Comparison

ACE Checklist Editor vs Kneeboard for Pilots

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

Head to head
About

ACE Checklist Editor

Create, manage, and execute aviation checklists digitally. Designed for pilots, it offers offline functionality, professional templates, and multi-format import/export for enhanced safety and efficiency in the cockpit.

Highlights
  • Digital aviation checklist creation
  • Offline functionality
  • Multi-format import/export (ACE, ForeFlight, Dynon)
  • Professional templates
  • Challenge & Response format
  • Revision history
  • Smart organization by aircraft or phase of flight
Features
Read full description

Transform Your Aviation Safety with Professional Digital Checklists ACE Checklist Editor is the professional pilot's choice for creating, managing, and executing aviation checklists on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Designed by pilots for pilots, ACE brings the reliability of paper checklists into the digital age with powerful features that enhance safety and efficiency. WHY PILOTS CHOOSE ACE • Universal Compatibility - Import and export checklists in ACE (.ace), ForeFlight (.fmd), and Dynon formats • Industry-Standard ACE Format - Compatible with Garmin avionics and other systems that support ACE files • Works Offline - All your checklists are stored locally on your device. No internet required in flight • Professional Templates - Start with expertly crafted templates for popular aircraft or create your own from scratch • External Drive Sync - Keep your checklists synchronized across devices using external drives • Smart Organization - Group checklists by aircraft, phase of flight, or custom categories SAFETY-FIRST DESIGN • Challenge & Response Format - Clear distinction between checklist items and expected responses • Emergency Procedures - Quick access to critical checklists with high-visibility formatting • Warning & Caution Items - Color-coded alerts for critical items that demand attention • Revision History - Track all changes with complete version control • No Distractions - Clean, focused interface designed for cockpit use POWERFUL FEATURES • Multi-Format Import & Export - Share checklists in Garmin (.ace) [.gcl and .gplts coming soon], ForeFlight (.fmd), or Dynon formats with other pilots and avionics systems • ForeFlight Integration - Import your existing ForeFlight checklists and export back in encrypted .fmd format • Dynon Compatibility - Full support for Dynon SkyView checklist format with proper line wrapping • Multiple Aircraft - Manage checklists for your entire fleet in one app • Customizable Sections - Organize by phase of flight: Preflight, Startup, Taxi, Takeoff, Cruise, Landing, Shutdown • Rich Formatting - Add notes, references, conditional items, and amplified procedures • Search & Filter - Quickly find any checklist or item across your entire library BUILT FOR REAL PILOTS Whether you're a student pilot building good habits, a CFI managing training aircraft, or a professional pilot flying complex aircraft, ACE adapts to your needs: • Student Pilots: Learn proper checklist discipline with clear, organized procedures • Flight Instructors: Create standardized checklists for your training fleet • Aircraft Owners: Maintain custom checklists that match your specific equipment and STCs • Professional Pilots: Manage multiple aircraft types with airline-style formatting ONE APP, EVERY DEVICE • Native iPhone, iPad, and Mac apps, all in one download • Edit on the Mac with a full desktop window, menus, and keyboard • Document-based app - Open .ace files directly from Files, email, or other apps • iCloud backup keeps your data safe YOUR DATA, YOUR CONTROL • All checklists stored locally on your device but auto synced via iCloud to other devices you control. • No account required • Core checklist editing is available without a subscription; optional subscriptions and lifetime purchases unlock additional features • Export your data anytime in ACE, ForeFlight, or Dynon formats • Privacy-focused: We never see your checklists IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE ACE Checklist Editor is designed to assist pilots but does not replace your aircraft's official Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) or FAA-approved flight manual. Always verify checklist items against your aircraft's official documentation. Every aircraft is unique with different equipment and STCs. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Additional Terms: https://www.acechecklist.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.acechecklist.com/privacy

About

Kneeboard for Pilots

Read full description

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.

Screenshots

ACE Checklist Editor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: ACE Checklist Editor at every 4 days against Kneeboard for Pilots's every 5 weeks. 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. ACE Checklist Editor sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Kneeboard for Pilots sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ACE Checklist Editor ships an update every 4 days, Kneeboard for Pilots every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
ACE Checklist Editor versus Kneeboard for Pilots: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterACE Checklist EditorKneeboard for Pilots
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (5 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings5 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPad
Requires iOS18.017.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPatrick MichalinaSelcuk Dolapci

In-app purchases

10 purchases

ACE Checklist Editor

Subscriptions2
  • ACE Pro Monthly$5.991 Month
  • ACE Pro Annual$49.991 Year
One-time8
  • Fly Mode (Lifetime)$4.99
  • PDF Export (Lifetime)$9.99
  • Beechcraft Baron B55 (BE55)$9.99
Show 5 more
  • Beechcraft Baron B58 (BE58)$9.99
  • Beechcraft Baron B58P (B58T)$9.99
  • Beechcraft Duchess (BE76)$9.99
  • Piper JETPROP (PA46) Checklist$9.99
  • ACE File Access (Lifetime)$99.99
1 purchases

Kneeboard for Pilots

One-time1
  • Kneeboard Pro$9.99

Questions

Is ACE Checklist Editor free?
ACE Checklist Editor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Kneeboard for Pilots free?
Kneeboard for Pilots is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ACE Checklist Editor or Kneeboard for Pilots have ads?
Neither ACE Checklist Editor nor Kneeboard for Pilots shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ACE Checklist Editor or Kneeboard for Pilots?
ACE Checklist Editor ships an update every 4 days, and Kneeboard for Pilots every 5 weeks. Most recently, ACE Checklist Editor was updated on November 5, 2026 and Kneeboard for Pilots on October 30, 2026.

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