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Software · head to head

ForeFlight vs DUATS

ForeFlight logo

ForeFlight

Software

Comprehensive flight planning and pilot briefing app

From
$130/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
DUATS logo

DUATS

Software

FAA Direct User Access Terminal System for flight briefings

From
$9.95/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ForeFlight device restrictions: 2 iPads and 1 iPhone, or 1 iPad and 2 iPhones per licence; DUATS service has been discontinued as of May 2018
  • They diverge on capability: ForeFlight covers Aeronautical charts, DUATS covers Flight briefings.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ForeFlight and DUATS actually diverge.

Attributes where ForeFlight and DUATS differ
AttributeForeFlightDUATS
Starting price$130/year$9.95/month
PlatformsiPad, iPhoneWeb, Ios, Android
Founded20071990

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 ForeFlight

  • Aeronautical charts
  • Weather briefings
  • Navigation
  • Weight & balance
  • Garmin avionics
  • Jeppesen charts
  • ADS-B receivers
  • ARINC Direct

Only in DUATS

  • Flight briefings
  • Weather data
  • Flight filing
  • NOTAMs
  • FAA systems
  • Weather services
  • Chart databases
  • ATC integration

Both cover

  • Flight planning
  • Data encryption
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

ForeFlight

  • Flight planning and navigation for pilotsnot DUATS
  • Aviation weather and digital logbooknot DUATS
  • Airport information and terrain profilingnot DUATS

DUATS

  • Flight briefingnot ForeFlight
  • Flight planningnot ForeFlight
  • Flight filingnot ForeFlight
  • Weather briefingnot ForeFlight

Where each one falls short

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

ForeFlight

  • Device restrictions: 2 iPads and 1 iPhone, or 1 iPad and 2 iPhones per licence
  • Geographic region limited to one per subscription
  • Annual billing only, no monthly option
  • Starter plan lacks Synthetic Vision and advanced planning tools
  • Essential plan lacks pre-built aircraft profiles and fuel planning

DUATS

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

Pricing, plan by plan

ForeFlight

$130/year

No published plan breakdown. See the ForeFlight review.

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 ForeFlight if

  • You need aeronautical charts.
  • You work on iPad, iPhone.
  • You also want weather briefings.
ForeFlight review

Choose DUATS if

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

Questions people ask

Is ForeFlight or DUATS better?
Neither clearly leads. ForeFlight starts at $130/year and DUATS at $9.95/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ForeFlight or DUATS?
ForeFlight starts at $130/year and DUATS at $9.95/month.
Does ForeFlight or DUATS run on more platforms?
ForeFlight runs on iPad, iPhone. DUATS runs on Web, Ios, Android.
What is ForeFlight best used for?
ForeFlight is most often used for flight planning and navigation for pilots, aviation weather and digital logbook, airport information and terrain profiling. Of those, flight planning and navigation for pilots and aviation weather and digital logbook are not what DUATS is typically brought in for.
What can ForeFlight do that DUATS cannot?
ForeFlight covers Aeronautical charts, Weather briefings, Navigation, Weight & balance. DUATS covers Flight briefings, Weather data, Flight filing, NOTAMs. Both handle Flight planning, Data encryption, Ios support, Android support.

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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