Comparison

PilotsDB vs Simple LogBook

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

Head to head
About

PilotsDB

Features
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PilotsDB is a comprehensive flight logbook. Track your flight time with precision, monitor your currency requirements, and never miss an expiry date again. FLIGHT LOGGING • Log flights with complete time breakdowns • Single-engine, multi-engine, and cross-country time tracking • Day/night hours with Dual, PIC, and SIC breakdowns • Instrument time, approaches, and holding patterns • OOOI times (OUT/OFF/ON/IN) with automatic flight time calculation • Link entries to aircraft journey log numbers for easy verification CURRENCY TRACKING • Automatic passenger day and night currency calculations • Instrument currency monitoring with approach tracking • Visual indicators showing current, expiring, and expired status • Customizable currency requirements to match your operations AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT • Maintain your fleet with detailed aircraft profiles • Track hours by aircraft type and registration • View flight history for each aircraft REPORTS & ANALYTICS • Monthly flight hours breakdown by year • Filter reports by aircraft type or registration • Visual charts showing your flying trends CERTIFICATE TRACKING • Track medical certificates, licenses, and documents • Expiry reminders so you never fly out of currency • IPC, line checks, and regulatory document tracking SECURE & PRIVATE • Sign in with Apple for secure authentication • All flight data stored locally on your device • Export your complete logbook as PDF • iCloud backup for peace of mind Built by pilots, for pilots. PilotsDB helps you focus on flying while staying organized and compliant.

About

Simple LogBook

Features
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No account. Your logbook lives in YOUR iCloud. Be checkride-ready. Simple LogBook is the fast, private pilot logbook built for real cockpit workflows. Log a flight in seconds, track your FAA currency at a glance, and keep every hour backed up in your own iCloud — no accounts, no ads, no data mining. LOG FLIGHTS FAST • Smart defaults auto-fill landings and time categories • All FAA fields: PIC, SIC, Dual, Solo, Night, XC, IFR, and more • Enter block time as HH:MM and let the app do the math • Find airports by ICAO, FAA or IATA code, or by name SWITCHING APPS • Import your logbook from another logbook app's CSV export or any spreadsheet with date and total time • Preview before anything is saved; duplicates are skipped • A safety copy of your logbook is saved first, and any import can be undone in one tap AUTO NIGHT & XC • Add out and in times (UTC) and night time is computed from civil twilight for your route • Cross-country suggested when your route goes beyond 50 NM • Suggestions fill only when you tap — your entries are never overwritten STAY CURRENT • 14 CFR 61.57 day and night takeoff & landing currency (90 days, 3 landings) • IFR currency (6 approaches + hold, 6-month window) • Flight review and medical tracking with clear expiry countdowns ON YOUR LOCK SCREEN • Currency widgets for your Home Screen and Lock Screen • Ask Siri "Am I night current in Simple LogBook?" — no need to open the app CHECKRIDE-READY • FAA Form 8710-1 Record of Pilot Time totals from your logbook, shared as a PDF • A formatted PDF logbook for your examiner CFI ENDORSEMENTS • 18 AC 61-65 endorsement templates plus free text • Your instructor signs right on your iPhone or iPad; any later change is flagged • Electronic record signed on your device — not an FAA-approved electronic signature system SEE YOUR FLYING • Statistics and charts by category, aircraft, and time • Totals that stay accurate as you log TAKE IT ANYWHERE • Private iCloud sync across your iPhone and iPad • Export to PDF or CSV for your records or an examiner FREE TO START Log up to 25 flights and add 1 aircraft for free, with every logbook field. CSV export, iCloud sync and logbook import are always free (imported flights don't count toward the limit), and your first CFI endorsement is free too. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited flights and aircraft, currency tracking, statistics, a formatted PDF logbook, the 8710 report, currency widgets and Siri, and unlimited endorsements. PRO PLANS • Monthly and Annual subscriptions (Annual includes a 7-day free trial) • Or Lifetime — one-time purchase, yours forever • Have an offer code? Redeem it in Settings Your logbook stays yours. Data lives in your private iCloud, never on our servers. — Pro subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your Apple ID settings. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Ā· Privacy Policy: https://starbuck-dev.github.io/Only-Logbook/privacy/

Screenshots

PilotsDB4 screens
Simple LogBook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: PilotsDB at none against Simple LogBook's 4. PilotsDB also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.6). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Both are free to download. Simple LogBook sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. PilotsDB asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 4 level
PilotsDB versus Simple LogBook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPilotsDBSimple LogBook
PriceFreeFree
Update frequency—Every 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSubhash KolluruMacLaren's Studio

In-app purchases

None

PilotsDB

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Simple LogBook

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Pro Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • Simple LogBook Pro$9.99
  • Pro Lifetime$89.99

Questions

Is PilotsDB free?
PilotsDB is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Simple LogBook free?
Simple LogBook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do PilotsDB or Simple LogBook have ads?
Neither PilotsDB nor Simple LogBook shows ads.

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