Comparison

FlightCheck vs Skyby

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

Head to head
About

FlightCheck

Features
Read full description

FlightCheck makes travel easier by instantly scanning and organizing your boarding pass information. Simply point your camera at any boarding pass QR code to extract passenger details, flight numbers, seat assignments, and more. FEATURES: - Instant QR code scanning with native camera - Support for IATA standard and custom airline formats - Works with most major airline boarding passes - Supported formats: QR, PDF417, Aztec, Data Matrix, Code 128/39, EAN-13/8 - Private and secure - no data leaves your device - Optimized for all iPhone models PERFECT FOR: - Frequent travelers who want quick access to flight details - Travel agents managing multiple bookings - Anyone who wants to organize their travel information - Travelers who need backup access to flight details Your privacy is protected - all scanning happens locally on your device. No internet connection required for basic scanning functionality. Download FlightCheck today and make your travel experience smoother!

About

Skyby

Instantly identify commercial flights overhead without searching. Track airline, origin, destination, and aircraft type in real-time. Set alerts for specific planes or monitor your chosen airspace.

Highlights
  • Instant overhead flight identification
  • Real-time airline, origin, and destination
  • Aircraft type and altitude display
  • Inbound flight indicator
  • Customizable alerts for specific aircraft
  • Automatic logbook of flights
Features
Read full description

Know exactly what's flying over you. Look up, and whatever is overhead appears on screen. Airliners, private jets, helicopters, and more, identified instantly. No searching, no typing, no menus. NOTE: Some features shown in the screenshots require Skyby Pro. Whether you're a planespotter camped at the end of a runway or a casual fan glancing up from home, Skyby reads the sky in real time and shows the aircraft directly above: the airline or operator, the aircraft type, the altitude, and, for scheduled flights, where it came from and where it's headed. An inbound indicator shows when a flight is coming into range. Two ways to use it: Set it and forget it. Prop Skyby on a desk, shelf, or windowsill and leave it running: a quiet radar for your patch of sky. Set an alert for the aircraft you care about, and Skyby chimes the moment one flies over. Pull it out and look up. On a walk or in the backyard, open Skyby and see what's flying over right now. From airliners to helicopters: Skyby identifies it all. The passenger and cargo jets, the private planes and business jets, the helicopters overhead. And yes, if a blimp drifts over, Skyby catches that too. Prefer to keep it to the airlines? Flip on Commercial Only in settings. Set your spot, or take it with you: Use your current location Drop a pin anywhere in the coverage area to watch the planes over home while you're away Or set the pin to live, and Skyby follows you as you move WHAT YOU GET Instant overhead ID for the aircraft above you Adjustable search area, up to 3 nm free (wider with Pro) Alerts that chime when a plane you care about flies over (A380 and 747 built in, free) An inbound indicator when a flight is coming into range Real routes and aircraft types for scheduled flights A logbook that saves your catches automatically Available across the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia/New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Philippines and Singapore today, with more on the way Skyby Pro adds aircraft photos matched to the tail number (when available), custom alerts (any airline, aircraft type, flight number, or tail), your full logbook with search and bookmarks, detailed stats, and an even wider search radius. Skyby runs on iPhone and iPad, and it shines on iPad propped up on a desk or shelf. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

FlightCheck3 screens
Skyby3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FlightCheck at none against Skyby's 3. Skyby's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Skyby sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. FlightCheck asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FlightCheck ships an update every 6 months, Skyby weekly. Both last shipped on October 11, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
FlightCheck versus Skyby: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFlightCheckSkyby
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.4 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—85.7% of reviews
Number of ratings—9 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS16.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLukas WeisheitStoryForward

In-app purchases

None

FlightCheck

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Skyby

Subscriptions2
  • Skyby Pro$2.991 Month
  • Skyby Pro Annual$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Skyby Founder Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is FlightCheck free?
FlightCheck is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Skyby free?
Skyby is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do FlightCheck or Skyby have ads?
Neither FlightCheck nor Skyby shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FlightCheck or Skyby?
FlightCheck ships an update every 6 months, and Skyby weekly. Most recently, FlightCheck was updated on October 11, 2026 and Skyby on October 11, 2026.

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