Comparison

PilotPal vs Flight Sim Deck

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

Head to head
About

PilotPal

This app provides FAA aviation airport charts and facility directories for easy flight planning. Access airport diagrams, frequencies, elevation, and helipad information offline. Stay updated with monthly chart revisions and quickly find nearby or favorite airports.

Highlights
  • Offline charts
  • Airport Facility Directories
  • Airport Diagrams
  • Airport Information (Maps, Frequencies, Elevation, Helipads)
  • Monthly updated FAA charts
  • Nearby and favorite airports
  • Airport search
Features
Read full description

PilotPal is the easiest way to flight plan. PilotPal brings the FAA airport facility directory and Airport Diagrams to your pocket. Features: • Offline Charts: Easily download airports or entire regions for offline use • Airport Facility Directories • Airport Diagrams • Weather via METAR and TAF • Wind maps • Airport Information including: • Maps • Frequencies • Elevation • Helipads • Updated FAA charts every month so you're always up to date. • Nearby airports: Easily find airports around you • Favorite airports: Save your favorites for quick access • Airport search: Easily find any airport or helipad • Dark mode • iPad support Built by real pilots with a love for aviation Feedback or issues: tinybyteapps@gmail.com Legal: Airport facility directories and airport diagrams are provided by the FAA. Always consult appropriate and available sources to prepare for your flight. Our privacy policy is available at: https://pilotpal-1139.firebaseapp.com/privacypolicy.htm Our terms of service is available at: https://pilotpal-1139.firebaseapp.com/termsofuse.html

About

Flight Sim Deck

This app acts as a comprehensive electronic flight bag for virtual pilots using X-Plane. It centralizes flight information, instrument displays, checklists, and weather data, transforming your device into a connected cockpit companion.

Highlights
  • Real-time instrument streaming (PFD/MFD)
  • SimBrief OFP import
  • Interactive checklists
  • METAR weather and airport database
  • FMS/WebFMC control
  • Integrated scratchpad and PDF reader
Features
Read full description

Flight Sim Deck is the essential flight companion for virtual pilots on X-Plane. Designed to replace multiple windows and third-party apps, this application transforms your device into a comprehensive and connected Electronic Flight Bag (EFB). Whether you are a long-haul airline captain or a general aviation enthusiast, Flight Sim Deck centralizes everything you need for an immersive and organized flight. Key Features: High-Fidelity Instrument Streaming: Display and interact with your aircraft's Primary Flight Display (PFD) and Multi-Function Display (MFD) in real-time via our dedicated plugin. Advanced Themes: Enjoy immersive designs specifically for the G1000 and Embraer E-Jets (X-Crafts compatible), including texture streaming for perfect readability. SimBrief Integration: Instantly import your complete Operational Flight Plan (OFP) by simply entering your SimBrief ID. Access routes, fuel, and payloads. FMS / WebFMC Control: Enter your flight plans and manage the Flight Management Computer (CDU) directly from your tablet's touchscreen (requires WebFMC plugin for some functions). Integrated Checklists: Access a vast library of interactive checklists via SimChecklist, automatically adapted to your aircraft type. Weather & Airports: Automatic METAR retrieval for your departure and arrival airports. Includes an airport database to quickly find diversion airfields. Flight Tools: Scratchpad: Take quick notes (clearances, frequencies) directly in the app. PDF Reader: Consult your navigation charts and flight documents. Voice Announcements: Be audibly alerted to critical events (e.g., autopilot disconnect). Easy Connectivity: The app connects to X-Plane via our free "Flight Sim Deck Bridge" plugin. It supports both automatic and manual (IP/Port) connections for a stress-free setup. Note: This application requires the X-Plane 11 or 12 flight simulator on PC/Mac to operate.

Screenshots

PilotPal4 screens
Flight Sim Deck4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Flight Sim Deck at none against PilotPal's 3. Flight Sim Deck also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). PilotPal's advantage is ratings volume (663 vs 1). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. PilotPal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Flight Sim Deck asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Flight Sim Deck holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PilotPal has 663 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PilotPal ships an update every 3 months, Flight Sim Deck weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
PilotPal versus Flight Sim Deck: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPilotPalFlight Sim Deck
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (663 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews55.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings663 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTinybyte Apps LLCjerome BENAUT

Customer experience

PilotPal

All ratings652 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.8%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive55.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative40.0%

Flight Sim Deck

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

PilotPal

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Subscription verification loop - shows already subscribed but denies access
  • Airport diagrams not displaying despite active subscription
  • App stopped working after February update
  • General app functionality failures
  • Missing settings/preferences menu

Requested features

6 requests
  • Airport diagram printing functionality
  • Ability to sort favorites tab
  • Front and back page information inclusion
  • Improved search functionality for VOR locations
  • Legend/index documentation
Show 1 more
  • Comprehensive chart supplement data (VFR corridors, visual reporting points, VOR test locations)

Flight Sim Deck

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

PilotPal

Subscriptions3
  • Airport Diagrams$0.991 Month
  • PilotPal Monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • PilotPal Pro3 Days trial$19.991 Year
None

Flight Sim Deck

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PilotPal free?
PilotPal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Flight Sim Deck free?
Flight Sim Deck is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, PilotPal or Flight Sim Deck?
Flight Sim Deck is rated higher. PilotPal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 663 ratings, while Flight Sim Deck averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do PilotPal or Flight Sim Deck have ads?
Neither PilotPal nor Flight Sim Deck shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PilotPal or Flight Sim Deck?
PilotPal ships an update every 3 months, and Flight Sim Deck weekly. Most recently, PilotPal was updated on September 22, 2026 and Flight Sim Deck on October 16, 2026.

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