Comparison

C172 Performance vs Lightspeed App

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

Head to head
About

C172 Performance

This app calculates essential flight performance data for Cessna 172 and 150 aircraft. It covers takeoff, landing, climb, cruise, descent, instrument procedures, and emergencies, with additional tools for holds and glide calculations. Cloud sync ensures your flight plans are accessible across devices.

Highlights
  • Takeoff and landing calculations
  • Climb, cruise, and descent performance
  • Instrument procedure planning
  • Emergency scenario calculations
  • Interactive hold calculator
  • Emergency glide distance calculator
  • Cloud sync for flight plans
Features
Read full description

C172 Performance computes all the useful performance numbers for flight planning for Cessna model 172 and 150 aircraft. It includes calculations for takeoff, landing, climb, cruise, descent, instrument procedures as well as emergencies. It also includes an interactive hold calculator, a risk analysis tool, and an emergency glide distance calculator that handles head and tailwinds. C172 Performance is also available on other mobile devices and as a WebApp (an App that runs in a browser) that runs on a variety of platforms (PC, Mac, tablets, phones). The cloud sync feature allows flight planning profiles entered on any device to be synchronized with your other devices when connected to the Internet. C172 Performance is a free, open-source development effort and has Apps and WebApps for other aircraft. See http://pohperformance.com for complete details.

About

Lightspeed App

Enhance your flight experience with real-time CO sensor monitoring and personalized audio. Record and archive radio conversations for review and training.

Highlights
  • Real-time CO sensor tracking
  • Smart CO alerts
  • Personalized audio equalization (HearingEQity™)
  • Record radio conversations
  • Archive flight recordings
  • Draw flight diagrams
Features
Read full description

A companion app to the Lightspeed Delta Zulu ANR headset, the Lightspeed app for iOS features an array of integrated features to keep pilots and passengers safer during flight. Track CO Sensors for Safer Flying The Lightspeed app allows pilots to check the CO levels in the aircraft during flight, using a CO sensor built right into the Lightspeed Delta Zulu headset. The sensor provides real-time smart alerts via the proprietary Kanari™ smart alert technology. Historical data can be stored, reviewed, and analyzed after use and during the flight(s). Personalize Audio with HearingEQity™ The Lightspeed app introduces a built-in audio equalization system called HearingEQity™ designed to compensate for individual hearing loss. Through an automated 12-frequency hearing test taken through the app, HearingEQity sets the hearing level in each ear in a variety of frequency bands of the Lightspeed Delta Zulu headset to create an individual hearing profile and compensate for any hearing variations between ears. Record Conversations, Archive Flight Recordings, and More... The Lightspeed App allows pilots to record radio conversations, playback transmissions, draw diagrams, and archive flight recordings for post-flight briefings and training.

Screenshots

C172 Performance4 screens
Lightspeed App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: C172 Performance at 90% against Lightspeed App's 12%. C172 Performance also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months). Lightspeed App's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, ratings volume, 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

C172 Performance holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 52 and 49 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of C172 Performance's written reviews are positive against 12% of Lightspeed App's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

C172 Performance ships an update every 2 months, Lightspeed App every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
C172 Performance versus Lightspeed App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterC172 PerformanceLightspeed App
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (52 ratings) — better3.3 (49 ratings)
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews — better11.8% of reviews
Number of ratings52 — better49
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB71 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPOH Performance L.L.C.Lightspeed Aviation

Customer experience

C172 Performance

All ratings52 ratings
Positive98.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral3.3%
Negative6.7%

Lightspeed App

All ratings49 ratings
Positive51.0%
Neutral8.2%
Negative40.8%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive11.8%
Neutral2.9%
Negative85.3%

In-app purchases

None

C172 Performance

No in-app purchases

None

Lightspeed App

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is C172 Performance free?
C172 Performance is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lightspeed App free?
Lightspeed App is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, C172 Performance or Lightspeed App?
C172 Performance is rated higher. C172 Performance averages 4.9 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while Lightspeed App averages 3.3 from 49 ratings.
Do C172 Performance or Lightspeed App have ads?
C172 Performance shows ads; Lightspeed App does not.
Which is updated more often, C172 Performance or Lightspeed App?
C172 Performance ships an update every 2 months, and Lightspeed App every 6 months. Most recently, C172 Performance was updated on September 18, 2026 and Lightspeed App on September 7, 2026.

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