Readback vs Kneeboard for Pilots
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Readback
Streamline your air traffic control note-taking with this utility. Quickly record clearances and updates, eliminating the need for a physical scratchpad. Maintain a comprehensive log of all your flight information for better organization.
- Quickly capture ATC clearances
- Record ATIS updates
- Digital log of all clearances
- Printable flight log
- Add flight number to log
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Good morning, Captain! Take your ATC note-taking to the next level. This app allows you to quickly capture ATC clearances, ATIS updates, and more—no more relying on a scratchpad, which isn’t the safest practice. Even the fastest controllers won’t slow you down. Jot down everything with ease and keep a complete log of all your clearances. Whether you’re taxiing at JFK, enroute to Los Angeles, or descending into Heathrow, this app ensures you stay organized and informed. You can even print your log and add your flight number for a full flight record. A must-have tool for every phase of flight.
Kneeboard for Pilots
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Stop juggling paper, pens, and checklists in the cockpit. Kneeboard is the elegant, powerful, and essential iPad app designed to replace your traditional kneeboard, letting you focus on one thing: flying. Engineered by pilots for pilots, Kneeboard streamlines your entire in-flight workflow. Experience a writing feel, powered by Apple Pencil, that is as natural and responsive as pen on paper. COMMAND YOUR FLIGHT DECK, YOUR WAY Hit the ground running with built-in templates for Departures, Arrivals, ATIS, and more. Or, take complete control by seamlessly importing your own custom checklists, performance cards, or diagrams as PDF or PNG files. Your cockpit, your rules. FLUID NOTES, ZERO CLUTTER Scribble a clearance, sketch a holding pattern, or jot down frequencies with a lag-free, precision-driven drawing engine. Need to focus on a detail? Simply pinch-to-zoom and pan across the canvas with intuitive two-finger gestures. It’s powerful, but it stays out of your way. FIND ANYTHING, INSTANTLY Never lose a critical piece of information again. Assign custom names, tag notes as favorites for quick access, and organize everything with custom categories you create. Filter by "IFR Training," "Cross-Country," or by tail number to keep your log clean and accessible. ARCHIVE & SHARE LIKE A PRO With a single tap, export any note as a clean, high-quality PDF that merges your handwriting with the template background. It's perfect for debriefing with your CFI, logging flight details for your records, or professional record-keeping. Whether you're a student pilot on your first solo, a seasoned CFI, or a weekend flyer, Kneeboard is the most reliable co-pilot you'll have on your iPad. Download Kneeboard today and upgrade your flight experience.
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Kneeboard for Pilots at every 5 weeks against Readback's every 6 months. Readback's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.5). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Readback sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Kneeboard for Pilots sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Readback ships an update every 6 months, Kneeboard for Pilots every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 8, 2026 and May 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Readback | Kneeboard for Pilots |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.3 (8 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 8 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 29 MB | 7 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Santiago Borja Lopez | Selcuk Dolapci |
In-app purchases
Readback
- Clearance Keypad$0.99
- Qwerty Keypad$0.99
- Azerty Keypad$0.99
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- CDU Keypad$0.99
- Qwertz Keypad$0.99
Kneeboard for Pilots
- Kneeboard Pro$9.99
Questions
Is Readback free?
Is Kneeboard for Pilots free?
Do Readback or Kneeboard for Pilots have ads?
Which is updated more often, Readback or Kneeboard for Pilots?
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