Comparison

Airways Magazine vs FlightDeck

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

Head to head
About

Airways Magazine

Features
Read full description

Airways Magazine is the monthly magazine about commercial aviation and its history. Each month we explore the latest developments in commercial aviation, review airlines and airports plus interview executives from the aviation industry. In-app purchases available: Single issue for $5.99 (non-subscription) a 6-Month Subscription for $24.99, and a 1-Year Subscription for $49.99. Subscriptions are automatically renewed until canceled. Payment for all purchases will be charged to your iTunes account at the confirmation of your purchase. SUBSCRIBERS’ AUTOMATIC-RENEWAL FEATURE: Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your iTunes account will automatically be charged at the same price for renewal 24-hours prior to the end of the current period (another year for annual subscribers, another month for monthly subscribers) unless you change your subscription preferences in your account settings. You can manage your subscriptions through your Account settings after purchase. No cancellation of the current subscription is allowed during active subscription period. Please see: https://shop.airwaysmag.com/policies/privacy-policy and https://shop.airwaysmag.com/policies/terms-of-service for more information.

About

FlightDeck

This app provides real-time flight tracking with AI-generated insights, offering context beyond raw data. It highlights notable aircraft, weather conditions, and airport details, with customizable alerts and emergency detection.

Highlights
  • Real-time flight tracking map
  • AI-generated flight briefs
  • Notable aircraft spotting
  • Weather intelligence overlays
  • Detailed airport information
  • Customizable flight alerts
  • Emergency squawk detection
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

FlightDeck is the flight tracker that shows you what pilots are saying, live. PILOT MESSAGES (ACARS) Read the messages pilots and their airline send each other, decoded live: diversions, medical emergencies, maintenance problems, and the odd joke. Search any flight and day. TRACK YOUR FLIGHT Follow your flight on your Lock Screen: clearance, pushback, takeoff and landing runways, and the plane flying in that becomes yours. 3D MODE The 3D flight tracking you've seen all over social media. Real planes in their airline's paint, gear and all. Nothing else comes close. REPLAY Go back to any flight from the last 30 days and watch it fly again. ALERTS Write an alert in plain English, or draw one on the map. Get notified about emergency squawks and military and government aircraft. ALSO INCLUDED Weather radar, turbulence and pilot reports, D-ATIS, METARs, plain-English NOTAMs, FAA ground stops and delays, active runways, gates, TSA wait times, and approach charts. SUBSCRIPTION FlightDeck requires a weekly or yearly subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple Account. It renews automatically unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it anytime in your Apple Account settings. Privacy Policy: https://www.tryflightdeck.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.tryflightdeck.com/terms

Screenshots

Airways Magazine4 screens
FlightDeck4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Airways Magazine at none against FlightDeck's shown. Airways Magazine also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). FlightDeck's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 11 months) and chart position (#40 vs unranked). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Airways Magazine sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $24.99 per 6 months and FlightDeck sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Airways Magazine ships an update every 11 months, FlightDeck every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Airways Magazine versus FlightDeck: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAirways MagazineFlightDeck
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.5 (1.5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews—18.1% of reviews
Number of ratings—1.5K — better
Update frequencyEvery 11 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Subscription
Best chart rank—#40 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB163 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperAirways International, Inc.Attracts

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Airways Magazine

Subscriptions2
  • 6-Months Subscription$24.996 Months
  • 1-Year Subscription$49.991 Year
One-time10
  • Issue 116$5.99
  • Issue 118$5.99
  • Issue 115$5.99
Show 7 more
  • issue 104$5.99
  • Issue 117$5.99
  • Issue 114$5.99
  • Issue 113$5.99
  • Issue 106$5.99
  • Issue 102$5.99
  • Airways Magazine3 variants$5.99
6 purchases

FlightDeck

Subscriptions6
  • FlightDeck Pro$6.997 Days
  • FlightDeck Pro$12.997 Days
  • FlightDeck Pro$19.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • FlightDeck Pro$49.991 Year
  • FlightDeck Pro3 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • FlightDeck Pro3 Days trial$69.991 Year

Questions

Is Airways Magazine free?
Airways Magazine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FlightDeck free?
FlightDeck is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Airways Magazine or FlightDeck have ads?
FlightDeck shows ads; Airways Magazine does not.
Which is updated more often, Airways Magazine or FlightDeck?
Airways Magazine ships an update every 11 months, and FlightDeck every 4 days. Most recently, Airways Magazine was updated on October 28, 2026 and FlightDeck on October 29, 2026.

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