Comparison

DroneLook vs AR Live Preview

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

Head to head
About

DroneLook

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Drone detection. In your hands. Connect a DroneLook Micro to your iPhone and turn nearby Remote ID broadcasts into a live view of drone activity. Follow flight paths, see reported pilot or takeoff locations, and revisit saved flights in immersive 3D. Live detection requires compatible DroneLook receiver hardware, sold separately. You can explore the app without hardware in the built-in Demo Mode. No account or subscription is required. FOLLOW THE FLIGHT Switch between 2D maps and full-screen 3D satellite views without losing your place. Pan, zoom, tilt, and rotate to explore the scene. See flight trails and reported altitude, speed, and identification details when available. REPLAY THE MOMENT Open a saved flight in 3D. Play it back, scrub to a specific moment, and change playback speed to examine the route from another perspective. KNOW WHERE TO LOOK See the reported pilot or takeoff location when it is included in the broadcast. Use AR Finder to view the direction of a selected detection through your iPhone camera. KEEP THE WHOLE STORY Review saved encounters and telemetry. Download past detections from your Micro and export PDF flight reports, GPX tracks, KML maps, or CSV data. MAKE IT YOURS Classify aircraft, choose the map layers you need, and configure local detection and geofence alerts. Detection history and settings stay on your iPhone; you choose when and where to export them. KEEP YOUR MICRO CURRENT Install the firmware included with the app over USB. Check installed and included versions, follow transfer progress, and confirm the node has restarted. Firmware installation works offline; new firmware arrives through app updates. BEFORE YOU START USB-C is the preferred connection; optional Bluetooth supports compatible nodes. Live detection depends on supported Remote ID broadcasts, receiver configuration, range, and radio conditions. Some aircraft do not broadcast Remote ID or do not provide every field. Map imagery requires internet access, detailed 3D coverage varies by location, and flight altitude alignment is approximate. DroneLook is a passive situational-awareness tool. It does not control or interfere with aircraft and is not intended for air traffic control or safety-of-life use.

About

AR Live Preview

Features
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Bring your 3D models to life with AR Live Preview, the ultimate tool for developers, designers, and 3D enthusiasts to inspect, preview, and place USDZ assets in live Augmented Reality (AR). Whether you want to visualize furniture in your living room, test a product design, or showcase interactive 3D art, AR Live Preview provides a seamless, real-scale AR experience directly on your iPhone and iPad. KEY FEATURES: • LIVE AR STUDIO Instantly place any USDZ 3D model onto physical surfaces. Fast and precise surface detection allows you to position, rotate, and scale models with intuitive multi-touch gestures. • EASY USDZ IMPORT Load models your way! Import local USDZ files directly from the Files app, or paste any direct HTTPS link to download and view remote 3D models in real-time. • 3D ASSET LIBRARY Keep your models organized. Browse through pre-built categories like Toys, Electronics, Kitchen, and Music, or quickly search and manage your custom imported assets. • INTEGRATED PHOTO GALLERY Capture high-quality screenshots of your 3D models positioned in the real world. View, share, and export your AR configurations from the built-in gallery. • APPLE QUICK LOOK SUPPORT Take advantage of iOS native Quick Look capabilities to get detailed preview inspects, realistic lighting, and shadow effects. • MULTILINGUAL SUPPORT Use the app comfortably in your preferred native language, including English, Vietnamese, French, German, Japanese, and more. UPGRADE TO PRO: Unlock the full potential of augmented reality with AR Live Preview Pro: - Unlimited USDZ model imports (files and URLs) - Ad-free inspection environment - Priority loading and performance optimization Discover how your 3D creations look in the real world today. Download AR Live Preview now!

Screenshots

DroneLook4 screens
AR Live Preview4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DroneLook at none against AR Live Preview's 4. DroneLook also leads on ads (none vs shown). AR Live Preview's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.6). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. AR Live Preview sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. DroneLook asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DroneLook ships an update every 6 weeks, AR Live Preview every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Ā· 3 level
DroneLook versus AR Live Preview: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDroneLookAR Live Preview
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB68 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexander DingleyQuoc Huynh

In-app purchases

None

DroneLook

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

AR Live Preview

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Pro3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Monthly Pro$7.991 Month
  • Yearly Pro7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Pro$49.99

Questions

Is DroneLook free?
DroneLook is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is AR Live Preview free?
AR Live Preview is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do DroneLook or AR Live Preview have ads?
AR Live Preview shows ads; DroneLook does not.
Which is updated more often, DroneLook or AR Live Preview?
DroneLook ships an update every 6 weeks, and AR Live Preview every 2 months. Most recently, DroneLook was updated on October 31, 2026 and AR Live Preview on November 5, 2026.

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