Which Aviation Apps Are Actually Worth Paying For?

The Thrifty Pilot
6 minutes ago
10 min read

Whether you’re flying GA, working on an airline, training for your license, or just enjoying flight simulators at home, your smartphone or tablet can be a powerful co-pilot. There’s no shortage of free aviation apps, but many of them have limited features or nag you to subscribe. In this guide we’ll cut through the clutter and highlight the paid (or freemium) apps that truly deliver. We focus on iOS/Android cross-platform tools in key categories – electronic flight bags (EFB) and flight planning, weather and navigation, and pilot training. For each app we explain why the subscription or one-time cost is justified, and which pilots benefit most.

EFB & Flight Planning Apps

In the cockpit, a modern EFB app can replace charts, GPS boxes, and even a physical logbook. Top-tier EFBs put moving maps, approach plates, weather overlays and flight plan filing at your fingertips. A good app is worth paying for if it saves time or enhances safety. Here are the heavy-hitters:

Garmin Pilot – Platforms: iOS, Android. Pricing: ~$109/year (Basic) or ~$179/year (Pro, includes geo-referenced charts, SAFETAXI airport diagrams, Jeppesen data, etc.). Garmin Pilot offers split-screen map/chart layouts, terminal and enroute IFR charts (depending on plan), fuel/weight calculators, and seamless sync with Garmin panel avionics. It works offline and even integrates ADS-B traffic/weather inputs if you have a receiver. Best for: GA and IFR pilots who want an all-in-one EFB with Garmin integration. Professional and corporate pilots often choose Garmin for its chart coverage and display flexibility.
SkyDemon – Platforms: iOS, Android. Pricing: ~$161/year (global data included). SkyDemon bundles VFR and IFR charts for the entire world into one subscription. It excels at visual flight planning: plotting routes, checking TFRs/NOTAMs graphically, and overlaying live weather. Even if you’re outside Europe (SkyDemon’s origin), its global Nav data and clever “flight plan analyser” are valuable. Best for: VFR/IFR cross-country pilots (especially in Europe) who like big-picture situational awareness, plus pilots on complex routes who appreciate its unlimited coverage.
ForeFlight – Platforms: iOS only (for context). Pricing: ~$99–199/year depending on package. ForeFlight is the industry standard EFB for iPad. It combines moving maps, Jeppesen IFR charts, weather graphics, weight & balance, an electronic logbook, and more all in one app. It’s not cross-platform (no Android version), but if you’re an iPad pilot it’s worth mentioning. Best for: U.S. GA pilots and students who already use Apple devices and want the most polished, full-featured app. Note that Android users will need alternatives.
FltPlan Go – Platforms: iOS, Android. Pricing: Free (no subscription). FltPlan Go is an excellent no-cost option. It provides FAA IFR/VFR maps, flight plan filing, PDF charts, and ADS-B traffic/weather (with a receiver). It even syncs plans with FltPlan.com for flight service. Best for: Budget-conscious pilots and student pilots who fly primarily in the U.S. Anyone who files flight plans or tracks flights will find FltPlan Go useful. It lacks some polish of paid apps, but as a free EFB it’s hard to beat.

For mounting your tablet, a sturdy accessory pays dividends. For example, a simple pilot kneeboard can keep your iPad or Android device secure in the cockpit. Accessories like this often cost under $50, a small price for safely anchoring an expensive EFB device.

Below is a quick comparison of the top EFB apps:

App	Platforms	Pricing	Key Features	Best For
Garmin Pilot	iOS, Android	~$109/yr (Basic), ~$179/yr Pro	Split-screen charts/maps, Jepp plates*, GTN-like menus, traffic/weather support	GA/Commercial pilots needing a full-featured EFB, Garmin avionics users
SkyDemon	iOS, Android	~$161/yr (global)	Global VFR/IFR charts included, tactical route planning, NOTAM/airspace visuals	VFR/IFR cross-country flyers (especially Europe/US)
ForeFlight	iOS only	~$99–199/yr depending on plan	All-in-one EFB: moving maps, weather layers, charts, logbook	U.S. pilots on Apple devices seeking industry-standard EFB
FltPlan Go	iOS, Android	Free	Flight plan filing, FAA charts, ADS-B weather/traffic (with hardware)	Budget pilots and students needing a free planning tool
AirNav Pro	Android (tablet)	~$59.99 one-time	U.S. IFR/VFR charts, airport diagrams, weather overlays	Android users who need FAA chart and weather viewer

(Note: Prices as of 2024; subscriptions often have multi-year discounts or bundled deals. Always check the current app store or vendor.)

Beyond EFB charts, consider apps for nav aides: Some pilots like NavPlanner or FltDeckPro, but they often duplicate above features. Whatever you choose, the value of a paid app is that it reliably updates charts/weather and packs multiple tools in one place.

Weather and Flight Info Apps

Good weather briefings are crucial for every flight. General public weather apps (like the default phone weather) usually aren’t detailed enough for cockpit use. Paid aviation weather apps combine METARs, TAFs, radar, and forecasting tools in pilot-friendly ways. The ones worth paying for are ones that save you time or give clearer insights:

StationWeather – Platforms: iOS, Android. Pricing: ~$2.99/2 months or ~$8.99/year (Pro). StationWeather displays METAR/TAFs for any airport in a clean interface. Its standout feature is the weather widget: you can add up to four airport METARs right on your phone’s home screen, updating automatically. In-flight, pilots tell us they love how fast and visual it is to thumb through forecasts. Best for: GA pilots on quick trips who want instant insight into several airports’ weather. Hobby pilots on IFR or VFR trips often use it as a daily weather quick-check (instead of a phone generic app).
WeatherSpork – Platforms: iOS, Android. Pricing: $49.99/year (after free trial). WeatherSpork is a “route-oriented” weather planner. You enter your departure, destination, and alternates, and it pulls multiple forecast models to suggest the best departure time and show weather profiles along your route. It has fancy visual tools like isobaric maps, turbulence forecasts, and a meteorology training twist – it’s made by weather instructors to teach you. Best for: IFR pilots and cross-country planners who fly 100+ nm flights and want detailed forecasts. A student pilot can learn a lot about meteorology; an IFR pilot on a big trip will appreciate the big-picture planning (the yearly cost is similar to a tank of fuel for most light planes).
Windy – Platforms: iOS, Android. Pricing: Free (ad-supported) or ~$12/year to remove ads. Windy provides global weather maps with layers like wind speeds, precipitation, lightning, and more. It uses multiple forecast models. You can drop markers or even load flight routes from SkyVector. Best for: Any pilot who likes a free, big-picture weather view. Unlike the others above, Windy is not aviation-specific but its easy animations and detail make it excellent for daydream planning or long cross-country weather checks.
RadarScope – Platforms: iOS, Android. Pricing: $9.99 one-time app, plus optional data subscriptions ($10–$15/month for additional radar networks). RadarScope gives you official NEXRAD radar (including dual-pol and lightning) on your device. It’s essentially a mobile radar workstation. Best for: IFR pilots and CFIs who fly near convective weather and want precise storm detail. If you’re flying through thunderstorm country or training to read radar, the detailed data can be worth the extra fee.
MyRadar – Platforms: iOS, Android. Pricing: Free with ads; $2.99 to remove ads. MyRadar is a simple animated radar app. It’s not aviation-specific (just like the built-in apps), but it loads fast and overlays weather nicely. It also has nearby airports’ METARs if you tap on them. Best for: Quick checks on mobile device for weather enroute – a refresher before stepping into the cockpit. And it’s almost free.
FlightAware – Platforms: iOS, Android, Web. Pricing: Free basic service. Not a flight planning app per se, but FlightAware’s live flight tracker and airport info is invaluable for general situational awareness. It shows global airline flight statuses, any tracked GA flight by tail or flight number, and FBO info. Best for: Commercial pilots checking flight schedules, or GA pilots who want to monitor their inflight position visually. Even flight simmers (on VATSIM/PE) use it to simulate real traffic.

Flight planning can also involve forecasting. Don’t overlook ForeFlight’s graphical briefing (even though it’s iOS-only). Its weather briefing summary is free via any web browser, letting you view winds aloft, icing, etc. Likewise, the free NOAA Flight Service app or AOPA’s charts app can supplement a subscription app for cross-checking.

TFRs and Notices

There are free apps for things like TFRs (e.g. FAA’s B4UFly or avmetTCICONTR by PilotYourFlight) but paid solutions often bundle them. Both Garmin Pilot and ForeFlight automatically overlay active TFRs and NOTAMs. If your subscription includes those (Garmin’s ChartView or ForeFlight’s Plates), you get one-stop briefings. If not, simple apps like AOPA Traffic (iOS/Android, free) or ActiveSky (for PC pilots) can alert you. Paid or not, every pilot should check NOTAMs and TFRs via at least a free official source before flying.

Pilot Training & Simulation Apps

Flight simulator enthusiasts and students have their own must-haves. Many are free, but a couple paid apps stand out:

ASA Test Prep Apps – Platforms: iOS, Android. Pricing: ~$24.99 each (Private, Instrument, Commercial). ASA sells FAA knowledge test prep apps (Private, Instrument, etc.) that mimic the actual FAA exam questions. They are well-organized by subject and include explanations. If you’re a student preparing for a written exam, these are worth it for the convenience of quizzing anywhere. ASA also offers companion textbooks (affordable on Amazon) that include hundreds of practice questions. For example, the 2023 ASA Private Pilot Test Prep book is a great supplement. Best for: Student pilots studying for FAA written tests.
PilotEdge Onboard – Platforms: iOS, Android. Pricing: ~$19.95/month (home use only). PilotEdge is a network of real air traffic controllers for flight sim pilots. The Onboard app connects your simulator (X-Plane, MSFS) to live ATC on PilotEdge. You pay for the entire network (about $100/year). Best for: Flight simmers who want realistic ATC for IFR training. Although it’s an add-on service, the app makes it possible.
VATSIM Pilot (formerly iPilots) – Platforms: iOS, Android. Pricing: Free. If you use VATSIM (online ATC for sims), the VATSIM Pilot app shows controllers and nearby traffic. It’s unofficial but handy. Best for: VATSIM users who want an app on top of the desktop software.
Logbook Apps – Many pilots use digital logbooks. The premium one is ForeFlight Logbook (iOS/Android, with paid plans), but free alternatives like Logbook Pro or MyFlightbook (free web/mobile logbook) are popular. These aren’t “aviation apps” per se, but if you pay for them, it’s for convenience of automatic backups and analysis. Best for: Pilots who move tens of hours of flight into a logbook each year and want analysis (aircraft/time breakdowns) on their phone.

In summary, training apps tend to be inexpensive ($10–30) or even free. The biggest investment is usually in test prep (books or apps) and, for simmers, in network subscriptions like PilotEdge.

A Table of Top Apps

To compare some of the above, here’s a quick reference table of key apps in different categories:

App	Category	Platforms	Pricing	Highlights
Garmin Pilot	EFB/Flight Planner	iOS, Android	$109–179/yr (with IFR charts)	Split-screen maps/charts, Jepp plates*, Garmin avionics sync (GTN style), ADS-B weather/traffic display
SkyDemon	EFB/Flight Planner	iOS, Android	~$161/yr (global access)	Worldwide VFR/IFR charts, intuitive route planning, auto-briefings, useful outside US
ForeFlight	EFB/Flight Planner	iOS only	$99–199/yr (tiered)	All-in-one EFB with weather graphics, logs, plates, weight & balance, NavData; top choice for iPad pilots
FltPlan Go	Flight Planner (free)	iOS, Android	Free	FAA IFR filing, GPS nav, XM weather (with sub), ADS-B support, GPS moving map
StationWeather	Weather/METAR Checker	iOS, Android	$2.99/2 mo or $8.99/yr	Fast METAR/TAF display, multiple-home-screen widgets for airports, cheap subscription
WeatherSpork	Weather Forecast Tool	iOS, Android	$49.99/yr	High-res route planner, cross-section and profile views, model comparisons, weather education
Windy	Weather Visualization	iOS, Android	Free (ads) / ~$12/yr (ad-free)	Detailed weather maps (wind, precipitation, lightning), global coverage, altimeter & GRIB data
RadarScope	Radar Lightning Map	iOS, Android	$9.99 app + subs ($5–$15/mo)	NEXRAD radar (dual-pol), storm structure, lightning; requires subscription for all features
ASA Test Prep	Exam Prep (FAA tests)	iOS, Android	~$24.99/app per certificate	Real FAA question banks, answer explanations, offline study for Private/Instrument/Commercial
PilotEdge Onboard	Flight Sim ATC Client	iOS, Android	$99/yr (all areas)	Connects sim to real controllers on PilotEdge network, authentic US ATC environment
FlightAware	Flight Tracking	iOS, Android	Free (Premium uplink available)	Live GPS tracking of flights worldwide, airport delays and FBO info, ADS-B coverage view

(Prices are approximate and may vary by region or sales.) This table is not exhaustive, but it shows how the paid apps stack up on platform and cost.

Putting It All Together

GA Pilots (Private/Commercial): An EFB app like Garmin Pilot (with ADS-B weather), plus a weather brief app (StationWeather or Windy), are generally worth the price for safety and convenience. If you already use an iPad in the cockpit, a subscription to Garmin or ForeFlight often pays for itself in time saved (and paper charts not needed). Also consider test prep apps/books if you’re studying, and a digital logbook to keep track of flights.
Student Pilots: Focus on apps that help you learn and check exam knowledge. The ASA FAA test prep apps or books are small investments for passing written exams. Use a free or low-cost EFB (like FltPlan Go) for navigation practice, and maybe a basic weather app (StationWeather) to get comfortable reading METARs.
Airliners and Corporate: You likely have company or official apps (Jepp FD, etc.), but Garmin Pilot often shows up as a personal backup. Flight tracking apps (FlightAware) can help in daily ops. Weather apps like Windy are handy for global overviews, but keep to approved devices per regulations.
Flight Simulators: In sim flying, value comes from realism. An affordable FSATC subscription (e.g. PilotEdge) is well worth it if you crave real ATC. Weather apps (like Windy or the free ones) are less critical in a simulator. Some simmers also use real EFB apps connected via tools (ForeFlight Mobile Link) for immersion, but that’s optional.

In all cases, many of the “worth paying for” apps are subscription-based. Think of them like insurance or training: the cost is small compared to the safety and efficiency gains, especially for high-hour pilots.

Remember, you don’t need to buy everything at once. Many apps offer trials or month-to-month plans. Try before you commit. But for categories like EFB and weather, it’s often true that a paying app will do more and less guesswork than a free one. When you find an app that fits your flying style – be it GA cross-country or sim IFR practice – it’s generally worth that subscription.

Happy flying (and app hunting), and fly safe!

Links EFB & Flight Planning Apps