Comparison

C172 Performance vs PilotPal

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

Head to head
About

C172 Performance

This app calculates essential flight performance data for Cessna 172 and 150 aircraft. It covers takeoff, landing, climb, cruise, descent, instrument procedures, and emergencies, with additional tools for holds and glide calculations. Cloud sync ensures your flight plans are accessible across devices.

Highlights
  • Takeoff and landing calculations
  • Climb, cruise, and descent performance
  • Instrument procedure planning
  • Emergency scenario calculations
  • Interactive hold calculator
  • Emergency glide distance calculator
  • Cloud sync for flight plans
Features
Read full description

C172 Performance computes all the useful performance numbers for flight planning for Cessna model 172 and 150 aircraft. It includes calculations for takeoff, landing, climb, cruise, descent, instrument procedures as well as emergencies. It also includes an interactive hold calculator, a risk analysis tool, and an emergency glide distance calculator that handles head and tailwinds. C172 Performance is also available on other mobile devices and as a WebApp (an App that runs in a browser) that runs on a variety of platforms (PC, Mac, tablets, phones). The cloud sync feature allows flight planning profiles entered on any device to be synchronized with your other devices when connected to the Internet. C172 Performance is a free, open-source development effort and has Apps and WebApps for other aircraft. See http://pohperformance.com for complete details.

About

PilotPal

This app provides FAA aviation airport charts and facility directories for easy flight planning. Access airport diagrams, frequencies, elevation, and helipad information offline. Stay updated with monthly chart revisions and quickly find nearby or favorite airports.

Highlights
  • Offline charts
  • Airport Facility Directories
  • Airport Diagrams
  • Airport Information (Maps, Frequencies, Elevation, Helipads)
  • Monthly updated FAA charts
  • Nearby and favorite airports
  • Airport search
Features
Read full description

PilotPal is the easiest way to flight plan. PilotPal brings the FAA airport facility directory and Airport Diagrams to your pocket. Features: • Offline Charts: Easily download airports or entire regions for offline use • Airport Facility Directories • Airport Diagrams • Weather via METAR and TAF • Wind maps • Airport Information including: • Maps • Frequencies • Elevation • Helipads • Updated FAA charts every month so you're always up to date. • Nearby airports: Easily find airports around you • Favorite airports: Save your favorites for quick access • Airport search: Easily find any airport or helipad • Dark mode • iPad support Built by real pilots with a love for aviation Feedback or issues: tinybyteapps@gmail.com Legal: Airport facility directories and airport diagrams are provided by the FAA. Always consult appropriate and available sources to prepare for your flight. Our privacy policy is available at: https://pilotpal-1139.firebaseapp.com/privacypolicy.htm Our terms of service is available at: https://pilotpal-1139.firebaseapp.com/termsofuse.html

Screenshots

C172 Performance4 screens
PilotPal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: C172 Performance at none against PilotPal's 3. C172 Performance also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 55%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). PilotPal's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (663 vs 52). On price, rating, update cadence 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. PilotPal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. C172 Performance asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

C172 Performance holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PilotPal has 663 ratings behind it against 52, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of C172 Performance's written reviews are positive against 55% of PilotPal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

C172 Performance ships an update every 2 months, PilotPal every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
C172 Performance versus PilotPal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterC172 PerformancePilotPal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (52 ratings) — better4.7 (663 ratings)
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews — better55.0% of reviews
Number of ratings52663 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPOH Performance L.L.C.Tinybyte Apps LLC

Customer experience

C172 Performance

All ratings52 ratings
Positive98.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral3.3%
Negative6.7%

PilotPal

All ratings652 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.8%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive55.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative40.0%

Bugs and requests

C172 Performance

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

PilotPal

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Subscription verification loop - shows already subscribed but denies access
  • Airport diagrams not displaying despite active subscription
  • App stopped working after February update
  • General app functionality failures
  • Missing settings/preferences menu

Requested features

6 requests
  • Airport diagram printing functionality
  • Ability to sort favorites tab
  • Front and back page information inclusion
  • Improved search functionality for VOR locations
  • Legend/index documentation
Show 1 more
  • Comprehensive chart supplement data (VFR corridors, visual reporting points, VOR test locations)

In-app purchases

None

C172 Performance

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

PilotPal

Subscriptions3
  • Airport Diagrams$0.991 Month
  • PilotPal Monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • PilotPal Pro3 Days trial$19.991 Year

Questions

Is C172 Performance free?
C172 Performance is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is PilotPal free?
PilotPal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, C172 Performance or PilotPal?
C172 Performance is rated higher. C172 Performance averages 4.9 out of 5 from 52 ratings, while PilotPal averages 4.7 from 663 ratings.
Do C172 Performance or PilotPal have ads?
C172 Performance shows ads; PilotPal does not.
Which is updated more often, C172 Performance or PilotPal?
C172 Performance ships an update every 2 months, and PilotPal every 3 months. Most recently, C172 Performance was updated on September 18, 2026 and PilotPal on September 22, 2026.

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