Comparison

FlightDeck vs FlyBud

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

Head to head
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

Every plane in the sky. Every cockpit message. Every emergency, the second it happens. FlightDeck plugs into the same live feeds airlines and ATC run on and turns them into plain English. PILOT MESSAGES (ACARS) The digital messages pilots and dispatchers send worldwide, decoded live the moment they go out. Diversions, emergencies, mechanical issues, and the occasional cockpit humor. No other app shows you this. TRACK YOUR FLIGHT Follow any flight on your Lock Screen with real ATC-grade detail: IFR clearance, pushback, the exact runways it uses, even the inbound jet that becomes your flight. EVERYTHING ELSE Live weather radar, turbulence and pilot reports, D-ATIS, METARs, and plain-English NOTAMs. FAA ground stops and delays, active runways, gates, TSA waits, and approach charts. Emergency squawks are for military and government aircraft, and custom alerts you write in plain English. SUBSCRIPTION FlightDeck requires a subscription to use. We offer a weekly or yearly subscribtion. Privacy Policy: https://www.tryflightdeck.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.tryflightdeck.com/terms

About

FlyBud

This app provides turbulence forecasts and live flight tracking, specifically designed for nervous flyers. It explains potential bumpy rides, offers a breathing guide, and tracks flight status from departure to arrival.

Highlights
  • Turbulence forecast for entire flight route
  • Explanation of turbulence causes
  • Live flight status tracking
  • Preflight reports and reminders
  • Breathing guide for in-flight relaxation
  • Shareable live flight page
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Turbulence forecast and live flight tracker for nervous flyers. See where your flight may get bumpy, before you board. Add your flight and FlyBud builds a turbulence forecast for your exact route and altitude from the same weather models airlines plan with, checks what pilots ahead of you are reporting, and explains the ride in plain words: where the air may get bumpy, for how long, and why. TURBULENCE FORECAST FOR YOUR FLIGHT • A turbulence forecast along your whole route, from takeoff to landing • What each bumpy patch will feel like, and what causes it: jet stream, mountains, storms or a warm afternoon climb • Thunderstorms near your route, and how far away they stay • Pilot reports of turbulence, checked against the forecast • Updated through the day as new weather forecasts arrive LIVE FLIGHT TRACKER • Live flight status: gates, terminals, delays, cancellations and baggage belts • A preflight report three hours before departure, and a reminder two hours out • The weather at your destination airport when you land FOR NERVOUS FLYERS AND FEAR OF FLYING • Relax on board: a breathing guide that works in airplane mode • Good things to know: straight answers on turbulence, engines, lightning and more WHAT'S FREE • Track every flight you take, with no limit • The turbulence forecast for each flight, summed up in plain words • Your preflight report, departure reminder and a welcome when you land • Aircraft type and age, and a breathing guide for your seat • A shareable live flight page for the people meeting you • Your logbook, with a replay of every journey on a 3D globe FLYBUD PRO • Along your route: a turbulence map with storms, clouds and winds that you can scrub through the whole flight • The full Arrival Report: the hours around your landing, conditions at the airport and how recent arrivals ran • Where's my plane?: track your aircraft before it reaches your gate • Flight alerts as they happen: gate changes, delays, cancellations and landing, plus the full updates timeline • Live Activities on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island • Painted planes for your logbook replay FlyBud is information, not advice: always follow your airline and your crew. SUBSCRIPTION FlyBud Pro is an auto-renewing subscription, weekly or yearly. Payment is charged to your Apple ID when you confirm the purchase. It renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within the 24 hours before the period ends. Manage or cancel it anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://flybud.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://flybud.app/privacy

Screenshots

FlightDeck4 screens
FlyBud4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: FlyBud at 100% against FlightDeck's 18%. FlyBud also leads on monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and rating (5.0 vs 4.5). FlightDeck's advantage is ratings volume (1.5K vs 5) and chart position (#27 vs #188). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. FlightDeck sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and FlyBud sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FlyBud holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: FlightDeck has 1.5K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 18% of FlightDeck's written reviews are positive against 100% of FlyBud's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FlightDeck ships an update every 4 days, FlyBud every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
FlightDeck versus FlyBud: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFlightDeckFlyBud
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (1.5K ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews18.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.5K — better5
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
Best chart rank#27 — better#188
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size139 MB110 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAttractsJaume Ros

Customer experience

FlightDeck

All ratings1,462 ratings
Positive86.6%
Neutral1.7%
Negative11.7%
Written reviews279 reviews
Positive18.3%
Neutral10.8%
Negative71.0%

FlyBud

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

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
2 purchases

FlyBud

Subscriptions2
  • FlyBud Pro Weekly$5.997 Days
  • FlyBud Pro - Annual$59.991 Year

Questions

Is FlightDeck free?
FlightDeck is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FlyBud free?
FlyBud is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, FlightDeck or FlyBud?
FlyBud is rated higher. FlightDeck averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.5K ratings, while FlyBud averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do FlightDeck or FlyBud have ads?
Both FlightDeck and FlyBud show ads.
Which is updated more often, FlightDeck or FlyBud?
FlightDeck ships an update every 4 days, and FlyBud every 3 days. Most recently, FlightDeck was updated on October 25, 2026 and FlyBud on October 25, 2026.
Which is more popular, FlightDeck or FlyBud?
FlightDeck currently peaks at #27 in the App Store charts, and FlyBud at #188. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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