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Aviation · head to head

1800wxbrief vs DUATS

1800wxbrief logo

1800wxbrief

Aviation

Automated flight briefing and weather service

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DUATS logo

DUATS

Aviation

FAA Direct User Access Terminal System for flight briefings

From
$9.95/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 1800wxbrief website technical issues including SSL certificate problems and login errors; DUATS service has been discontinued as of May 2018
  • They diverge on capability: 1800wxbrief covers NOTAM information, DUATS covers Flight planning.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 1800wxbrief and DUATS actually diverge.

Attributes where 1800wxbrief and DUATS differ
Attribute1800wxbriefDUATS
Starting price$5/month$9.95/month
PlatformsWebWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20011990

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Aviation).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 1800wxbrief

  • NOTAM information
  • Phone service
  • Web access
  • ATC databases
  • Briefing sharing
  • Team access
  • Phone support

Only in DUATS

  • Flight planning
  • Flight filing
  • NOTAMs
  • Chart databases
  • ATC integration
  • FAA approved
  • Flight briefing
  • Plan sharing

Both cover

  • Flight briefings
  • Weather data
  • FAA systems
  • Weather services
  • Secure access
  • Data encryption
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

1800wxbrief

  • Flight briefing
  • Weather briefing
  • Pre-flight informationnot DUATS

DUATS

  • Flight briefing
  • Flight planningnot 1800wxbrief
  • Flight filingnot 1800wxbrief
  • Weather briefing

Both are used for flight briefing, weather briefing, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

1800wxbrief

  • Website technical issues including SSL certificate problems and login errors
  • Wind information display occasionally unavailable on flight plan optimization screens
  • Navlog formatting not optimized for kneeboard use
  • User interface considered less attractive than competing options

DUATS

  • Service has been discontinued as of May 2018
  • No longer available for flight planning or briefing

Pricing, plan by plan

1800wxbrief

$5/month
  • Casual$5/month
    • Flight briefings
    • Weather data
    • Phone access
  • Professional$15/month
    • All Casual features
    • Unlimited briefings
    • Priority support

DUATS

$9.95/month
  • Basic$9.95/month
    • Flight briefings
    • Weather data
    • Flight planning
  • Premium$29.95/month
    • All Basic features
    • Advanced weather
    • Priority briefings

Which should you pick?

Choose 1800wxbrief if

  • You need notam information.
  • You also want phone service.
1800wxbrief review

Choose DUATS if

  • You need flight planning.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want flight filing.
DUATS review

Questions people ask

Is 1800wxbrief or DUATS better?
Neither clearly leads. 1800wxbrief starts at $5/month and DUATS at $9.95/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 1800wxbrief or DUATS?
1800wxbrief starts at $5/month and DUATS at $9.95/month.
Does 1800wxbrief or DUATS run on more platforms?
1800wxbrief runs on Web. DUATS runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is 1800wxbrief best used for?
1800wxbrief is most often used for flight briefing, weather briefing, pre-flight information. Of those, pre-flight information is not what DUATS is typically brought in for.
What can 1800wxbrief do that DUATS cannot?
1800wxbrief covers NOTAM information, Phone service, Web access, ATC databases. DUATS covers Flight planning, Flight filing, NOTAMs, Chart databases. Both handle Flight briefings, Weather data, FAA systems, Weather services.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

1800wxbrief: Is 1800wxbrief free to use?

Yes, 1800wxbrief is a free government service operated by Leidos for the FAA. Pilots can access weather briefings and flight planning services at no cost.

Source
DUATS: Is DUATS still available?

No. The FAA discontinued the Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS II) on May 16, 2018.

Source
1800wxbrief: What weather briefing services does 1800wxbrief provide?

1800wxbrief provides standard, abbreviated, and outlook weather briefings. Standard briefings are used for flights within 6 hours and include all weather and NOTAM information. Outlook briefings are for flights planned more than 6 hours in advance.

Source
DUATS: Did DUATS cost money?

No. DUATS was free to all registered U.S. pilots and student pilots holding a current medical certificate.

Source
1800wxbrief: How can pilots access 1800wxbrief?

Pilots can access the service via the website at 1800wxbrief.com or by phone at 1-800-WX-BRIEF. The web portal allows online preflight briefings, flight plan filing, and automatic flight plan closure reminders.

Source
DUATS: What replaced DUATS?

Pilots now access internet-based weather, aeronautical information, and flight plan filing through the FAA flight service website at no charge.

Source
1800wxbrief: What additional features does the web portal offer?

The Flight Service Pilot Web Portal at 1800wxbrief.com provides weather graphics and charts, interactive mapping tools, preflight summaries and checklists, automated voice service, text message alerts, and search and rescue support.

Source
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