Comparison

dBrief vs Simple Pilot Logbook

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

Head to head
About

dBrief

A streamlined pilot logbook designed for general aviation pilots. It simplifies flight logging with auto-fill features and smart suggestions, while also providing tools to track currency, explore flight history with interactive maps, and manage custom metrics. Import past flights easily from a web portal.

Highlights
  • Auto-fills aircraft data
  • Smart route suggestions
  • Explore currency and due dates
  • Interactive flight history map
  • Customizable flight metrics
  • 8710 pilot time record formatting
  • Cross-device syncing
Read full description

A simple streamlined logbook made for GA. Created by a flight instructor for folks who don't bother with duty time. "It's straightforward and simple but not simplistic. It's comprehensive in its data presentation but not complicated." "I very much appreciate the simplicity. Most of the programs put in too much crap that nobody really wants." "Great app. Easy to log my time." (** To import past flights please visit www.dbrief.me **) FAST AND EASY ENTRY - Auto-fills aircraft data - Smart route suggestions - Tap any label to auto-fill it with total time - Dynamic keyboard switches between letters and numbers as you type - Automatically adds decimals EXPLORE YOUR CURRENCY - Medical and CFI status - Day/night landings by class for the past 90 days - Tips to extend your instrument currency - Flight review due dates EXPLORE YOUR HISTORY - Trip photos - Interactive map of your entire flight history - Archived tracks and weather for IFR flights - Intelligent search, e.g. "2011 bfr" or ">2 app" - Time breakdowns by type/tail number OTHER NICE THINGS - Custom fields let you track your own flight metrics - 8710 "Record of Pilot Time"—your totals are formatted in order of appearance on the IACRA web page - Syncs across devices (ability to log your flight from a company iPad) - Have a copy of your logbook in your EFB (runs alongside your charts on iPad) - Import from Excel or a previous online logbook (www.dbrief.me)

About

Simple Pilot Logbook

Features
Read full description

Simple Pilot Logbook allows you to log your flight hours in the most familiar way—just as you would in a traditional, real-life logbook. It adheres to the EU EASA Part-FCL.050 format for recording flight time. The app automatically syncs across your macOS, iOS, and iPadOS devices via your private iCloud account. For each logbook entry, you can specify: • Aircraft • Dep. Date • Dep. Place • Dep. Time • Arr. Date • Arr. Place • Arr. Time • Make, Model, Variant • Registration • SE Time • ME Time • Multi-Pilot Time • Total Time of Flight • Name PIC • Takeoffs Day • Takeoffs Night • Landings Day • Landings Night • Night Time • IFR Time • PIC Time • Co-Pilot Time • Dual Time • Instructor Time • Synthetic Date • Synthetic Type • Synthetic Total Time • Remarks and Endorsements For each aircraft type, you can specify: • Make, model, variant • Multi-engine? • Aircraft • Past experiences For each aircraft, you can specify: • Aircraft type • Registration For each past experience, you can specify: • Aircraft type • Year • Multi-Pilot Time • Total Time • Takeoffs Day • Takeoffs Night • Landings Day • Landings Night • Night Time • IFR Time • PIC Time • Co-Pilot Time • Dual Time • Instructor Time • Synthetic Total Time All of the above flight hours are summed up and counted towards the totals available under Stats. Simple Pilot Logbook is aviation software designed for both airline and hobby pilots. It enables seamless flight logging of pilot records, catering to commercial and private pilots for both IFR and VFR flights. Get the app for free to try with up to 10 flight hours and unlock more total time via in-app purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: http://simplepilotlogbook.com/privacy.html

Screenshots

dBrief4 screens
Simple Pilot Logbook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: dBrief at none against Simple Pilot Logbook's 10. dBrief also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 7 months). Simple Pilot Logbook's advantage is iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Simple Pilot Logbook sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. dBrief asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

dBrief ships an update every 5 weeks, Simple Pilot Logbook every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
dBrief versus Simple Pilot Logbook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterdBriefSimple Pilot Logbook
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (35 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings35 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS26.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperdBrief, LLCIndie Foundry LLC

In-app purchases

None

dBrief

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Simple Pilot Logbook

Subscriptions10
  • Up to 50 hours of total time$4.991 Year
  • Up to 100 hours of total time$9.991 Year
  • Up to 300 hours of total time$14.991 Year
Show 7 more
  • Up to 1000 hours of total time$19.991 Year
  • Up to 2000 hours of total time$24.991 Year
  • Up to 3500 hours of total time$29.991 Year
  • Up to 5000 hours of total time$34.991 Year
  • Up to 7000 hours of total time$39.991 Year
  • Up to 9000 hours of total time$44.991 Year
  • Unlimited hours of total time$49.991 Year

Questions

Is dBrief free?
dBrief is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Simple Pilot Logbook free?
Simple Pilot Logbook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do dBrief or Simple Pilot Logbook have ads?
Neither dBrief nor Simple Pilot Logbook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, dBrief or Simple Pilot Logbook?
dBrief ships an update every 5 weeks, and Simple Pilot Logbook every 7 months. Most recently, dBrief was updated on October 24, 2026 and Simple Pilot Logbook on October 27, 2026.

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