What's the difference between an APP and Radarbox?

[Sun Worshipper]

This is from the latest W&S advert on the back of the March issue of Airliner World.

I'll tell you what the difference is, about £485 and nothing would persuade me to buy a RadarBox when an APP's just as good for general spotting purposes.

They really should look at how they advertise the product more closely.

[Anmer]

I suppose it depends on what one wants to do.

APPs are free or very low cost but one needs access to a remote server.  They offer some excellent features but there is little personalisation.

Next comes PlanePlotter with personalisation (and a local database and Mlat) at relatively low cost if one doesn't have a receiver but it will need access to a remote server to see other PP user's aircraft.

If local aircraft is more important and one doesn't have access to a server, then a low cost receiver with PlanePlotter is a good option.  Or spend a lot more and get into SBS-1, RadarBox and Aurora territory.

I've tried to explain all the options in the What's Radarspotting guide.