Comparison

smartMFD by Guardian Avionics vs TruAirspeed

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

Head to head
About

smartMFD by Guardian Avionics

This app transforms your mobile device into a multifunction display for aircraft, showing flight data, engine performance, and navigation charts. It records flight data for later analysis and provides alerts for carbon monoxide levels and pulse oximetry when connected to compatible hardware.

Highlights
  • Multifunction display (MFD)
  • Flight data recording and analysis
  • Engine performance monitoring
  • VFR/IFR charts and approach plates
  • CO level alerts
  • Pulse oximeter readings
Read full description

The Guardian Avionics smartMFD application for Apple iOS is what makes the smartPlane system a true budget-friendly multifunction display for your aircraft. Powered with data from the smartPlane product line, the smartMFD provides a user-friendly display of aircraft positional and attitude data, engine performance data, and VFR/IFR charts and approach plates for easy reference. The smartMFD app also provides CO level alerts and pulse oximeter readings (when connected to smartLink 555). The smartMFD application records all flight data and automatically uploads it to the smartData web app from Guardian Avionics -- allowing you to analyze engine performance trends and review past flight path data. When used with a smartPanel dock for the iPad or iPhone in your instrument panel - smartMFD can provide you everything you need in a multifunction display for a fraction of the cost of many others on the market. What can smartMFD do? ----- Easy to understand MFD display. GPS location, speed, altitude, and engine data recording with automatic uploading to smartCloud web app. Accurate airspeed and altitude data display. Attitude display with AHRS equipped smartPlane products. Configurable engine monitor display with custom warning thresholds. VFR & IFR sectional chart display with airport information and approach plates. METAR & TAF weather data with AIRMET/SIGMET map overlays. Carbon Monoxide level reporting and alerting when connected to smartPlane products. Pulse oximeter data display (smartLink 555 only). **Requires Guardian Avionics smartLink 554, 555, 650, or 851 for full functionality. --- App access to the health app data to fetch heart rate and blood oxygen level to show in the app. --- In-App Purchases: Plan 1 - DATA ACCESS It includes features like EIS, Engine gauges, Push Notification, iWatch Basic, 2D Map Weather, Chart VFR, Pilot logs. Graphs and Google Earth Plan 2 - VFR It includes all Plan 1 features + iWatch hearth rate and Flight Bag Plan 3 - VFR It includes all Plan 2 features + Chart IFR and Squawk Form Plan 4 - POWER USER It includes all Plan 3 features + Air Show for Passengers Plan 5 - Commercial User It includes all Plan 4 features + Multiple Aircraft users --- Price may vary by location. Subscriptions will be charged to your credit card through your iTunes account. Your subscription will automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You will not be able to cancel the subscription once activated. Manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. --- Privacy Policy: https://guardianavionicsdata.com/Device/PrivacyPolicy Terms of Service: https://guardianavionicsdata.com/Device/TermsConditions

About

TruAirspeed

This utility calculates true airspeed, pressure altitude, density altitude, and Mach number. It accounts for compressibility effects and offers unit choices and keypad styles. Users can also input a correction factor for their airspeed indicator.

Highlights
  • True airspeed calculation
  • Pressure and density altitude calculation
  • Mach number calculation
  • Compressibility effects accounted for
  • Choice of input/result units
  • Calculator or telephone keypad options
  • Airspeed indicator correction factor
Features
Read full description

TruAirspeed is a True Airspeed Calculator for the iPhone and iPad. It's a bit different from other true airspeed calculators, in which the pressure altitude is an input. This requires resetting the altimeter to the standard sea level pressure of 29.92"Hg to read the pressure altitude. With TruAirspeed, you input the indicated altitude and the Kollsman window's pressure setting — the app then calculates the pressure altitude, density altitude, true airspeed and mach number for you. The calculations involved take full account of compressibility effects, but not shock waves, so it's limited to subsonic, non-transonic flight only. You have a choice of units for inputs and results, and you may choose either a calculator-style keypad (top row: 7-8-9) or a telephone-style keypad (top row: 1-2-3). You may also set a correction factor for your bird's airspeed indicator/pitot-static system, if you know it (mine is 0.95).

Screenshots

smartMFD by Guardian Avionics3 screens
TruAirspeed4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: TruAirspeed at 4.1 against smartMFD by Guardian Avionics's 3.7. TruAirspeed also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). smartMFD by Guardian Avionics's advantage is update cadence (every 3 months vs every 24 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

TruAirspeed holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 8 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

smartMFD by Guardian Avionics ships an update every 3 months, TruAirspeed every 24 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
smartMFD by Guardian Avionics versus TruAirspeed: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametersmartMFD by Guardian AvionicsTruAirspeed
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)4.1 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—71.4% of reviews
Number of ratings38 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 24 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size121 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCo guardian llcJames Petty

Customer experience

smartMFD by Guardian Avionics

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

TruAirspeed

All ratings8 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%

In-app purchases

None

smartMFD by Guardian Avionics

No in-app purchases

None

TruAirspeed

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is smartMFD by Guardian Avionics free?
smartMFD by Guardian Avionics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is TruAirspeed free?
TruAirspeed is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, smartMFD by Guardian Avionics or TruAirspeed?
TruAirspeed is rated higher. smartMFD by Guardian Avionics averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while TruAirspeed averages 4.1 from 8 ratings.
Do smartMFD by Guardian Avionics or TruAirspeed have ads?
Neither smartMFD by Guardian Avionics nor TruAirspeed shows ads.
Which is updated more often, smartMFD by Guardian Avionics or TruAirspeed?
smartMFD by Guardian Avionics ships an update every 3 months, and TruAirspeed every 24 months. Most recently, smartMFD by Guardian Avionics was updated on November 6, 2026 and TruAirspeed on November 1, 2026.

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