Softwr

Aviation · head to head

EFB Pro vs simBrief

EFB Pro logo

EFB Pro

Aviation

Electronic Flight Bag for professional aviation operations

From
$149.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
simBrief logo

simBrief

Aviation

Free online flight planning for flight simulators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only simBrief has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: EFB Pro aircraft type support is limited to a published list on CAVU's own site; adding a new aircraft type requires contacting CAVU directly rather than self-service configuration; simBrief the free version uses a navigation database the vendor describes as slightly outdated by default
  • They diverge on capability: EFB Pro covers Weight and balance, simBrief covers Weather integration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which EFB Pro and simBrief actually diverge.

Attributes where EFB Pro and simBrief differ
AttributeEFB ProsimBrief
Starting price$149.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIos, Android, WindowsWeb
Founded20102009

Identical on both: 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 EFB Pro

  • Weight and balance
  • Performance planning
  • Aeronautical charts
  • In-flight management
  • FMS systems
  • Dispatch systems
  • Weather services
  • Crew management

Only in simBrief

  • Weather integration
  • NOTAM analysis
  • Fuel calculation
  • Briefing generation
  • Real weather
  • NOTAM data
  • Aircraft database
  • Export formats

Both cover

  • Flight planning

What people use each for

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

EFB Pro

  • Commercial operationsnot simBrief
  • Crew trainingnot simBrief
  • Flight performancenot simBrief
  • Dispatch coordinationnot simBrief

simBrief

  • Generating realistic flight plans and briefing packs for flight simulationnot EFB Pro
  • Calculating fuel, routing and weight and balance for simulated flightsnot EFB Pro

Where each one falls short

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

EFB Pro

  • Aircraft type support is limited to a published list on CAVU's own site; adding a new aircraft type requires contacting CAVU directly rather than self-service configuration
  • Requires iOS 15.6 or later, per the App Store listing

simBrief

  • The free version uses a navigation database the vendor describes as slightly outdated by default
  • Current navigation data updated every 28 days requires a separate Navigraph subscription
  • Jeppesen IFR and VFR charts require the higher Navigraph Unlimited subscription
  • Neither subscription price is stated on the SimBrief site, since both are sold by Navigraph

Pricing, plan by plan

EFB Pro

$149.99/month
  • Standard$149.99/month
    • Flight planning
    • Charts access
    • Weight and balance
  • Enterprise$299.99/month
    • All Standard features
    • Crew training
    • Custom integrations

simBrief

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Flight planning
    • Weather analysis
    • Fuel planning

Which should you pick?

Choose EFB Pro if

  • You need weight and balance.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Windows.
  • You also want performance planning.
EFB Pro review

Choose simBrief if

  • You need weather integration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want notam analysis.
simBrief review

Questions people ask

Is EFB Pro or simBrief better?
Neither clearly leads. EFB Pro starts at $149.99/month and simBrief at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, EFB Pro or simBrief?
simBrief has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $149.99/month for EFB Pro and Free for simBrief.
Does EFB Pro or simBrief run on more platforms?
EFB Pro runs on Ios, Android, Windows. simBrief runs on Web.
Can I use simBrief for free?
Yes. simBrief has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. EFB Pro starts at $149.99/month.
What is EFB Pro best used for?
EFB Pro is most often used for commercial operations, crew training, flight performance, dispatch coordination. Of those, commercial operations and crew training are not what simBrief is typically brought in for.
What can EFB Pro do that simBrief cannot?
EFB Pro covers Weight and balance, Performance planning, Aeronautical charts, In-flight management. simBrief covers Weather integration, NOTAM analysis, Fuel calculation, Briefing generation. Both handle Flight planning.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

simBrief: Is SimBrief free to use?

Yes, SimBrief is free to use. It is a free flight planning service provided by Navigraph for Flight Simulation enthusiasts. Creating a Navigraph account is free, quick, and easy.

Source
simBrief: What does SimBrief provide for flight planning?

SimBrief is a web-based dispatching system that generates in-depth flight plan packages featuring detailed fuel planning, weather forecasts, current NOTAMs, ETOPS calculations, and much more in seconds.

Source
simBrief: Can I upgrade SimBrief for better features?

SimBrief is free by default and uses a slightly outdated navigation database. You can purchase a Navigraph subscription after registering to access the latest navigation database and additional features.

Source
simBrief: How do I access SimBrief?

To access SimBrief, you need to sign in using a Navigraph account. You can create a free Navigraph account from the SimBrief website.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on EFB Pro

More on simBrief

Keep looking

Other head to heads