Comparison

iPreFlight3 vs FDManager

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

Head to head
About

iPreFlight3

This app helps pilots quickly calculate available payload and fuel for flights. It integrates runway analysis, weight and balance, and flight planning with weather data. Users can prepare flight books and releases, and share them with crew.

Highlights
  • Max Payload Estimator (MPE™)
  • Runway Analysis (RWA)
  • Weight and Balance (WB)
  • Flight Planning with Fuel Calculation
  • Flight Book preparation
  • Flight Release generation and sharing
Read full description

Aircraft Performance Group (APG) has released an application for use on the iPad, which integrates their Runway Analysis (RWA) and Weight and Balance (WB) system with a flight planning module. The combination of these functions allows the user to easily and quickly calculate the available payload for a planned flight – this service is known as MPE™ (Max Payload Estimator). iPreFlight™, has been developed to run on the iPad using the latest iPad technology. iPreFlight™ is a first-of-a-kind product that requires minimum user input to quickly calculate the available payload for a given city pairing, considering takeoff/landing performance limitations, manufacturers WB requirements and flight planning constraints. The flight planning element utilizes manufacturer’s operational data, in conjunction with current forecast weather conditions to calculate the fuel required for the flight. The fuel calculation includes fuel burn (optimized for minimum fuel or time), reserve, alternate and holding fuel. In addition to including the RWA, WB and flight plan, iPreFlight™ allows the user to prepare a Flight Book, containing all textual and graphical weather products for the planned flight. The book may be prepared days in advance of the flight, stored on the iPad and can be automatically updated as products are revised. Approaching departure time the user can easily prepare a Flight Release, consolidating the RWA, WB, flight plan and weather products. The Flight Release may then be emailed, stored on the iPad and/or shared with another iPad, such as the other fight deck crewmembers’, by simply selecting the appropriate distribution method(s). iPreFlight consolidates several preflight functions into one program, not only ensuring accurate takeoff and landing performance limits and correct aircraft loading, but allows pilots to quickly calculate the available payload and fuel requirements for a flight. In addition, iPreflight™ allows pilots to make last minute adjustments with just a few keystrokes. The Flight Release may then be saved on the iPad for review in-flight and shared with the other crewmember, Application Requirements: To use this application you must be an existing APG customer having a Runway Analysis (Point Calculation) and Weight and Balance services account.

About

FDManager

This app automates flight department operations by integrating aircraft cockpit data with back-office administration. It captures flight crew data, merges it with other sources for real-time status, and automates reporting and administrative functions.

Highlights
  • Automated data collection and analysis
  • Real-time aircraft and crew status
  • Automated reporting and administrative functions
  • Offline functionality
  • Safety Management System integration
  • Document control and audit tools
  • Maintenance planning integration
Features
Read full description

Fully integrate the aircraft cockpit with back-office flight department operations and administration, automating the collection of data and enhancing its accuracy, analysis and distribution. FDManager is unique in its ability to capture discrete data entered by flight crew on board the aircraft and merge it with information from other data sources, providing a real time picture of the aircraft and crew status and automating reporting and all of the administrative functions of a flight department. The FDManager App allows Flight Crew, Management and Administration to access all of the Flight Department functions, including; • Generate Flight Logs and other Forms • Document Control • User Status • Aircraft Status • Flight Plans (pending) Once synced with the FDManager server, the App can be used off-line for all its functionality. The FDManager web-based portal integrates all data received form the App and provides a comprehensive, real time picture of the aircraft status, as well as supporting key flight department functions such as; • Safety Management System, with automated process management of Hazard Reporting • Document Control, including audit tools • Maintenance with integration to OEM vendors and maintenance planning systems • Flight Following & Reporting • Reporting (utilisation, fuel, pilot log books entries, etc) Accepted by regulatory authorities worldwide and IS-BAO compliant, FDManager is an acceptable means of compliance for an electronic Flight Log and a complete paperless cockpit. Use of the FDManager App requires a subscription to FDManager which is available on a per-airframe basis

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: FDManager at 100% against iPreFlight3's 5%. FDManager also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.1) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 6 weeks). iPreFlight3's advantage is monetization model (free vs subscription) and ratings volume (55 vs 1). On price, ads, 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

FDManager holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iPreFlight3 has 55 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 5% of iPreFlight3's written reviews are positive against 100% of FDManager's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iPreFlight3 ships an update every 6 weeks, FDManager every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
iPreFlight3 versus FDManager: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriPreFlight3FDManager
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (55 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews5.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings55 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAircraft Performance Group, LLCFDManager Pte Ltd

Customer experience

iPreFlight3

All ratings55 ratings
Positive50.9%
Neutral7.3%
Negative41.8%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive5.0%
Neutral30.0%
Negative65.0%

FDManager

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

iPreFlight3

No in-app purchases

None

FDManager

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iPreFlight3 free?
iPreFlight3 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is FDManager free?
FDManager is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iPreFlight3 or FDManager?
FDManager is rated higher. iPreFlight3 averages 3.1 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while FDManager averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do iPreFlight3 or FDManager have ads?
Neither iPreFlight3 nor FDManager shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iPreFlight3 or FDManager?
iPreFlight3 ships an update every 6 weeks, and FDManager every 11 days. Most recently, iPreFlight3 was updated on October 12, 2026 and FDManager on October 1, 2026.

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