Comparison

FAR/AIM vs Pilot Handbook

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

Head to head
About

FAR/AIM

Access comprehensive aviation regulations and the Aeronautical Information Manual on your mobile device. Stay updated with frequent content revisions and utilize powerful search and bookmarking tools for quick reference.

Highlights
  • Complete FAR/AIM text
  • Intelligent full-text search
  • Context-sensitive search
  • Bookmarks and highlights
  • Frequent content updates
  • Email sections
Features
Read full description

The FAR/AIM in your pocket. This app was built specifically for pilots and aviation professionals. It is a one-stop reference for those who are involved with flying. Updates? We do them frequently. About once per month for the regs and 2-3 times a year for the AIM and PC/G. You’ll be much more up-to-date than with the hard copies, which are typically updated only once per year. An in-app subscription grants access to ongoing content updates. Other features: • Free one-week trial for new users. Try it for yourself at no risk with no commitment. • Complete text FAR/AIM, namely 14 CFR, Chapter 1 (FAR) and NTSB 830, and Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), including charts and images. • Lightning fast browsing. • Intelligent search with full-text and header options. • Context sensitive search (limit search to certain sections). • Bookmarks and user highlights. • Saved search term history. • Email sections to friends. Contents: The complete FAA FAR. Don't be left missing regs. CFR 14 Parts 1, 3, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39, 43, 45, 47, 49, 60, 61, 63, 65, 67, 71, 73, 77, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 103, 105, 117, 119, 120, 121, 125, 129, 133, 135, 136, 137, 139, 141, 142, 145, 147, 150, 151, 152, 153, 155, 156, 157, 158, 161, 169, 170, 171, 183, 185, 187, 189, 193, 198. CFR 49, Part 830 (NTSB 830), Aeronautical Information Manual, PC/G. Like this app? Check out our other aviation applications: • FAA Test Prep - Private Pilot (PVT) • FAA Test Prep - Instrument Pilot (IR) • FAA Test Prep - Commercial Pilot (COM) • FAA Test Prep - Fundamentals of Instructing • FAA Test Prep - Aviation Mechanic General • FAA Test Prep - Aviation Mechanic Airframe • FAA Test Prep - Aviation Mechanic Powerplant Comments or questions? Email us at support@lawstack.com.

About

Pilot Handbook

Access essential aeronautical knowledge for pilots and students. This app provides comprehensive information from the FAA's Pilot's Handbook, including over 110 aviation calculators and detailed weight and balance data. It features over 800 illustrations to aid understanding.

Highlights
  • Aeronautical knowledge content
  • 110+ aviation calculators
  • Weight and balance information
  • 800+ illustrations
  • FAA pilot training manual format
  • Standalone calculators
Features
Read full description

Pilot Handbook App presents the information from the The Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge in a format optimized for your iPhone/iPad. As a bonus Pilot Handbook now includes 110 calculators for pilots and over 80 pages of Weight and Balance information. The Pilot Handbook app is based on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) premier pilot training manual titled Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge ( FAA-H8083-25A updated with October 2014 changes). This app provides knowledge that is essential for pilots, student pilots, and instructors. Many FAA Knowledge Exams' questions are taken directly from the information presented in these texts. Pilot Handbook app includes information on: * Introduction to flying * Aircraft structure * Principles of flight * Aerodynamics of flight * Flight controls * Aircraft systems * Flight instruments * Flight manuals * Weight and balance * Aircraft performance * Weather theory * Weather reports, forecasts and charts * Airport operations * Airspace * Navigation * Aeromedical factors * Aeronautical decision-making The app includes over 800 illustrations and images. It also now includes over 110 aviation calculators integrated into the content and standalone. Pilot Handbook is an encyclopedia of all aspects of aeronautical information.

Screenshots

FAR/AIM4 screens
Pilot Handbook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: FAR/AIM at Free against Pilot Handbook's $2.99. FAR/AIM also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 320). Pilot Handbook's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (93% vs 63%). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

FAR/AIM is free to download; Pilot Handbook costs $2.99 up front. FAR/AIM sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pilot Handbook asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for FAR/AIM against 4.9 for Pilot Handbook. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 320 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of FAR/AIM's written reviews are positive against 93% of Pilot Handbook's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FAR/AIM ships an update fortnightly, Pilot Handbook every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
FAR/AIM versus Pilot Handbook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFAR/AIMPilot Handbook
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.7 (1.1K ratings)4.9 (320 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.2% of reviews93.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.1K — better320
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 6 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.09.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size134 MB99 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTekk Innovations LLCCalculated Industries

Customer experience

FAR/AIM

All ratings1,108 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral1.4%
Negative4.5%
Written reviews95 reviews
Positive63.2%
Neutral4.2%
Negative32.6%

Pilot Handbook

All ratings319 ratings
Positive98.1%
Neutral0.9%
Negative0.9%
Written reviews107 reviews
Positive93.5%
Neutral2.8%
Negative3.7%

User reviews

FAR/AIM

From 1.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Quick reference
  • 💡 Convenient digital format
  • 👍 Up-to-date information
  • 👍 Excellent customer service

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • 🔍 Poor search functionality
  • 🔒 Locked content behind paywall

Pilot Handbook

From 320 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 User-friendly interface and easy navigation
  • 📚 Comprehensive and detailed aviation content
  • 💰 Excellent value for the price
  • 📖 Well-organized reference material
  • 🎨 Clear illustrations and graphics

Room to improve

  • ⚠️ Content not updated to latest FAA standards
  • 🐛 Trip planning calculators malfunction
  • 🐛 Pages frequently stick and don't scroll
  • 📱 Not optimized for newer device screens
  • 🎨 Logo compass design error (aircraft banking issue)

Bugs and requests

FAR/AIM

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Highlighting causes app to crash
  • Bookmarking feature is unreliable
  • Subscription issues and billing problems

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to highlight and bookmark content
  • Improved organization and navigation
  • Sync across devices
  • Rotorcraft-specific regulations

Pilot Handbook

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Trip time calculator repeats descent time value instead of summing properly
  • Fuel calculation based on incorrect trip time
  • Pages stick and don't scroll down properly
  • App crashes and shuts down unexpectedly
  • Not optimized for iPhone X and newer devices with larger screens
Show 1 more
  • Logo compass design shows aircraft in impossible banking position

Requested features

10 requests
  • Update content to FAA-8083-25C 2023 version
  • Dark mode for night reading
  • Chapter numbers for easier reference
  • Text highlighting and underlining capability
  • Text enlargement/zoom feature
Show 5 more
  • Better optimization for newer device screens (iPhone X+)
  • Canadian version with cross-border regulatory references
  • Dictionary facility for aviation terminology
  • Improved menu navigation for calculators
  • Page references to original FAA book

In-app purchases

1 purchases

FAR/AIM

One-time1
  • 1-Year Subscription$24.99
None

Pilot Handbook

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is FAR/AIM free?
FAR/AIM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pilot Handbook free?
Pilot Handbook costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, FAR/AIM or Pilot Handbook?
Pilot Handbook is rated higher. FAR/AIM averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Pilot Handbook averages 4.9 from 320 ratings.
Do FAR/AIM or Pilot Handbook have ads?
Neither FAR/AIM nor Pilot Handbook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FAR/AIM or Pilot Handbook?
FAR/AIM ships an update fortnightly, and Pilot Handbook every 6 months. Most recently, FAR/AIM was updated on November 6, 2026 and Pilot Handbook on November 7, 2026.

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