Pilot vs Marine Engine Logbook
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.
Marine Engine Logbook
This app helps boat owners meticulously track engine hours, maintenance, fuel, and parts for their vessels. It provides organized digital logs suitable for personal records or vessel sales, with multi-vessel support and exportable reports.
- Log engine and generator hours
- Record maintenance by time or runtime
- Track Seakeeper, watermaker, and auxiliary equipment
- Document parts and service items
- Export logs to PDF or print
- Manage multiple vessels
- Optional fuel logging module
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Marine Engine Logbook MEL is a modern replacement for paper engine logbooks, built for DIY boaters, cruisers, loopers, and captains who want accurate, organized vessel records. Designed around real-world boating workflows, MEL helps you track engines, generators, Seakeeper systems, watermakers, and any hour- or time-based maintenance. Whether you’re managing a single vessel or multiple boats, MEL keeps logs clean, separated, and easy to review. Track What Matters Log engine and generator hours. Record maintenance by time or runtime. Record vessel service from shops. Track Seakeeper, watermaker, and auxiliary equipment. Maintain clear service histories over the life of the vessel. Fuel Optional add on module for logging fuel ups. Easily add Recipts from fuel docks or fuel deliveries. Track yearly fuel expenses and operating metrics. Parts & Maintenance Records Document key engine components such as fuel and oil filters, impellers, belts, and other service items. Store exact part numbers so reordering next season—or at the parts counter—is fast and accurate. Professional Logbooks MEL produces clean, organized records suitable for long-term ownership or vessel sale. Export logs to clean organized PDF or direct to a printer. Print paper copies for ship’s records or binders. Transfer vessel logs to new owners Multi-Vessel Support Manage multiple vessels in one app. Each boat’s logs, maintenance history, and parts lists remain clearly separated and organized. Built for Boat Owners MEL is designed for owners who maintain their own vessels, as well as captains responsible for accurate records. Whether you’re weekend cruising, running offshore, or sailing the Great Loop, MEL provides a reliable system for documenting your vessel’s history. Stop juggling notebooks and loose papers. MEL gives you a clear, organized, and professional engine logbook—always with you, and ready when you need it. Lifetime Pro — one-time purchase. No subscription. No renewal. Marine Engine Logbook Pro Annual Subscription Marine Engine Logbook Pro — Annual auto-renewing subscription. Starting at $9.99 USD per year (price varies by region). Includes a 14-day free trial where available. After the trial period, the subscription renews at the applicable regional price unless canceled. Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://www.digital-helm.com/mel/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Marine Engine Logbook at 100% against Pilot's 33%. Marine Engine Logbook also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). Pilot's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). 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 Marine Engine Logbook sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Marine Engine Logbook holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Pilot's written reviews are positive against 100% of Marine Engine Logbook's.
Pilot ships an update every 31 months, Marine Engine Logbook every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pilot | Marine Engine Logbook |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 31 months | Every 6 weeks — 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 | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 20 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Pedro Jose Villarroel Cuevas | KEVIN M GRAVES |
Customer experience
Pilot
Marine Engine Logbook
In-app purchases
Pilot
- PilotAbbr Subscription$4.991 Year
Marine Engine Logbook
- Marine Engine Logbook -Pro Annual$9.991 Year
- MEL Pro - Lifetime$49.99
Questions
Is Pilot free?
Is Marine Engine Logbook free?
Which has better reviews, Pilot or Marine Engine Logbook?
Do Pilot or Marine Engine Logbook have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pilot or Marine Engine Logbook?
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