Readback vs Scan & Trace
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Readback
Streamline your air traffic control note-taking with this utility. Quickly record clearances and updates, eliminating the need for a physical scratchpad. Maintain a comprehensive log of all your flight information for better organization.
- Quickly capture ATC clearances
- Record ATIS updates
- Digital log of all clearances
- Printable flight log
- Add flight number to log
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Good morning, Captain! Take your ATC note-taking to the next level. This app allows you to quickly capture ATC clearances, ATIS updates, and more—no more relying on a scratchpad, which isn’t the safest practice. Even the fastest controllers won’t slow you down. Jot down everything with ease and keep a complete log of all your clearances. Whether you’re taxiing at JFK, enroute to Los Angeles, or descending into Heathrow, this app ensures you stay organized and informed. You can even print your log and add your flight number for a full flight record. A must-have tool for every phase of flight.
Scan & Trace
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Scan & Trace is a valuable, time-saving app for pilots and crew. The app enables you to quickly gain access to information about status on suit or to register your suit for service or repairs. Open the app, hover your phone/tablet over the barcode of the suit and you’ll be taken to the VIKING portal.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Scan & Trace at none against Readback's 5. Scan & Trace also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 12.0). Readback's advantage is update cadence (every 6 months vs every 18 months). On price and ads 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
Both are free to download. Readback sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Scan & Trace asks for nothing beyond the download.
Readback ships an update every 6 months, Scan & Trace every 18 months. The most recent releases landed on June 8, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Readback | Scan & Trace |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.3 (8 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months — better | Every 18 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 9.3 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 29 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Santiago Borja Lopez | Viking Life-saving Equipment AS |
In-app purchases
Readback
- Clearance Keypad$0.99
- Qwerty Keypad$0.99
- Azerty Keypad$0.99
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- CDU Keypad$0.99
- Qwertz Keypad$0.99
Scan & Trace
No in-app purchases
