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ForeFlight vs X-Plane 12

ForeFlight logo

ForeFlight

Software

Comprehensive flight planning and pilot briefing app

From
$130/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
X-Plane 12 logo

X-Plane 12

Software

Professional flight simulation software

From
$59.99/lifetime
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; 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: ForeFlight covers Flight planning, X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where ForeFlight and X-Plane 12 differ
AttributeForeFlightX-Plane 12
Starting price$130/year$59.99/lifetime
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
PlatformsiPad, iPhoneWindows, Macos, Linux
Founded20071995

Identical on both: 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

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

Only in X-Plane 12

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

What people use each for

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

ForeFlight

  • Flight planning and navigation for pilotsnot X-Plane 12
  • Aviation weather and digital logbooknot X-Plane 12
  • Airport information and terrain profilingnot X-Plane 12

X-Plane 12

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

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

ForeFlight

$130/year

No published plan breakdown. See the ForeFlight review.

X-Plane 12

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

Which should you pick?

Choose ForeFlight if

  • You need flight planning.
  • You work on iPad, iPhone.
  • You also want aeronautical charts.
ForeFlight 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 ForeFlight or X-Plane 12 better?
Neither clearly leads. ForeFlight starts at $130/year 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, ForeFlight or X-Plane 12?
ForeFlight starts at $130/year and X-Plane 12 at $59.99/lifetime.
Does ForeFlight or X-Plane 12 run on more platforms?
ForeFlight runs on iPad, iPhone. X-Plane 12 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
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 X-Plane 12 is typically brought in for.
What can ForeFlight do that X-Plane 12 cannot?
ForeFlight covers Flight planning, Aeronautical charts, Weather briefings, Navigation. X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, Global scenery, Realistic aircraft, Weather simulation.
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