# Simionic G1000 (PFD) vs PilotPal

The clearest difference is price: PilotPal at Free against Simionic G1000 (PFD)'s $9.99. PilotPal also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.5) and ratings volume (663 vs 134). Simionic G1000 (PFD)'s advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.0). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

PilotPal is free to download; Simionic G1000 (PFD) costs $9.99 up front. Simionic G1000 (PFD) sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and PilotPal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PilotPal holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 134 and 663 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Simionic G1000 (PFD)'s written reviews are positive against 55% of PilotPal's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Simionic G1000 (PFD) | PilotPal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.5 (134 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simionic-g1000-pfd/id501990787/reviews) | **[4.7 (663 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pilotpal-flight-planner-efb/id1060952159/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 134 | **663** |
| Positive reviews | 51.6% of reviews | **55.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1.9 GB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPad, Mac | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [晨 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/437850525) | [Tinybyte Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1592418784) |

## What reviewers say

### Simionic G1000 (PFD)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simionic-g1000-pfd/id501990787)

This app simulates the primary flight display (PFD) of the Garmin G1000 avionics system. It offers realistic functionality for navigation, flight planning, and autopilot control, making it ideal for aviation enthusiasts and pilots for practice and fun.

**Highlights:** Simulates Garmin G1000 PFD, Navigation and flight plan functionality, Autopilot and flight director modes, Control surface implementation via device tilt, Global navigation database, Standalone trainer or instrument for flight simulators

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beechcraft Baron G58 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Aircraft Customization | $1.99 | one-time |
| Synthetic Vision | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fantastic for learning IFR ops
- 👍 Great for practicing autopilot
- 👍 Useful for learning the G1000
- 👍 Works well with simulators
- 👍 Realistic G1000 implementation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes during approaches
- 🐛 Glitchy and unstable behavior
- 🐛 Difficult to use knobs and controls
- 🐛 Inaccurate CDI and navigation
- 🐛 Missing key G1000 functionality

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during approaches
- Altitude and heading bugs not working correctly
- FMS and flight plan integration issues
- Autopilot and VNAV not functioning as expected
- Frequent disconnects from flight simulators

**Requested features**

- Add support for hPa altimeter settings
- Improve flight plan integration with simulators
- Add VNAV and vertical profile functionality
- Provide more comprehensive instructions and documentation
- Expand compatibility to more aircraft and simulators


### PilotPal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pilotpal-flight-planner-efb/id1060952159)

This app provides FAA aviation airport charts and facility directories for easy flight planning. Access airport diagrams, frequencies, elevation, and helipad information offline. Stay updated with monthly chart revisions and quickly find nearby or favorite airports.

**Highlights:** Offline charts, Airport Facility Directories, Airport Diagrams, Airport Information (Maps, Frequencies, Elevation, Helipads), Monthly updated FAA charts, Nearby and favorite airports, Airport search

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Airport Diagrams | $0.99 | per month |
| PilotPal Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| PilotPal Pro | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Clean and simple user interface
- 🚀 Quick access to airport information
- 📱 Effective airport directory functionality
- ⭐ Excellent customer support
- 🎯 Minimalist design with focused mission

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall-locked features behind subscription
- 🔒 Subscription access issues and bugs
- 📊 Incomplete airport chart coverage
- ❌ Missing chart supplement sections
- 🚫 Difficult to unsubscribe

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription verification loop - shows already subscribed but denies access
- Airport diagrams not displaying despite active subscription
- App stopped working after February update
- General app functionality failures
- Missing settings/preferences menu

**Requested features**

- Airport diagram printing functionality
- Ability to sort favorites tab
- Front and back page information inclusion
- Improved search functionality for VOR locations
- Legend/index documentation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Simionic G1000 (PFD) free?

Simionic G1000 (PFD) costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is PilotPal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Simionic G1000 (PFD) or PilotPal?

PilotPal is rated higher. Simionic G1000 (PFD) averages 3.5 out of 5 from 134 ratings, while PilotPal averages 4.7 from 663 ratings.

### Do Simionic G1000 (PFD) or PilotPal have ads?

Neither Simionic G1000 (PFD) nor PilotPal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Simionic G1000 (PFD) or PilotPal?

Simionic G1000 (PFD) ships an update every 3 months, and PilotPal every 3 months. Most recently, Simionic G1000 (PFD) was updated on September 28, 2026 and PilotPal on September 22, 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.*