Comparison

PilotPal vs Gate Assist

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

Gate Assist

Features
Read full description

Gate Assist is the ultimate tool for Gate managers to keep track of important times, and events during the gate process. Built by Airport employees for airport employees, Gate Assist provides the simplest way to keep track on a busy and chaotic day. With the history tab, all flights previously started or completed are easily accessible, incase questions may arise later on.

Screenshots

PilotPal4 screens
Gate Assist4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Gate Assist at none against PilotPal's 3. Gate Assist also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). 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. Gate Assist asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PilotPal ships an update every 3 months, Gate Assist every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
PilotPal versus Gate Assist: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPilotPalGate Assist
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (663 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews55.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings663 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTinybyte Apps LLCAEGIR FJELD NORDOE

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)

Gate Assist

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

Gate Assist

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PilotPal free?
PilotPal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Gate Assist free?
Gate Assist is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do PilotPal or Gate Assist have ads?
Neither PilotPal nor Gate Assist shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PilotPal or Gate Assist?
PilotPal ships an update every 3 months, and Gate Assist every 5 weeks. Most recently, PilotPal was updated on September 22, 2026 and Gate Assist on October 18, 2026.

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