Comparison

Boldmethod vs Spitfire Elite

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

Head to head
About

Boldmethod

Enhance your aviation knowledge with extensive video training and online courses. Practice with quizzes and master essential piloting skills like takeoffs, landings, airspace navigation, and weather interpretation. Prepare for checkrides and improve your flying proficiency.

Highlights
  • Extensive video training library
  • Online aviation courses
  • Pilot knowledge quizzes
  • Master takeoffs and landings
  • National Airspace System training
  • Aviation weather interpretation
  • VFR charts and publications
Read full description

Want to improve your piloting skills? Then the Boldmethod app is for you. With over 50 hours of videos and online training courses, you'll walk away with the knowledge that makes you a better pilot. Access your Boldmethod training courses in one app, watch the latest training videos, and test your knowledge with quizzes. What's new? The Feed and Challenges tabs are the place to start learning or to brush up on your aviation knowledge. When you're ready to take the next step, sign up for courses to truly master your pilot knowledge. MASTERING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS Do you have a perfect landing every time? Neither do we. This video course helps you master your takeoffs and landings. Whether you're trying to stop floating past your landing point or trying to smooth out your touchdown, you'll learn how to fix any of your takeoff and landing problems with this simple-to-use online course. The course breaks down takeoffs and landings into sections: Normal Takeoffs Traffic Patterns Normal Landings Crosswind Takeoffs and Landings Short Field Takeoffs and Landings Soft Field Takeoffs and Landings Non-Standard Takeoffs and Landings Night Takeoffs and Landings NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM Our airspace course covers everything you need to know about the National Airspace System, including Class A-G airspace, Special Use Airspace, and Other Airspace. It's an excellent way to prepare for your private pilot checkride and keep your flying skills sharp. The course breaks down airspace into sections: Class A airspace Class B airspace Class C airspace Class D airspace Class E airspace Class G airspace Special use airspace Other airspace AVIATION WEATHER REPORTS AND FORECASTS Our weather course covers everything you need to know about aviation weather, including METARs, TAFs, Pilot Reports, Graphical Forecasts For Aviation, Winds Aloft Forecasts, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and Convective SIGMETs. It's an excellent way to prepare for your private pilot checkride and keep your flying skills sharp. The course breaks down aviation weather into sections: METARs TAFs PIREPs Graphical Forecasts For Aviation Winds Aloft Forecasts AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and Convective SIGMETs VFR CHARTS AND PUBLICATIONS Our charts course covers everything you need to know about VFR charts and publications, including sectional charts, terminal area charts, the Digital Chart Supplement, and NOTAMs. The course breaks down publications into sections: Sectional Charts Terminal Area Charts Digital Chart Supplement NOTAMs MOUNTAIN WEATHER Do you want to feel more comfortable flying around the high country? Boldmethod's Mountain Weather course helps make that happen. You'll learn how to evaluate mountain weather during your planning and while you're in flight. You'll also learn how terrain generates updrafts, downdrafts, turbulence, and storms, and changes the direction of the wind throughout the day. The course breaks down weather into sections: Mountain Waves Strong Surface Winds Updrafts, Downdrafts, And Turbulence Convergence Zones Coastal Mountain Wind Systems The North American Monsoon Daily (Diurnal) Winds In Valleys Mountain Thunderstorms

About

Spitfire Elite

Access all your aviation videos and protocols in one convenient app. Stay updated with the latest news and updates through push notifications. Save your favorite content for quick access.

Highlights
  • Access all videos
  • Push notifications
  • Password-free access
  • Save favorite posts
  • Easy to use interface
Read full description

Inside the Spitfire Elite app, you can: Access all of your videos in one easy to use app Receive push notifications with the latest news and updates Access to all of your videos without having to remember your password Save your favorite posts so you can quickly find them later END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Boldmethod4 screens
Spitfire Elite3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Boldmethod at 4.9 against Spitfire Elite's 4.3. Boldmethod also leads on ratings volume (823 vs 3) and device support (5 vs 2). Spitfire Elite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and iOS requirement 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. Boldmethod sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Spitfire Elite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Boldmethod holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Boldmethod has 823 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 97% of Boldmethod's written reviews are positive against 100% of Spitfire Elite's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Boldmethod ships an update every 3 weeks, Spitfire Elite every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Boldmethod versus Spitfire Elite: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBoldmethodSpitfire Elite
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (823 ratings) — better4.3 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews97.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings823 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBoldMethod, LLCEmily Sudduth

Customer experience

Boldmethod

All ratings823 ratings
Positive98.4%
Neutral0.7%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews73 reviews
Positive97.3%
Neutral2.7%
Negative0.0%

Spitfire Elite

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Boldmethod

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashing or freezing issues
  • Compatibility problems with older devices

Requested features

2 requests
  • Provide explanations for incorrect answers in quizzes
  • Improve navigation and progress tracking through courses

Spitfire Elite

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Boldmethod

One-time9
  • Aviation Weather Products$19.99
  • National Airspace System$19.99
  • VFR Charts$19.99
Show 6 more
  • National Airspace System$24.99
  • Aviation Weather Products$24.99
  • VFR Charts and Publications$24.99
  • Mastering Takeoffs & Landings$139.99
  • Mountain Weather$299.99
  • Instrument Procedures$499.99
None

Spitfire Elite

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Boldmethod free?
Boldmethod is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Spitfire Elite free?
Spitfire Elite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Boldmethod or Spitfire Elite?
Boldmethod is rated higher. Boldmethod averages 4.9 out of 5 from 823 ratings, while Spitfire Elite averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.
Do Boldmethod or Spitfire Elite have ads?
Boldmethod shows ads; Spitfire Elite does not.
Which is updated more often, Boldmethod or Spitfire Elite?
Boldmethod ships an update every 3 weeks, and Spitfire Elite every 2 weeks. Most recently, Boldmethod was updated on October 13, 2026 and Spitfire Elite on October 6, 2026.

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