xWind vs Pilot
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
xWind
This tool helps pilots quickly assess wind conditions relative to aircraft limitations. It displays essential wind data, including headwind, crosswind, and tailwind components, along with runway course and wind limits on a single screen for easy reference during flight.
- Headwind, crosswind, and tailwind calculation
- Displays current wind direction and speed
- Shows runway course
- Indicates applied wind limits
- Identifies 'forbidden' wind angles
- Provides maximum wind speed table
- Adjustable wind and runway settings
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xWind is an easy to use tool to assist pilots in evaluating wind conditions with respect to head, cross and tailwind limitations. Once setup, the xWind app provides all information in one single screen, requiring minimal user interaction during high workload phases of flight, displaying: - Current wind direction and speed - Runway course - Cross and head or tailwind components - Currently applied wind limits - 'Forbidden' wind angles based on the current wind speed - Maximum wind speed table based on current wind limits Reference wind, runway course, as well as wind limits, can all be adjusted on the main screen by either dragging the wind arrow, course rose or wind limit lines. A settings button at the bottom presents a popup screen where both the units for wind speed (Kts or Mps) and the default values for wind limits can be specified. In addition to the general setting for wind speed units, the user can select the alternative units for only the current wind, wind components and maximum winds table by double tapping the wind display at the top of the main screen. When operating from a Kts country into Mps territory, this option allows to set the current wind and see the maximum allowed winds in Mps, based on limits that are still set in Kts. Or vice versa.... xWinds supports iOS darkmode.
Pilot
This reference app provides flight crews with fast, offline access to over 14,000 aviation abbreviations and acronyms. It includes organized lists for general terms, datalink messages, airports, aircraft registrations, and airlines, drawing from numerous international sources.
- Offline access to 14,000+ aviation abbreviations
- Organized lists: general, CPDLC, airports, registrations, airlines
- Covers FAA, NOTAM, EASA, Jeppesen, and more
- Fast and intuitive search functionality
- Created by a pilot for pilots
- Optimized for flight planning and in-flight reference
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Pilot-Abbr – Aviation Abbreviations for Flight Crews Pilot-Abbr is a powerful reference app designed for professional pilots, providing fast, offline access to over 14,000 aviation abbreviations and acronyms from international sources. Main Features: Five Organized Lists: • Abbreviations – General aviation terms used by pilots. • CPDLC Messages – Commonly used datalink message elements. • Airports – IATA and ICAO codes, airport name, city, and flag. • Registrations – Aircraft registration codes by country. • Airlines – IATA and ICAO codes, airline name, and country. Sources Include: • FAA Abbreviations • U.S. Aeronautical Contractions • NOTAM Abbreviations • Canadian AIM • Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) • Jeppesen • Boeing Acronyms • EASA Acronyms • Dangerous Goods and Ground Handling codes • And more Whether you're decoding a NOTAM, preparing for departure, or reviewing CPDLC messages, Pilot-Abbr gives you the reference you need — anytime, even offline. Why Pilots Use Pilot-Abbr: • Created by a pilot, for pilots • Fast, intuitive search • Covers operational, regulatory, and airline-specific terms • Optimized for flight planning, briefing, and in-flight reference Subscription Details • $4.99/year, auto-renewable • Subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period • Payment will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase • Manage or cancel your subscription in your iTunes account settings • No partial refunds Legal • Privacy Policy & Terms of Service: https://villarroel98.wixsite.com/hazmat-pjv/about • Apple EULA (End User License Agreement): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Pilot-Abbr — The most complete aviation abbreviation tool on the App Store. Essential for every flight crew.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Pilot at Free against xWind's $0.99. xWind's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (75% vs 33%). On 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
Pilot is free to download; xWind costs $0.99 up front. Pilot sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. xWind asks for nothing beyond the download.
xWind holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: xWind has 550 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of xWind's written reviews are positive against 33% of Pilot's.
xWind ships an update fortnightly, Pilot every 31 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | xWind | Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (550 ratings) — better | 4.0 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 550 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 31 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | #126 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jan Bloemendaal | Pedro Jose Villarroel Cuevas |
Customer experience
xWind
Pilot
Bugs and requests
xWind
Reported bugs
1 issue- Speed toggle doesn't work, always shows MPS
Requested features
3 requests- Incorporate gust factors
- 3 customizable buttons for quick limit settings
- Different colored concentric rings inside the red limit ring
Pilot
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
xWind
No in-app purchases
Pilot
- PilotAbbr Subscription$4.991 Year









