AutoPylot For Drones vs PathBids
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AutoPylot For Drones
This app provides FAA-approved services for drone pilots, including B4UFLY status, LAANC airspace authorizations, and operational awareness. It simplifies flight planning with airspace visualization, weather tools, and customizable safety checklists.
- FAA-approved B4UFLY and LAANC services
- Instant flight readiness indicator
- Simplified airspace visualization
- Near real-time LAANC authorizations
- Operational awareness of airspace restrictions
- Customizable safety checklists
- All-in-one mission management
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AutoPylot: The #1 Rated FAA-Approved Provider of B4UFLY and LAANC AutoPylot is the highest-rated FAA-approved provider of B4UFLY and LAANC services and is trusted by over 100K drone pilots for its seamless user experience and powerful features. Whether you’re a recreational flyer or a professional operator, AutoPylot makes flying drones safer, easier, and stress-free. Why AutoPylot? FAA-Approved (B4UFLY & LAANC) & Trusted: AutoPylot is the easiest-to-use FAA-approved app, offering unparalleled reliability and a user-friendly interface. Top-Rated by Pilots: Join the over 100K+ satisfied pilots and enthusiasts who have made AutoPylot the highest-rated drone app on the market. Key Features - Instant Flight Readiness (B4UFLY Status Indicator): Instantly know if you are good to fly, need approval (LAANC), or cannot fly in your planned flight area. - Simplified Airspace Visualization: Take the guesswork out of airspace with clear, easy-to-read maps and advisories to remove uncertainty from your flight planning. - Near Real-Time Authorizations (LAANC Approvals): AutoPylot is an FAA-approved LAANC provider that helps pilots get fast, near-real-time authorizations for flights in controlled airspace. - Operational Awareness: B4UFLY, stay informed with detailed data on local drone rules, Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs), National Parks, wilderness areas, and wildlife refuges. - Customizable Safety Checklists: Build pre-, during-, and post-flight checklists and add them to any missions to improve safety. Make tasks time-sensitive to receive reminders via push notifications. - All-in-One Mission Management: Log, monitor, and edit mission details, access advisories, track weather, create notes, share flights, and more—all in one place. - Mission-Specific Weather Tools: Plan with precise mission-specific weather insights, including hourly updates, 10-day forecasts, and wind/precipitation maps. Sign up for a free trial of AutoPylot+, our advanced pre-flight planning weather features! Fly Smarter, Fly Safer AutoPylot takes the guesswork out of drone flying, helping you confidently focus on your mission. Download the highest-rated FAA-approved app and experience the easiest way to manage your drone operations. Download AutoPylot today and take flight like never before! https://www.autopylot.io AutoPylot: Ready, Set, Fly! Terms: https://www.autopylot.io/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://www.autopylot.io/privacy/
PathBids
This AI-powered tool simplifies complex pilot bidding processes. Input your preferences, and it generates optimized bid groups with explanations, helping you maximize time off and pay. Save time and achieve your ideal flight schedule.
- AI-driven PBS bidding
- Create trip and reserve bids
- Customizable bid parameters
- Generates multiple bid groups
- Save and reuse bid templates
- Schedule optimization
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Revolutionize your PBS Bidding with PathBids! PBS bidding can be overwhelming, with complex rules and confusing algorithms that can wreck your schedule if done wrong. PathBids changes everything. Simply input your preferences—equipment, base, position, commuter status, and home location—and let PathBids do the rest. Using AI, PathBids instantly creates tailored, optimized bid groups that prioritize your needs and even explains why each bid was built. Save hours, maximize your time off and pay, and get the best possible schedule. Main Features: • AI-driven PBS bidding designed for pilots • Create trip and reserve bids in seconds, in plain language • Customize bids for specific dates, U-numbers, airports, and pairings • Generates multiple bid groups, from most restrictive to least restrictive • Save, edit, and reuse bid templates • Affordable and easy to use Note: Currently available only for United Airlines pilots, but more airlines are coming soon!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PathBids at none against AutoPylot For Drones's 4. PathBids also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs monthly) and review sentiment (100% vs 75%). AutoPylot For Drones's advantage is ratings volume (5.3K vs 2). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. AutoPylot For Drones sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. PathBids asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for AutoPylot For Drones against 5.0 for PathBids. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AutoPylot For Drones has 5.3K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of AutoPylot For Drones's written reviews are positive against 100% of PathBids's.
AutoPylot For Drones ships an update monthly, PathBids every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AutoPylot For Drones | PathBids |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (5.3K ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 75.4% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5.3K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 69 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | AutoPylot, INC | Pilot Pathfinder, Inc. |
Customer experience
AutoPylot For Drones
PathBids
Bugs and requests
AutoPylot For Drones
Reported bugs
2 issues- Miscategorizing flights as requiring ATC approval
- Lack of controlled airspace information in certain regions
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to edit missions
- Support for polygonal LAANC requests
- Integration with FAA TFR website
- Access to weather data before LAANC submission
- Support for Part 107 and recreational missions
PathBids
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
AutoPylot For Drones
- AutoPylot+ (Monthly)7 Days trial$3.991 Month
- AutoPylot+ (Monthly)7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- AutoPylot+ (Annual)7 Days trial$39.991 Year
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- AutoPylot+ (Annual)7 Days trial$49.991 Year
PathBids
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is AutoPylot For Drones free?
Is PathBids free?
Which has better reviews, AutoPylot For Drones or PathBids?
Do AutoPylot For Drones or PathBids have ads?
Which is updated more often, AutoPylot For Drones or PathBids?
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