Comparison

MSFS MAP NG vs What Plane?

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

Head to head
About

MSFS MAP NG

This app provides a high-performance moving map and charting tools for flight simulators. It offers real-time aircraft position updates, professional charts, and integrated weather and terrain data for enhanced situational awareness. Advanced features and premium content are available through a subscription.

Highlights
  • Real-time aircraft position updates
  • Professional charting (AIP, VFR, Open Flight Maps)
  • Integrated terrain and weather overlays
  • VATSIM view and live METAR/TAF data
  • Flight plan import/creation
  • Remote autopilot control
Features
Read full description

MSFS MAP NG: Your High-Performance EFB & Moving Map Take your flight simulation to the next level with MSFS MAP NG—the ultimate high-performance Moving Map designed for both MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024. Delivering a professional-grade suite of tools at an unbeatable price, MSFS MAP NG is the perfect, powerful alternative to Navigraph and Volanta. ================================================== WHY CHOOSE MSFS MAP NG? ================================================== * Ultra-Smooth Performance: Real-time aircraft position tracking with high-refresh-rate animations and zero stutter. * NEW! Seamless Instrument Streaming (Beta): Stream your cockpit instruments directly without using panel pop-outs—meaning virtually zero FPS impact! (Requires DirectX 12 enabled in graphics settings). * Professional Charting: Access over 65,000 AIP charts, FAA Sectional VFR charts, and Open Flight Maps. * Complete Situational Awareness: Integrated terrain visualization, weather overlays, and elevation profiles keep you fully informed. * Network & Online Ready: Complete VATSIM integration and live METAR/TAF weather reporting for realistic operations. * Effortless Flight Planning: Direct flight plan imports from SimBrief or use the built-in flight planner. ================================================== KEY FEATURES ================================================== * Instrument Streaming (Beta): Smooth, low-latency display streaming without external pop-out windows or performance hits. * Comprehensive Navigation: NDB, VOR, Airway, and Waypoint data overlays. * Detailed Aeronautical Data: Complete airport directory and navigational search. * Live Weather & Radar: Real-time rain radar, live METARs, TAFs, and dynamic terrain rendering. * Traffic Monitoring: Track live AI aircraft and multiplayer traffic in real time. * Remote Cockpit Control: Manipulate your autopilot and COM/NAV radios directly from any tablet, phone, or web browser. ================================================== HOW TO GET STARTED ================================================== 1. Download Desktop Server: Syncing with your simulator requires a lightweight desktop helper application. Download it at: https://www.msfsmap.com 2. Enable DX12: To use the Beta Instrument Streaming feature, ensure DirectX 12 (DX12) is enabled in your simulator's graphics settings. Note: Core features are free to use. Unlock advanced functionality and premium charting with a one time purchase . ================================================== TERMS & FEEDBACK ================================================== We are committed to continuous, long-term updates! We highly value community feedback as we evolve the platform. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

What Plane?

Instantly identify aircraft overhead with this app. It offers a widget for quick glances and a live map for exploring nearby air traffic. View detailed information for planes within 30 nautical miles, with a unique compass ring for direction.

Highlights
  • Instant aircraft identification
  • Home Screen widget for quick access
  • Live map of nearby air traffic
  • Detailed aircraft information
  • Compass Ring bearing indicator
  • Customizable aircraft icons
Features
Read full description

What Plane? was built to answer one question—fast: what’s that aircraft overhead? Everything is designed for instant glanceability, so you can get the answer without “using an app”. Add the widget to your Home Screen and tap to refresh. Tap the custom aircraft icon to jump straight into the live map. Inside the app, controls stay just as simple. Want different units? Tap any stat (altitude, speed, distance) to cycle through options. The default view lets you explore nearby air traffic, and with a single tap on any aircraft—or the menu button—you can browse rich details for every plane within 30 nautical miles. To keep the interface minimal while adding real information density, What Plane? uses the Compass Ring: the panel border doubles as a bearing indicator, showing the aircraft’s direction relative to you at a glance. And when an aircraft is overhead, the widget brings it to life with airline-specific liveries and aircraft models—so your Home Screen matches what’s in the sky. WHATPLANE PRO (OPTIONAL SUBSCRIPTION) Choose the aircraft you want to spot and get an alert when a match is nearby. Chat with Lookout to ask about aircraft recorded in your area while you were away, and prioritise your matches in Dynamic Island. Pro is a monthly auto-renewable subscription, purchased separately in the app, with a one-week free trial for eligible new subscribers. After the trial, the subscription renews at the displayed monthly price unless cancelled. The local price is shown before purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account. Your subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel in your App Store account settings. Privacy: https://whatplane.org/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

MSFS MAP NG4 screens
What Plane?4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: What Plane? at 100% against MSFS MAP NG's 0%. What Plane? also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.8). MSFS MAP NG's advantage is price (Free vs $8.09) and ratings volume (12 vs 1). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases 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

MSFS MAP NG is free to download; What Plane? costs $8.09 up front. MSFS MAP NG sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month and What Plane? sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

What Plane? holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MSFS MAP NG has 12 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of MSFS MAP NG's written reviews are positive against 100% of What Plane?'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MSFS MAP NG ships an update every 5 days, What Plane? weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
MSFS MAP NG versus What Plane?: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMSFS MAP NGWhat Plane?
PriceFree — better$8.09
Rating3.8 (12 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings12 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer圣跃 巩David Wilkinson

Customer experience

MSFS MAP NG

All ratings12 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral8.3%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

What Plane?

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

MSFS MAP NG

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Version (Monthly)3 Days trial$2.491 Month
  • Pro Version (Annually)$17.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium$16.99
1 purchases

What Plane?

Subscriptions1
  • WhatPlane Pro7 Days trial$3.991 Month

Questions

Is MSFS MAP NG free?
MSFS MAP NG is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is What Plane? free?
What Plane? costs $8.09, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MSFS MAP NG or What Plane??
What Plane? is rated higher. MSFS MAP NG averages 3.8 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while What Plane? averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do MSFS MAP NG or What Plane? have ads?
Neither MSFS MAP NG nor What Plane? shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MSFS MAP NG or What Plane??
MSFS MAP NG ships an update every 5 days, and What Plane? weekly. Most recently, MSFS MAP NG was updated on October 30, 2026 and What Plane? on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons