Pilot Display vs AeroADSB
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pilot Display
This app serves as a companion for ARS and ION devices, offering pilots navigational aid and real-time aircraft information. Passengers can also view live video feeds and data overlays for enhanced situational awareness.
- Live streaming video (up to 3 channels)
- Customizable data overlays (over 20 fields)
- Multiple video layout options
- Gimbal, Marker, Vehicle Follow, and Camera Follow modes
- User-configurable display fields and text color
- Support for various measurement units
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Pilot Display is the iOS companion application for the Shotover Systems ARS and ION devices. Pilot Display is designed to be viewed by the pilot to provide a navigational aid when flying to a location, or a search pattern. The application can also be used by any passengers or crew who may be interested in information about the aircraft or viewing live video. Pilot Display supports live streaming video for up to three channels. You can view what the cameras are recording or what the ARS screen is displaying all in real-time. Flick up or down on the video to switch channels. Tap the screen to show the settings option and configure Pilot Display. Flick left and right to change the view. Video can be turned on or off at any time and viewed in three different layouts: - Thumbnail Video - Full Screen Video - Full Screen Video with Overlays Pilot Display provides lots of data overlays. Over 20 different data fields are available depending on the current system mode. Gimbal Mode provides information about the gimbal and camera: - Aircraft Absolute Heading - Camera Field of View - Camera Slant Range - Camera Target Absolute Heading - Camera Target Relative Heading - Camera Elevation Absolute Angle - Aircraft Altitude (AMSL / AGL) - Aircraft Speed - Orbit Helper Radius - TGT Coordinates Marker Mode provides information about a specific point of interest in addition to all of the Gimbal Mode information: - Marker Address - Marker Absolute Heading - Marker Relative Heading - Marker Estimated Time to Arrival - Marker Estimated Time Enroute - Marker Ground Distance - Marker Coordinates Vehicle Follow Mode provides information about a search pattern, plus most of the Gimbal Mode information: - Offset shows how far left or right of the ideal search pattern the aircraft is - Next Waypoint Estimated Time To Arrival - Next Waypoint Estimated Time Enroute - Distance Remaining in Search Pattern - Distance Completed in Search Pattern - Distance to next waypoint Camera Follow Mode provides information about a camera search pattern including most information from the Gimbal and Vehicle Follow Modes. No offset is provided in this mode. All fields are user reconfigurable - just tap and select to customize your layout. You can even select the color of the text for enhanced visibility. Fields can be viewed in several measurement units. Your mission system will need to be configured to use a WIFI access point if not already installed. Please contact your support representative to discuss updating and enabling the Pilot Display feature. Please note that ION support will require software version 2.X or above.
AeroADSB
Visualize real-time aircraft traffic on a map using data from ADS-B receivers. It also provides an attitude and heading reference system, displaying airspeed, altitude, and heading. Weather data (METAR/TAF) is available with an unlock.
- Real-time aircraft traffic display
- Map-based visualization
- Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS)
- Airspeed, altitude, and heading display
- METAR/TAF weather data
- Offline operation with receiver
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Receives and displays aircraft traffic data on map from ADS-B receivers (e.g., Stratux, ADSBee, SkyEcho) which support GDL 90 protocol. It also includes an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS; if device provides data) including airspeed, altitude, and heading as well as display of METAR/TAF (one-time unlock necessary). Please check your region for weather data reception availability first before purchasing unlock data feature. Requires GDL 90 data to be sent to (default) port 4000 via UDP (can be changed in settings). Works entirely independent from internet connection and with ADS-B receiver only.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pilot Display at 100% against AeroADSB's 3%. Pilot Display also leads on rating (4.0 vs 1.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). AeroADSB's advantage is ratings volume (28 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads 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
Both are free to download. AeroADSB sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pilot Display asks for nothing beyond the download.
Pilot Display holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AeroADSB has 28 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Pilot Display's written reviews are positive against 3% of AeroADSB's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 11, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pilot Display | AeroADSB |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better | 1.7 (28 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 3.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 28 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Earthscape | Lakehorn AG |
Customer experience
Pilot Display
AeroADSB
In-app purchases
Pilot Display
No in-app purchases
AeroADSB
- Data Unlock$4.49
Questions
Is Pilot Display free?
Is AeroADSB free?
Which has better reviews, Pilot Display or AeroADSB?
Do Pilot Display or AeroADSB have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pilot Display or AeroADSB?
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