C172 Performance vs PilotPal
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- Offline charts
- Airport Facility Directories
- Airport Diagrams
- Airport Information (Maps, Frequencies, Elevation, Helipads)
- Monthly updated FAA charts
- Nearby and favorite airports
- Airport search
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | C172 Performance | PilotPal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (52 ratings) — better | 4.7 (663 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 90.0% of reviews — better | 55.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 52 | 663 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Ad-supported — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 19 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | POH Performance L.L.C. | Tinybyte Apps LLC |
Customer experience
C172 Performance
PilotPal
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
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- Comprehensive chart supplement data (VFR corridors, visual reporting points, VOR test locations)
In-app purchases
C172 Performance
No in-app purchases
PilotPal
- Airport Diagrams$0.991 Month
- PilotPal Monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
- PilotPal Pro3 Days trial$19.991 Year
Questions
Is C172 Performance free?
Is PilotPal free?
Which has better reviews, C172 Performance or PilotPal?
Do C172 Performance or PilotPal have ads?
Which is updated more often, C172 Performance or PilotPal?
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