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Aviation · head to head

EFB Pro vs X-Plane 12

EFB Pro logo

EFB Pro

Aviation

Electronic Flight Bag for professional aviation operations

From
$149.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
X-Plane 12 logo

X-Plane 12

Aviation

Professional flight simulation software

From
$59.99/lifetime
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; X-Plane 12 commercial and professional use requires a separate licence at $1,000, against $59.99 for the personal digital download
  • They diverge on capability: EFB Pro covers Flight planning, X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which EFB Pro and X-Plane 12 actually diverge.

Attributes where EFB Pro and X-Plane 12 differ
AttributeEFB ProX-Plane 12
Starting price$149.99/month$59.99/lifetime
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
PlatformsIos, Android, WindowsWindows, Macos, Linux
Founded20101995

Identical on both: 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 EFB Pro

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

Only in X-Plane 12

  • Flight physics
  • Global scenery
  • Realistic aircraft
  • Weather simulation
  • ATC system
  • Plugins
  • Add-ons
  • VR headsets

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

EFB Pro

  • Commercial operationsnot X-Plane 12
  • Crew trainingnot X-Plane 12
  • Flight performancenot X-Plane 12
  • Dispatch coordinationnot X-Plane 12

X-Plane 12

  • Flight simulation for private pilots and enthusiastsnot EFB Pro
  • Procedure practice and aircraft familiarisationnot 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

X-Plane 12

  • Commercial and professional use requires a separate licence at $1,000, against $59.99 for the personal digital download
  • The personal edition therefore cannot be used for paid training or commercial simulation
  • The professional edition is a distinct product rather than an upgrade path

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

X-Plane 12

$59.99/lifetime
  • X-Plane 12$59.99/lifetime
    • Full simulator
    • Global scenery
    • Realistic physics

Which should you pick?

Choose EFB Pro if

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

Choose X-Plane 12 if

  • You need flight physics.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want global scenery.
X-Plane 12 review

Questions people ask

Is EFB Pro or X-Plane 12 better?
Neither clearly leads. EFB Pro starts at $149.99/month and X-Plane 12 at $59.99/lifetime, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, EFB Pro or X-Plane 12?
EFB Pro starts at $149.99/month and X-Plane 12 at $59.99/lifetime.
Does EFB Pro or X-Plane 12 run on more platforms?
EFB Pro runs on Ios, Android, Windows. X-Plane 12 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
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 X-Plane 12 is typically brought in for.
What can EFB Pro do that X-Plane 12 cannot?
EFB Pro covers Flight planning, Weight and balance, Performance planning, Aeronautical charts. X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, Global scenery, Realistic aircraft, Weather simulation. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

X-Plane 12: How much does X-Plane 12 Personal Edition cost?

X-Plane 12 Personal Edition is priced at $59.99 for digital download, the same price on Steam, or $99.99 for the DVD set.

Source
X-Plane 12: What is the pricing difference for professional use of X-Plane 12?

Professional-use versions are significantly more expensive, ranging from $1,000 for digital downloads to $1,250 for USB keys.

Source
X-Plane 12: How do I activate X-Plane 12 after purchasing the digital download?

When you purchase the digital download edition, you will receive an email confirmation with instructions on how to use and activate X-Plane 12.

Source
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