# VatMap vs AutoPylot For Drones

The clearest difference is rating: AutoPylot For Drones at 4.9 against VatMap's 4.0. AutoPylot For Drones also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (5.3K vs 22). VatMap's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. AutoPylot For Drones sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. VatMap asks for nothing beyond the download.

AutoPylot For Drones holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AutoPylot For Drones has 5.3K 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 76% of AutoPylot For Drones's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

VatMap ships an update fortnightly, AutoPylot For Drones monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VatMap | AutoPylot For Drones |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vatmap/id641159906/reviews) | **[4.9 (5.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/autopylot-for-drones/id1612739014/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 22 | **5.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **78.7% of reviews** | 75.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 28 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [wkberg](https://appshunter.io/developer/446191922) | [AutoPylot, INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1612739436) |

## What reviewers say

### VatMap

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vatmap/id641159906)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent VATSIM tracking
- 📊 Detailed map with ATC coverage
- 🗺️ Integrated airport charts
- 👥 Ability to track friends
- 🔍 Comprehensive flight information

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or stability issues
- 🔄 Inconsistent data refresh
- 📊 Limited chart coverage for some regions
- 💰 Ads can be intrusive

**Reported bugs**

- Metar request feature not working
- Crashes when trying to open weather tab
- Sector boundaries not showing for some ATC centers

**Requested features**

- 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


### AutoPylot For Drones

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/autopylot-for-drones/id1612739014)

This app provides FAA-approved services for drone pilots, including B4UFLY status, LAANC airspace authorizations, and operational awareness. It simplifies flight planning with airspace visualization, weather tools, and customizable safety checklists.

**Highlights:** FAA-approved B4UFLY and LAANC services, Instant flight readiness indicator, Simplified airspace visualization, Near real-time LAANC authorizations, Operational awareness of airspace restrictions, Customizable safety checklists, All-in-one mission management

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AutoPylot+ (Monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| AutoPylot+ (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| AutoPylot+ (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| AutoPylot+ (Annual) | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast LAANC approval
- 🚀 Intuitive app
- 🚀 Streamlined flight planning
- 👍 Polished weather maps

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Missing controlled airspaces
- 🐛 Lack of local/regional restriction maps
- 🐛 No iPad support
- 🐛 Inability to edit missions
- 🐛 Restrictive LAANC request shapes

**Reported bugs**

- Miscategorizing flights as requiring ATC approval
- Lack of controlled airspace information in certain regions

**Requested features**

- Ability to edit missions
- Support for polygonal LAANC requests
- Integration with FAA TFR website
- Access to weather data before LAANC submission
- Support for Part 107 and recreational missions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VatMap free?

VatMap is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is AutoPylot For Drones free?

AutoPylot For Drones is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, VatMap or AutoPylot For Drones?

AutoPylot For Drones is rated higher. VatMap averages 4.0 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while AutoPylot For Drones averages 4.9 from 5.3K ratings.

### Do VatMap or AutoPylot For Drones have ads?

VatMap shows ads; AutoPylot For Drones does not.

### Which is updated more often, VatMap or AutoPylot For Drones?

VatMap ships an update fortnightly, and AutoPylot For Drones monthly. Most recently, VatMap was updated on October 13, 2026 and AutoPylot For Drones on October 17, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*