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DUATS vs FltPlan Go

DUATS logo

DUATS

Software

FAA Direct User Access Terminal System for flight briefings

From
$9.95/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FltPlan Go logo

FltPlan Go

Software

Integrated flight planning and filing platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only FltPlan Go has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: DUATS service has been discontinued as of May 2018; FltPlan Go fltPlan Go is described by the vendor as a free app, with no in app pricing tiers published on the marketing site
  • They diverge on capability: DUATS covers Flight briefings, FltPlan Go covers Route optimization.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DUATS and FltPlan Go actually diverge.

Attributes where DUATS and FltPlan Go differ
AttributeDUATSFltPlan Go
Starting price$9.95/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
Founded19902002

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 DUATS

  • Flight briefings
  • Weather data
  • NOTAMs
  • FAA systems
  • ATC integration
  • FAA approved
  • Secure access
  • Flight briefing

Only in FltPlan Go

  • Route optimization
  • Real-time tracking
  • Weight and balance
  • ATC systems
  • Flight tracking
  • Secure filing
  • Flight tracking
  • Crew coordination

Both cover

  • Flight planning
  • Flight filing
  • Weather services
  • Chart databases
  • Data encryption
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

DUATS

  • Flight briefingnot FltPlan Go
  • Flight planning
  • Flight filing
  • Weather briefingnot FltPlan Go

FltPlan Go

  • Flight planning
  • Flight filing
  • Flight trackingnot DUATS
  • Operations managementnot DUATS

Both are used for flight planning, flight filing, 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.

DUATS

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

FltPlan Go

  • FltPlan Go is described by the vendor as a free app, with no in app pricing tiers published on the marketing site

Pricing, plan by plan

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

FltPlan Go

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic flight planning
    • Route optimization
    • Limited filing
  • Premium$49.99/month
    • Advanced planning
    • Unlimited filing
    • Real-time tracking

Which should you pick?

Choose DUATS if

  • You need flight briefings.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want weather data.
DUATS review

Choose FltPlan Go if

  • You need route optimization.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want real-time tracking.
FltPlan Go review

Questions people ask

Is DUATS or FltPlan Go better?
Neither clearly leads. DUATS starts at $9.95/month and FltPlan Go at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DUATS or FltPlan Go?
FltPlan Go has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $9.95/month for DUATS and Free for FltPlan Go.
Does DUATS or FltPlan Go run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use FltPlan Go for free?
Yes. FltPlan Go has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DUATS starts at $9.95/month.
What is DUATS best used for?
DUATS is most often used for flight briefing, flight planning, flight filing, weather briefing. Of those, flight briefing and weather briefing are not what FltPlan Go is typically brought in for.
What can DUATS do that FltPlan Go cannot?
DUATS covers Flight briefings, Weather data, NOTAMs, FAA systems. FltPlan Go covers Route optimization, Real-time tracking, Weight and balance, ATC systems. Both handle Flight planning, Flight filing, Weather services, Chart databases.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DUATS: Is DUATS still available?

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

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
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
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Related pages

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