# MD500D/E vs FAA Academy

The clearest difference is price: FAA Academy at Free against MD500D/E's $49.99. MD500D/E's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 7 months) and iOS requirement (9.1 vs 17.6). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

FAA Academy is free to download; MD500D/E costs $49.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

MD500D/E ships an update every 2 months, FAA Academy every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MD500D/E | FAA Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $49.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | — | **[4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/faa-academy/id6443592827/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **6** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 22 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.1** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gyronimo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/536898885) | [Federal Aviation Administration](https://appshunter.io/developer/992427108) |

## What reviewers say

### MD500D/E

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/md500de/id951070012)

**In-app purchases:** none


### FAA Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/faa-academy/id6443592827)

This app provides essential information for navigating the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. Find housing, shuttle routes, dining options, campus maps, and weather alerts. Access course materials and bookstore information.

**Highlights:** Housing options, Shuttle route information, Dining details, Campus maps, Weather alerts, Course materials access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MD500D/E free?

MD500D/E costs $49.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is FAA Academy free?

FAA Academy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do MD500D/E or FAA Academy have ads?

Neither MD500D/E nor FAA Academy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MD500D/E or FAA Academy?

MD500D/E ships an update every 2 months, and FAA Academy every 7 months. Most recently, MD500D/E was updated on November 1, 2026 and FAA Academy on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*