy provides post-flight data driven debriefs for pilots of all levels. Each flight is automatically analyzed and broken down into segments to easily evaluate pilot performance. Maneuver scoring provides a snapshot of how well you flew. Review airspeed, altitude, and wind corrections and relive your ground reference maneuvers or instrument approaches. Combine different views, chart overlays and detailed graphs to assist with identifying areas of improvement. Get a full picture of your performance and proficiency within minutes of landing. Download the app and enjoy CloudAhoy free for 35 days. USERS - General aviation pilots: weekend warriors, commercial & recreational pilots - Flight training: students and instructors - Flight schools - Professional pilots and corporate flight departments - Military CloudAhoy users fly all types of aircraft and simulators. Debrief VFR and IFR flights, training flights, cross country flights, and special missions such as search and rescue. FEATURES • Auto-segmentation and recognition of flight maneuvers • Objective maneuver scoring and evaluation • View flights in 2D or 3D, on the app or any computer platform • Overlay aviation charts, terrain maps, or satellite images • HUD cockpit view: relive your flight in 3D animation • Flight data import from many devices, apps, and EFIS • Glass cockpit gauges • Display the wind along your route. Check your wind corrections. • Optional synchronized video - view up to two feeds • IFR: Compare your instrument approaches vs. 3D or 2D published IAPs • Plot altitude, IAS, VS and other profiles of your approaches • In-flight mode for marking custom segments of the flight in real-time • Logbook-like listing of any flight you have flown with CloudAhoy • Use internal iPhone/iPad GPS, or an external GPS • Flight sharing between CloudAhoy pilots, and with people without an account • Supports iPad multitasking REVIEWS “It’s a fun way to replay your flights, but it also has real value for training and currency flights.” -Sportys iPad Pilot News “Always available, cost effective, and emotionally neutral technology that helps a CFI be more efficient.” -SAFE Pilots Blog “CloudAhoy is my debriefing tool of choice.” -Steve Thorne, FlightChops

About

VatMap

View the VATSIM network in real-time on your mobile device. Plan, track, and monitor flights and controllers directly from your smartphone or tablet. Utilize built-in maps and in-app charts for an enhanced flight simulation experience.

Highlights
  • Real-time pilot and controller display
  • In-app charts for Electronic Flight Bag
  • Flight planning and tracking
  • Friend list management
  • One-minute data updates
  • Departure and arrival information
Features
Read full description

VatMap provides an online view of the VATSIM® Network on you iPhone or iPad! Now even use VatMap as your Electronic Flight Bag for charts! The missing feature. Now plan, see, watch and track VATSIM® flights with your own smartphone or tablet! VatMap is based on the build in map of your iDevice. It plots the online pilots and controllers on your map right in the palm of your hand! A few of our features: - Shows all ATC - ATC Sectors - in-App Charts - It displays all planes flying online - Quick and easy access to flight-info - It shows your friends. - Add, delete your friends. - Updates data every minute. - Check if ATC is booked - Check Departures and Arrivals - Find a controller online - Set your own preferred settings - Show yourself vs ATC or Pilots - Show routes of Pilots and many more features are available! Working on: - Airports - More Sectors for Approach and TWR positions - Adding more Charts to our database - and more...! Add your friends, fly together and enjoy!

Screenshots

CloudAhoy4 screens
VatMap4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: VatMap at 4.0 against CloudAhoy's 3.5. VatMap also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). CloudAhoy's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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

Both are free to download. CloudAhoy sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. VatMap asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VatMap holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 34 and 22 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of CloudAhoy's written reviews are positive against 79% of VatMap's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CloudAhoy ships an update every 5 weeks, VatMap fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
CloudAhoy versus VatMap: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCloudAhoyVatMap
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (34 ratings)4.0 (22 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.8% of reviews — better78.7% of reviews
Number of ratings34 — better22
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCloudAhoy, Inc.wkberg

Customer experience

CloudAhoy

All ratings34 ratings
Positive58.8%
Neutral14.7%
Negative26.5%
Written reviews78 reviews
Positive80.8%
Neutral3.8%
Negative15.4%

VatMap

All ratings22 ratings
Positive86.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.6%
Written reviews127 reviews
Positive78.7%
Neutral4.7%
Negative16.5%

User reviews

CloudAhoy

From 34 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great for flight debriefing
  • 👍 Useful for training
  • 👍 Objective evaluation of flights
  • 👍 Can import data from glass cockpit/EFB
  • 👍 Fun to share with passengers

Room to improve

  • 😞 Terrible grading by CFI assistant
  • 😞 Scoring doesn't align with ACS/reality
  • 😞 App glitching and failing to load
  • 😞 iPad mini no longer plays back 3D
  • 😞 Unresponsive and incomprehensible

VatMap

From 22 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent VATSIM tracking
  • 📊 Detailed map with ATC coverage
  • 🗺️ Integrated airport charts
  • 👥 Ability to track friends
  • 🔍 Comprehensive flight information

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or stability issues
  • 🔄 Inconsistent data refresh
  • 📊 Limited chart coverage for some regions
  • 💰 Ads can be intrusive

Bugs and requests

CloudAhoy

Reported bugs

17 issues
  • App glitching and failing to load
  • iPad mini no longer plays back 3D
  • Sharing feature not working as expected
  • Display with layovers is jumbled
  • App crashed
Show 12 more
  • Won't record routes on iPad
  • Server error during login
  • Cannot get app to work on Mac
  • Redirects to get Google Earth and plugin
  • Support email not working
  • Does not recognize internal GPS
  • Logging stopped after 30 min with BadElf GPS
  • Auto recording setup issue
  • Google Earth not working right on iPad
  • GPS signal issues in some apps
  • Takeoff measured long, landing early
  • Accuracy of recorded speeds not always 100%

Requested features

40 requests
  • Fix grading for CFI assistant
  • Ensure scoring aligns with ACS standards
  • Fix app glitches and loading failures
  • Restore 3D playback on iPad mini
  • Clarify subscription costs
Show 35 more
  • Improve sharing feature
  • Redesign display and layovers
  • Simplify interface
  • Improve 3D view functionality
  • Integrate with ForeFlight for tracking
  • Show course and altitude overlay on approach plates
  • Add more background map options (ELAs, Sectionals)
  • Allow adding airplane type for automatic info
  • Integrate with iWatch to start flight
  • Add in-app 3D playback from pilot's view
  • More features working on iPhone
  • Add WX superposition
  • Allow reviewing flights within the app (not just browser)
  • Improve UI for better clarity
  • Add top-down plus side view
  • Restore app to previous version's functionality
  • Fix server errors for login/registration
  • Improve Mac compatibility
  • Fix support email
  • Make app work on iPhone 5
  • Ensure sufficient data for debrief on all devices
  • Address excessive security requirements
  • Fix password reset issues
  • Ensure internal GPS is recognized
  • Add auto-start option
  • Improve GPS signal tracking
  • Make Google Earth work correctly on iPad
  • Fix auto-recording setup
  • Provide directions for adding procedures to database
  • Improve accuracy of measurements at low altitudes
  • Optimize for glider use
  • Ensure accurate recording of speeds
  • Make it easier to remember to turn on the app
  • Improve 2D GPS data capture
  • Make it possible to add custom procedures

VatMap

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Metar request feature not working
  • Crashes when trying to open weather tab
  • Sector boundaries not showing for some ATC centers

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved visualization of ATC sectors and coverage areas
  • Option to disable dark mode when device is in light mode
  • Integration of audio communication between ATC and pilots
  • Ability to sort pilot and ATC lists by various criteria

In-app purchases

2 purchases

CloudAhoy

One-time2
  • CloudAhoy Standard$64.99
  • CloudAhoy Pro$149.99
None

VatMap

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CloudAhoy free?
CloudAhoy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VatMap free?
VatMap is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CloudAhoy or VatMap?
VatMap is rated higher. CloudAhoy averages 3.5 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while VatMap averages 4.0 from 22 ratings.
Do CloudAhoy or VatMap have ads?
VatMap shows ads; CloudAhoy does not.
Which is updated more often, CloudAhoy or VatMap?
CloudAhoy ships an update every 5 weeks, and VatMap fortnightly. Most recently, CloudAhoy was updated on October 5, 2026 and VatMap on October 3, 2026.

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