Comparison

Cost Index vs Simple Flight App

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

Head to head
About

Cost Index

This app helps airline and corporate aircraft operators achieve significant operational savings by calculating the optimum cruise speed for flights based on pilot-inputted conditions and aircraft-specific data. It offers advanced features for cost, fuel, and time optimization, including level change analysis and turbulence margin adjustments.

Highlights
  • Optimum cruise speed calculation
  • Customizable operational data display
  • Minimum fuel burn speed for long range
  • Turbulence margin adjustment
  • Level change analysis for climb/descent decisions
  • Automated data updates
Features
Read full description

Cost Index is an app designed and developed by airline pilots, for airline and corporate aircraft operators. It enables, and has been proven to achieve, significant operational savings. Cruise flight conditions are input by the pilot, then complex algorithms calculate an exact cruise speed which will result in the minimum possible cost for a flight. i.e the optimum cost. Calculations are performed using a tailored aircraft specific data model and customer specific operational costs. Pilots can vary flight level, wind, temperature, weight, and sector cruise distance to find the optimum indicated airspeed and/or mach number. Time difference between optimum cruise speed and minimum time speed can be displayed. Pilots can modify the optimum speed either directly or by decreasing/increasing the time difference. This functionality allows a speed to be selected that will achieve an on-time arrival should this be an overriding factor in the operation. Information displayed on the "Cruise Speed" and "Detail" pages can be customised for the operator. There are over 150 parameters that can be displayed on either of these pages, which can be constructed so that crew do not see any sensitive operational data. As an operational planning/costing tool, all parameters can be made available within the administrator account. For sector lengths approaching the maximum operating range of the aircraft type, a speed for minimum fuel burn is calculated. This speed is better than long range cruise as it takes into account the wind component. When the app detects buffet margin data, a turbulence button is displayed that increases the buffet margin from 1.3g to 1.6g if selected ON. "Level Change" provides unique functionality to aid crew when deciding whether to climb or descend for operational reasons such as turbulence or strong headwinds. There are two features. The first displays the difference in total costs, fuel burn and time, for each flight level when compared to the selected flight level (all other variables the same). The second feature displays the wind required at each level to break even with total cost when compared to the selected level. The flight level with optimum total cost, which is usually the highest achievable level, is highlighted in black with green text. "Downloads" gives the ability to force data updates, although the app will attempt to update it's operational data once it becomes 24 hours old. The number of days since the last update is displayed on the "Downloads" tab badge and also the app icon badge to remind pilots to update the data whilst on the ground. The page has a message area which can display text entered by the administrator. It could be used to promote a flight efficiency programme by giving crews feedback / updates on real savings achieved and tips on new efficient operating techniques. The "Settings" tab is only available to administrator accounts. Its use is for updating operating costs but also includes some customisation functionality. For demonstration purposes, the app has four downloadable sample data sets which contain fictitious data. The following devices are supported: iPad, iPad Retina, iPhone, iPhone Retina 3.5-inch, iPhone Retina 4-inch and iPod Touch. To setup an account for your operational fleet, please contact Flight Efficiency Limited. For more information email: help@flightefficiency.co.uk

About

Simple Flight App

Manage aviation expenses, track costs, and split bills with partners. Easily record expenses, reimbursements, and monitor critical expiration dates. Export all your data in PDF format for efficient record-keeping.

Highlights
  • Cost management
  • Expense tracking
  • Cost sharing
  • Expiration date tracking
  • PDF data export
  • Aircraft and shared cost viewing
Features
Read full description

Take control of your aviation expenses with Simple Flight! Effortlessly track operational costs, expiration dates, expenses, reimbursements, and easily split costs among partners. All your data is exportable in PDF format for convenient record-keeping. Key Features: • Cost Management: Monitor all operational costs and shared expenses. • Expense Tracking: Easily record expenses and reimbursements. • Cost Sharing: Simplify cost division among partners. • Expiration Tracking: Stay on top of critical expiration dates. • PDF Exports: Export all data in PDF format. • Free Version: View aircraft and shared costs. • Business Version: Unlock the full Simple Flight experience with all features. Download Simple Flight today and streamline your aviation cost management! In-App Purchases: Simple Flight Business: Unlock all features. Terms of Use: https://simpleflight.com.br/termos Privacy Policy: https://simpleflight.com.br/politica-de-privacidade

Screenshots

Cost Index4 screens
Simple Flight App4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Cost Index at none against Simple Flight App's 3. Cost Index also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). Simple Flight App's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 16 months). 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 Flight App sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Cost Index asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cost Index ships an update every 16 months, Simple Flight App every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Cost Index versus Simple Flight App: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCost IndexSimple Flight App
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB65 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFlight Efficiency LimitedSIMPLE FLIGHT TECNOLOGIA DA INFORMACAO LTDA

Customer experience

Cost Index

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Simple Flight App

Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Cost Index

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Simple Flight App

Subscriptions3
  • Plano Premium Simple Flight$4.991 Month
  • Business Plan$5.991 Month
  • Business$99.991 Month

Questions

Is Cost Index free?
Cost Index is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Simple Flight App free?
Simple Flight App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Cost Index or Simple Flight App have ads?
Neither Cost Index nor Simple Flight App shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cost Index or Simple Flight App?
Cost Index ships an update every 16 months, and Simple Flight App every 3 weeks. Most recently, Cost Index was updated on October 6, 2026 and Simple Flight App on October 7, 2026.

Other comparisons