Comparison

SkyDemon vs CaptainVFR

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

Head to head
About

SkyDemon

Plan and navigate VFR flights across Europe with detailed aeronautical charts, dynamic airspace clipping, and real-time hazard warnings. Features include virtual radar, automated weather briefings, and comprehensive flight logging for pilots.

Highlights
  • Vector aeronautical charts with dynamic airspace clipping
  • Intuitive route planning and modification
  • Virtual Radar for hazard and airspace visualization
  • Automated weather briefings (TAF, METAR, SIGMET)
  • Real-time hazard and airspace warnings
  • Georeferenced airfield plates and documents
  • Fuel, weight, and balance calculations
Features
Read full description

SkyDemon is Europe's favourite software for VFR flight planning and in-flight navigation. Use this app to access your SkyDemon subscription on your iOS device, unlocking SkyDemon's powerful features while on the move. FLIGHT PLANNING FEATURES - SkyDemon vector charts are the clearest aeronautical charts you'll ever use, with dynamic airspace clipping and choice of map layers - Route planning is as simple as touching consecutive waypoints and dragging to make changes - Virtual Radar shows how your route relates to airspace, terrain, obstructions and other features - Pilot Log facility calculates headings and groundspeeds from actual wind data, and shows useful frequencies - Plates and other documents for relevant airfields are displayed automatically as you plan, and many are available georeferenced for use in flight - Intuitive pan, pinch and rotate support with no loss of map clarity or text legibility - File a VFR flightplan for your route directly to air traffic controllers - Automatic TAF, METAR and SIGMET briefing as you plan a route, with graphical decoding - Rainfall data can be overlaid on the main map, with animation, showing the trend of rainfall over time - Integration of GAFOR route forecasts for Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia - Both narrow-route and area NOTAM briefings available, updated as you plan - Advanced NOTAM graphical interpretation and depiction on the main map - Easily print your PLOG and the output from various briefings - Warnings for airspace and other potential hazards to your flight, updated in real time - Airfield Admin Information shows useful contacts and other details for airfields featured in our charts - Forecast winds aloft are automatically retrieved for the flight time and displayed on the map - Create an advanced flight performance profile for each aircraft you use - ATS Routes mode offers an alternative chart presentation for flight along airways - Accurate fuel, weight and balance calculations including flight costings - Create an unlimited number of user-defined waypoints - Analyse your track logs for posterity - Choose between six different vector chart styles - Extensive European chart coverage as standard GPS NAVIGATION FEATURES - Intelligent warnings for approaching airspace, NOTAM, obstacles, terrain and other hazards - Virtual Radar shows a side-on projection of all approaching features and how your trajectory relates to them - Vector map automatically follows the aircraft in north up, track up or course up orientation - Clear and concise instruments show you flight statistics and help keep you on track - An HSI/ILS instrument helps you keep to your planned route and line up early for approach - Live Pilot Log shows progress through your route, ETAs, ATAs and useful frequencies based on your current position - TerrainSafe dynamically colours mountainous terrain around you to quickly identify safer areas - Direct To allows easy re-routing in a hurry by picking from a selection of nearby airfields - Approach Information shows runway diagrams, TAF, METAR, NOTAM and other airfield details useful for making an approach - Live updates of TAF and METAR while in flight, with associated alerts* - Extended runway centrelines appear automatically on the map as you near your destination airfield - Permanent display of position relative to nearest well-known waypoint, for position reporting - Easy changing of the planned route while in flight by touching and dragging Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. * Internet connection required for live weather update while in flight

About

CaptainVFR

This app provides comprehensive flight planning and navigation tools for VFR pilots. It offers interactive aviation maps, flight planning assistance, airport data, and essential pilot tools for safe and efficient visual flight rules operations.

Highlights
  • Interactive aviation maps with offline support
  • Intuitive flight planning with route calculations
  • Comprehensive airport database with weather and NOTAMs
  • Essential pilot tools including E6B computer
  • Real-time GPS tracking and moving map
  • Offline capability for core navigation
Features
Read full description

Captain VFR - Professional Flight Planning & Navigation Transform your VFR flying experience with Captain VFR, the comprehensive flight planning and navigation app designed by pilots, for pilots. Whether you're a student pilot or seasoned aviator, Captain VFR provides all the tools you need for safe and efficient visual flight rules operations. KEY FEATURES Interactive Aviation Maps • High-resolution worldwide coverage with offline support • Real-time GPS tracking with moving map display • Customizable map layers including airspaces, navaids, and reporting points • Smooth performance optimized for all devices Flight Planning Made Simple • Intuitive drag-and-drop waypoint management • Automatic route calculations with distance, time, and fuel estimates • Multiple aircraft profiles with performance data • Save and organize unlimited flight plans Comprehensive Airport Database • Detailed information for thousands of airports worldwide • Runway data, frequencies, and elevation details • Real-time METAR/TAF weather with color-coded flight categories • NOTAM information for US and European airports Essential Pilot Tools • Weight and balance calculator with graphical CG display • Complete E6B flight computer functions • Fuel consumption and endurance calculations • Wind correction and crosswind components • Density altitude calculator • Unit conversions for all aviation measurements Navigation & Tracking • HSI-style compass with GPS track • Real-time altitude and speed display • Flight path recording with altitude profile • Estimated time of arrival calculations • Nearest airport finder for emergencies Professional Features • Dark mode for night flying • Comprehensive checklist management • Aircraft performance profiles • Pilot logbook integration ready • Weather overlay with METAR symbols • Airspace alerts and information Offline Capability • Download maps for offline use • No internet required for core navigation features • Cached weather and airport data • Perfect for remote area flying Why Pilots Choose Captain VFR: • Reliable - Trusted by thousands of pilots worldwide • Intuitive - Clean interface designed for cockpit use • Comprehensive - Everything you need in one app • Accurate - Regular database updates • Safe - Built with flight safety as top priority Perfect For: • Student pilots learning navigation • Private pilots planning cross-countries• Flight instructors teaching VFR procedures • Commercial pilots flying VFR legs • Anyone passionate about general aviation Important Notice: Captain VFR is designed as a supplementary tool for VFR flight planning and situational awareness. Always use official charts and follow regulations for actual navigation. Not for use as primary navigation. Regular Updates Include: • New features based on pilot feedback • Updated airport and navaid databases • Performance improvements • Enhanced weather integration • Bug fixes and stability improvements Join the Captain VFR community and experience the difference a pilot-centric app makes. Download now and take your first flight plan for free! Questions or suggestions? We love hearing from pilots! Contact us through the app or visit our support page. Safe flying!

Screenshots

SkyDemon4 screens
CaptainVFR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CaptainVFR at none against SkyDemon's 1. CaptainVFR also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). SkyDemon's advantage is ratings volume (549 vs 1). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. SkyDemon sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CaptainVFR asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CaptainVFR holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SkyDemon has 549 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SkyDemon ships an update monthly, CaptainVFR every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SkyDemon versus CaptainVFR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSkyDemonCaptainVFR
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (549 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews92.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings549 — better1
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB81 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDivelements LimitedQuality Unit s.r.o.

Customer experience

SkyDemon

All ratings549 ratings
Positive95.1%
Neutral2.9%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews155 reviews
Positive92.3%
Neutral3.2%
Negative4.5%

CaptainVFR

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

SkyDemon

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Incompatible with latest iPad OS
  • Crashes when trying to download all charts

Requested features

6 requests
  • Print PLOG or route on iPad
  • Improved logbook functionality
  • Support for official CAA/NATS charts
  • Synthetic vision
  • IFR flight plan filing to Eurocontrol
Show 1 more
  • Integration with Jeppesen IFR charts

CaptainVFR

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

SkyDemon

One-time1
  • SkyDemon iOS Subscription$199.99
None

CaptainVFR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SkyDemon free?
SkyDemon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CaptainVFR free?
CaptainVFR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SkyDemon or CaptainVFR?
CaptainVFR is rated higher. SkyDemon averages 4.8 out of 5 from 549 ratings, while CaptainVFR averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do SkyDemon or CaptainVFR have ads?
Neither SkyDemon nor CaptainVFR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SkyDemon or CaptainVFR?
SkyDemon ships an update monthly, and CaptainVFR every 4 days. Most recently, SkyDemon was updated on October 15, 2026 and CaptainVFR on October 8, 2026.

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