Pilot vs ACE Checklist Editor
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
ACE Checklist Editor
Create, manage, and execute aviation checklists digitally. Designed for pilots, it offers offline functionality, professional templates, and multi-format import/export for enhanced safety and efficiency in the cockpit.
- Digital aviation checklist creation
- Offline functionality
- Multi-format import/export (ACE, ForeFlight, Dynon)
- Professional templates
- Challenge & Response format
- Revision history
- Smart organization by aircraft or phase of flight
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Transform Your Aviation Safety with Professional Digital Checklists ACE Checklist Editor is the professional pilot's choice for creating, managing, and executing aviation checklists on your iPhone and iPad. Designed by pilots for pilots, ACE brings the reliability of paper checklists into the digital age with powerful features that enhance safety and efficiency. WHY PILOTS CHOOSE ACE • Universal Compatibility - Import and export checklists in ACE (.ace), ForeFlight (.fmd), and Dynon formats • Industry-Standard ACE Format - Compatible with Garmin avionics and other systems that support ACE files • Works Offline - All your checklists are stored locally on your device. No internet required in flight • Professional Templates - Start with expertly crafted templates for popular aircraft or create your own from scratch • External Drive Sync - Keep your checklists synchronized across devices using external drives • Smart Organization - Group checklists by aircraft, phase of flight, or custom categories SAFETY-FIRST DESIGN • Challenge & Response Format - Clear distinction between checklist items and expected responses • Emergency Procedures - Quick access to critical checklists with high-visibility formatting • Warning & Caution Items - Color-coded alerts for critical items that demand attention • Revision History - Track all changes with complete version control • No Distractions - Clean, focused interface designed for cockpit use POWERFUL FEATURES • Multi-Format Import & Export - Share checklists in Garmin (.ace) [.gcl and .gplts coming soon], ForeFlight (.fmd), or Dynon formats with other pilots and avionics systems • ForeFlight Integration - Import your existing ForeFlight checklists and export back in encrypted .fmd format • Dynon Compatibility - Full support for Dynon SkyView checklist format with proper line wrapping • Multiple Aircraft - Manage checklists for your entire fleet in one app • Customizable Sections - Organize by phase of flight: Preflight, Startup, Taxi, Takeoff, Cruise, Landing, Shutdown • Rich Formatting - Add notes, references, conditional items, and amplified procedures • Search & Filter - Quickly find any checklist or item across your entire library BUILT FOR REAL PILOTS Whether you're a student pilot building good habits, a CFI managing training aircraft, or a professional pilot flying complex aircraft, ACE adapts to your needs: • Student Pilots: Learn proper checklist discipline with clear, organized procedures • Flight Instructors: Create standardized checklists for your training fleet • Aircraft Owners: Maintain custom checklists that match your specific equipment and STCs • Professional Pilots: Manage multiple aircraft types with airline-style formatting OPTIMIZED FOR iOS • Native iOS app built with SwiftUI for smooth performance • Supports iPhone and iPad with optimized layouts for each • Document-based app - Open .ace files directly from Files, email, or other apps • iCloud backup keeps your data safe YOUR DATA, YOUR CONTROL • All checklists stored locally on your device but auto synced via iCloud to other devices you control. • No account required • Core checklist editing is available without a subscription; optional subscriptions and lifetime purchases unlock additional features • Export your data anytime in ACE, ForeFlight, or Dynon formats • Privacy-focused: We never see your checklists IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE ACE Checklist Editor is designed to assist pilots but does not replace your aircraft's official Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) or FAA-approved flight manual. Always verify checklist items against your aircraft's official documentation. Every aircraft is unique with different equipment and STCs. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Additional Terms: https://www.acechecklist.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.acechecklist.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: ACE Checklist Editor at free with in-app purchases against Pilot's subscription. ACE Checklist Editor also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 31 months) and review sentiment (50% vs 33%). Pilot's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.8) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Pilot sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year and ACE Checklist Editor sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Pilot holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 4 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 33% of Pilot's written reviews are positive against 50% of ACE Checklist Editor's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Pilot ships an update every 31 months, ACE Checklist Editor every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on June 6, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pilot | ACE Checklist Editor |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (4 ratings) — better | 3.8 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 31 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 9 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pedro Jose Villarroel Cuevas | Patrick Michalina |
Customer experience
Pilot
ACE Checklist Editor
In-app purchases
Pilot
- PilotAbbr Subscription$4.991 Year
ACE Checklist Editor
- ACE Pro Monthly$5.991 Month
- ACE Pro Annual$49.991 Year
- Fly Mode (Lifetime)$4.99
- PDF Export (Lifetime)$9.99
- Beechcraft Baron B55 (BE55)$9.99
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- Beechcraft Baron B58 (BE58)$9.99
- Beechcraft Baron B58P (B58T)$9.99
- Beechcraft Duchess (BE76)$9.99
- Piper JETPROP (PA46) Checklist$9.99
- ACE File Access (Lifetime)$99.99
Questions
Is Pilot free?
Is ACE Checklist Editor free?
Which has better reviews, Pilot or ACE Checklist Editor?
Do Pilot or ACE Checklist Editor have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pilot or ACE Checklist Editor?
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