Comparison

VatMap vs spacedesk

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

Head to head
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!

About

spacedesk

Extend your Windows PC's desktop to another device wirelessly or via USB. Use your tablet or phone as a drawing tablet or a portable second monitor for travel and productivity.

Highlights
  • Windows desktop extension
  • Screen mirroring
  • Remote desktop viewer
  • Drawing tablet functionality
  • Wireless display monitor
  • USB display monitor
  • Remote control
Features
Read full description

Windows computer desktop extension, mirroring and remoting tool for WiFi, USB or LAN. Supports applications like: - Screen Cast (to television, tablet or smart phone) - Desktop Remoting Viewer (over USB and Local Area Network) - Drawing Tablet (drawing and painting with digitizer pen) - Wireless Display Monitor (similar to Miracast, RDP, AirPlay and Sidecar) - USB Display Monitor (similar to DisplayLink) - Remote Access (over USB link, WiFi and LAN) - Remote Control (wireless and wired) - Screen Streaming (including audio) - Screen Mirroring (over the air and via cable) - Screen Cloning - Extension Screen - Windows Desktop Workspace Extension - Windows Desktop Duplication (clone) - Windows Desktop Streaming - Personal Computer Desktop Presenter - Virtual Monitor for Desktop PC - Second Display On The Go - TV, mobile or tablet screen as Side by Side Display - Alternative to Miracast, AirPlay and Sidecar - Portable Multimonitor Screen for Travel - Access main computer from mobile device - Software KVM-Switch (Keyboard Video Mouse) - Software Display Hub - Software Display Switch - Projector Screen Viewer - Input Console - Input Terminal - Tablet Input Device - Windows Graphics Tablet App - Windows Tablet as sketchbook for drawing artwork - Creative Video Wall App - Video Wall w. Any Angle Rotation Instruction manual, documentation and detailed setup: https://manual.spacedesk.net Quick Guide: 1. Install spacedesk DRIVER software for Windows Primary PC. Download from: https://www.spacedesk.net 2. Install this spacedesk Viewer app for iOS. 3. Open this spacedesk Viewer app and connect to Windows Primary PC. Connection: USB or LAN (Local Area Network). LAN: Driver and Viewer must be on the same network - via Mobile Hotspot Note: Does NOT need internet connection! The Windows Primary Machine running spacedesk Driver... ...supports Windows 11, Windows 10 or Windows 8.1. Apple Macs are not supported. Dual monitor and multi monitor configurations are supported. Needs spacedesk drivers installed. Download: https://www.spacedesk.net The Secondary Machine or Device (iOS network display client)... ...is an iPad, iPhone or device running the spacedesk iOS app. The wireless and wired cable connection... ...connects Windows Primary Machine to Secondary Machine or Device over USB, LAN (Local Area Network e.g. Ethernet) and/or WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). Local Area Network connection can be wired or over WiFi. TCP/IP network protocol is required. More information on: https://www.spacedesk.net Instruction Manual: https://manual.spacedesk.net/ Support Forum: https://forum.spacedesk.net/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/spacedesk/330909083726073 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkWZSwBD-XY — LIGHTNING FAST — To achieve unparalleled performance and display quality with zero lag, use cable connection over USB or Local Area Network. Try to circumvent WiFi and network routers. E.g. configure Windows PC or iOS device as WiFi Access Point (Hotspot) and connect directly before connecting spacedesk. Please check chapter "Performance Tuning" in the instruction manual: https://manual.spacedesk.net — REMOTE CONTROL INPUT AND OUTPUT PERIPHERAL ACCESSORIES — - Touchscreen (multitouch and single touch - Touchpad - Mouse Pointer Control - Keyboard - Pressure Sensitive Stylus Pen - Audio Speaker — SETTINGS AND OPTIONS — - Landscape View - Portrait View — SYSTEM SUPPORT — Supported are iOS versions 11.x+ (including MacOS on Apple Silicon Chips) and PCs with Windows 11, Windows 10 and Windows 8.1. Apple Macs are not supported.

Screenshots

VatMap4 screens
spacedesk4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: spacedesk at 4.7 against VatMap's 4.0. spacedesk also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (2.2K vs 22). VatMap's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11). On price, review sentiment, update cadence 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. spacedesk sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. VatMap asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

spacedesk holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: spacedesk has 2.2K ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of VatMap's written reviews are positive against 71% of spacedesk's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VatMap ships an update fortnightly, spacedesk every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
VatMap versus spacedesk: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVatMapspacedesk
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (22 ratings)4.7 (2.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews78.7% of reviews — better71.2% of reviews
Number of ratings222.2K — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better9.3
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerwkbergdatronicsoft Technology GmbH

Customer experience

VatMap

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

spacedesk

All ratings2,195 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.2%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews897 reviews
Positive71.2%
Neutral7.2%
Negative21.5%

Bugs and requests

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

spacedesk

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

VatMap

No in-app purchases

11 purchases

spacedesk

One-time11
  • Business License: 46-50 Conn.$9.00
  • Business License: 41-45 Conn.$18.00
  • Business License: 1 connection$19.00
Show 8 more
  • Business License: 36-40 Conn.$25.00
  • Business License: 31-35 Conn.$35.00
  • Business License: 26-30 Conn.$45.00
  • Business License: 21-25 Conn.$50.00
  • Business License: 16-20 Conn.$59.00
  • Business License: 11-15 Conn.$60.00
  • Business License: 6-10 Conn.$70.00
  • Business License: 2-5 Conn.$79.00

Questions

Is VatMap free?
VatMap is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is spacedesk free?
spacedesk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, VatMap or spacedesk?
spacedesk is rated higher. VatMap averages 4.0 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while spacedesk averages 4.7 from 2.2K ratings.
Do VatMap or spacedesk have ads?
VatMap shows ads; spacedesk does not.
Which is updated more often, VatMap or spacedesk?
VatMap ships an update fortnightly, and spacedesk every 3 weeks. Most recently, VatMap was updated on October 13, 2026 and spacedesk on October 12, 2026.

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