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Software · head to head

ForeFlight vs simBrief

ForeFlight logo

ForeFlight

Software

Comprehensive flight planning and pilot briefing app

From
$130/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

simBrief

Software

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: ForeFlight device restrictions: 2 iPads and 1 iPhone, or 1 iPad and 2 iPhones per licence; simBrief the free version uses a navigation database the vendor describes as slightly outdated by default
  • They diverge on capability: ForeFlight covers Aeronautical charts, simBrief covers Weather integration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ForeFlight and simBrief actually diverge.

Attributes where ForeFlight and simBrief differ
AttributeForeFlightsimBrief
Starting price$130/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsiPad, iPhoneWeb
Founded20072009

Identical on both: 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 simBrief

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

Both cover

  • Flight planning
  • 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 simBrief
  • Aviation weather and digital logbooknot simBrief
  • Airport information and terrain profilingnot simBrief

simBrief

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

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

ForeFlight

$130/year

No published plan breakdown. See the ForeFlight review.

simBrief

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

Which should you pick?

Choose ForeFlight if

  • You need aeronautical charts.
  • You work on iPad, iPhone.
  • You also want weather briefings.
ForeFlight 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 ForeFlight or simBrief better?
Neither clearly leads. ForeFlight starts at $130/year and simBrief at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ForeFlight or simBrief?
simBrief has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $130/year for ForeFlight and Free for simBrief.
Does ForeFlight or simBrief run on more platforms?
ForeFlight runs on iPad, iPhone. simBrief runs on Web.
Can I use simBrief for free?
Yes. simBrief has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ForeFlight starts at $130/year.
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 simBrief is typically brought in for.
What can ForeFlight do that simBrief cannot?
ForeFlight covers Aeronautical charts, Weather briefings, Navigation, Weight & balance. simBrief covers Weather integration, NOTAM analysis, Fuel calculation, Briefing generation. Both handle Flight planning, Web support.
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