Comparison

Model Aviation vs RCM&E

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

Head to head
About

Model Aviation

Access the latest aeromodeling news, features, and tutorials from a leading model aviation organization. This app offers exclusive tablet content like photos and videos, enhancing the digital magazine experience with rich media.

Highlights
  • Latest aeromodeling news
  • In-depth features and tutorials
  • Tablet-exclusive photos and videos
  • Bonus digital content
  • Reformatted for tablet experience
Features
Read full description

Get the latest aeromodeling news, features, and tutorials from the world's largest model aviation organization on your tablet device. Experience the Academy of Model Aeronautics' Model Aviation magazine tablet app. This app goes well beyond the print edition with tablet-exclusive photos, videos, and bonus content. Inside Model Aviation's tablet app you'll find many of the features, columns, and news you love in the print edition, only reformatted to utilize the media-rich features of your tablet device. AMA MEMBERS - get the app for free at www.ModelAviation.com/digital or call 765-287-1256. Single Issue - $5.99 (no automatic renewal) 12-Month Subscription (12 monthly issues plus any bonus content) - $59.99 AMA MEMBERS - get the app for free at www.ModelAviation.com/digital or call 765-287-1256. SUBSCRIBERS' AUTOMATIC-RENEWAL FEATURE: If you purchase a subscription within the app, your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account when you confirm your purchase and will automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off within you iTunes Account Settings.

About

RCM&E

This app delivers the latest in radio control flying, featuring in-depth reviews, build articles, and expert columns. Access current and past issues of the leading UK model flying magazine, with free plans included in print editions.

Highlights
  • In-depth reviews of R/C models and electronics
  • Informative features and opinionated columns
  • Free plans with accompanying build articles
  • Access to current and back issues
  • User accounts for purchase protection
  • Multiple subscription options
Features
Read full description

Catering for all aspects of R/C flying, Radio Control Models and Electronics first appeared in May 1960 and is the biggest and best selling monthly model flying magazine in the United Kingdom with a large overseas readership. RCM&E has brought benchmark levels of writing and photography to the hobby and each issue has extensive reviews, informative features and opinionated columns from a number of well-known contributors. With every Print issue you'll find a high-quality free plan along with an accompanying build article. RCM&E publishes 13 great issues a year. ---------------------------------------------- This is a free app download. Within the app users can purchase the current issue and back issues. Subscriptions are also available within the application. A subscription will start from the latest regular issue at the time of purchase. -The subscription will renew automatically unless cancelled more than 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will be charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of the current period, for the same duration and at the current subscription rate for the product. -You may turn off the auto-renewal of subscriptions through your Account Settings, however you are not able to cancel the current subscription during its active period. -Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when a subscription to that publication is purchased. -If a subscription offers a free trial, at the end of the trial period, you will be charged the full price of the subscription. You may cancel a subscription during its free trial period via the subscription settings on your iTunes account. This must be done 24 hours before the end of the subscription period to avoid being charged. Users can register for/ login to a pocketmags account in-app. This will protect their issues in the case of a lost device and allow browsing of purchases on multiple platforms. Existing pocketmags users can retrieve their purchases by logging into their account. We recommend loading the app for the first time in a wi-fi area so that all issue data is retrieved. If your app will not load past the splash page after a first install or an update, please delete and reinstall the app from the App Store Help and frequently asked questions can be accessed in-app and on pocketmags. If you have any problems at all please do not hesitate to contact us: help@pocketmags.com -------------------- You can find our privacy policy here: http://www.pocketmags.com/privacy.aspx You can find our terms and conditions here: http://www.pocketmags.com/terms.aspx

Screenshots

Model Aviation4 screens
RCM&E4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: RCM&E at 4.6 against Model Aviation's 1.8. RCM&E also leads on review sentiment (56% vs 14%). Model Aviation's advantage is chart position (#204 vs unranked) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 8 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Model Aviation sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $59.99 per year and RCM&E sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per 3 months. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RCM&E holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 14% of Model Aviation's written reviews are positive against 56% of RCM&E's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Model Aviation ships an update every 4 months, RCM&E every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Model Aviation versus RCM&E: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterModel AviationRCM&E
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.8 (25 ratings)4.6 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews14.3% of reviews56.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings25 — better14
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#204 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.2 — better11.2
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Academy of Model AeronauticsMortons Media Group Ltd

Customer experience

Model Aviation

All ratings25 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative76.0%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive14.3%
Neutral2.9%
Negative82.9%

RCM&E

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive56.3%
Neutral12.5%
Negative31.3%

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Model Aviation

Subscriptions1
  • Annual Offer$59.991 Year
One-time10
  • Model Aviation February 2016$3.99
  • Model Aviation September 2012$5.99
  • Model Aviation Oct 2012$5.99
Show 7 more
  • Model Aviation November 2012$5.99
  • Model Aviation December 2012$5.99
  • January 2013$5.99
  • February 2013$5.99
  • March 2013$5.99
  • April 2013$5.99
  • Model Aviation$5.99
11 purchases

RCM&E

Subscriptions3
  • RCM&E Auto-Renewable Subscription1 Month trial$12.993 Months
  • RCM&E Auto-Renewable Subscription1 Month trial$26.996 Months
  • RCM&E Auto-Renewable Subscription1 Month trial$36.991 Year
One-time8
  • April 2013 (id:738909)$4.99
  • March 2013 (id:736741)$4.99
  • Autumn Special ... (id:739560)$4.99
Show 5 more
  • Model Flying Wo... (id:749308)$4.99
  • February 2025 (pp:1112159)$4.99
  • Oct-16 (id:792353)$5.99
  • Nov-16 (id:792357)$5.99
  • Dec-16 (id:792359)$5.99

Questions

Is Model Aviation free?
Model Aviation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is RCM&E free?
RCM&E is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Model Aviation or RCM&E?
RCM&E is rated higher. Model Aviation averages 1.8 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while RCM&E averages 4.6 from 14 ratings.
Do Model Aviation or RCM&E have ads?
Neither Model Aviation nor RCM&E shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Model Aviation or RCM&E?
Model Aviation ships an update every 4 months, and RCM&E every 8 months. Most recently, Model Aviation was updated on October 12, 2026 and RCM&E on October 15, 2026.

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