# Pilot vs ACE Checklist Editor

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pilot | ACE Checklist Editor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pilot-abbr/id1514884438/reviews)** | [3.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ace-checklist-editor/id6748047077/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 31 months | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 10 MB | 9 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pedro Jose Villarroel Cuevas](https://appshunter.io/developer/558476272) | [Patrick Michalina](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823351786) |

## What reviewers say

### Pilot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pilot-abbr/id1514884438)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PilotAbbr Subscription | $4.99 | per year |


### ACE Checklist Editor

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ace-checklist-editor/id6748047077)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ACE Pro Monthly | $5.99 | per month |
| ACE Pro Annual | $49.99 | per year |
| Fly Mode (Lifetime) | $4.99 | one-time |
| PDF Export (Lifetime) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Beechcraft Baron B55 (BE55) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Beechcraft Baron B58 (BE58) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Beechcraft Baron B58P (B58T) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Beechcraft Duchess (BE76) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Piper JETPROP (PA46) Checklist | $9.99 | one-time |
| ACE File Access (Lifetime) | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pilot free?

Pilot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is ACE Checklist Editor free?

ACE Checklist Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Pilot or ACE Checklist Editor?

Pilot is rated higher. Pilot averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while ACE Checklist Editor averages 3.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do Pilot or ACE Checklist Editor have ads?

Neither Pilot nor ACE Checklist Editor shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pilot or ACE Checklist Editor?

Pilot ships an update every 31 months, and ACE Checklist Editor every 9 days. Most recently, Pilot was updated on June 6, 2026 and ACE Checklist Editor on September 14, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*