Softwr

Aviation · head to head

Safelog Pilot Logbook vs X-Plane 12

Safelog Pilot Logbook logo

Safelog Pilot Logbook

Aviation

Cross-platform electronic pilot logbook

From
$59/year
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: Safelog Pilot Logbook full functionality requires a paid subscription sold in fixed multi-year blocks priced at $44.99 for 1 year, $139.99 for 3 years, $199.99 for 5 years and $349.99 for 10 years; 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: Safelog Pilot Logbook covers Flight logging, 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 Safelog Pilot Logbook and X-Plane 12 actually diverge.

Attributes where Safelog Pilot Logbook and X-Plane 12 differ
AttributeSafelog Pilot LogbookX-Plane 12
Starting price$59/year$59.99/lifetime
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
PlatformsWindows, Macos, Ios, Android, WebWindows, Macos, Linux
Founded19981995

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 Safelog Pilot Logbook

  • Flight logging
  • Currency tracking
  • Report generation
  • Cross-platform
  • Cloud sync
  • Schedule importers
  • FlightAware
  • CSV import

Only in X-Plane 12

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

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • Macos support

What people use each for

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

Safelog Pilot Logbook

  • Keeping a pilot logbook synchronised across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and web from one subscriptionnot X-Plane 12
  • Producing PDF logbook reports in FAA, EASA, UK CAP 407 and Transport Canada formatsnot X-Plane 12
  • Checking currency and flight time totals with built-in analyzersnot X-Plane 12

X-Plane 12

  • Flight simulation for private pilots and enthusiastsnot Safelog Pilot Logbook
  • Procedure practice and aircraft familiarisationnot Safelog Pilot Logbook

Where each one falls short

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

Safelog Pilot Logbook

  • Full functionality requires a paid subscription sold in fixed multi-year blocks priced at $44.99 for 1 year, $139.99 for 3 years, $199.99 for 5 years and $349.99 for 10 years
  • The iOS app requires iOS 13.0 or later

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

Safelog Pilot Logbook

$59/year
  • Safelog$59/year
    • Cross-platform sync
    • Unlimited entries
    • Currency tracking
  • Safelog Pro$99/year
    • Everything in Safelog
    • Advanced reports
    • Schedule import

X-Plane 12

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Safelog Pilot Logbook if

  • You need flight logging.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Ios, Android, Web.
  • You also want currency tracking.
Safelog Pilot Logbook 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 Safelog Pilot Logbook or X-Plane 12 better?
Neither clearly leads. Safelog Pilot Logbook starts at $59/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, Safelog Pilot Logbook or X-Plane 12?
Safelog Pilot Logbook starts at $59/year and X-Plane 12 at $59.99/lifetime.
Does Safelog Pilot Logbook or X-Plane 12 run on more platforms?
Safelog Pilot Logbook runs on Windows, Macos, Ios, Android, Web. X-Plane 12 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
What is Safelog Pilot Logbook best used for?
Safelog Pilot Logbook is most often used for keeping a pilot logbook synchronised across windows, mac, ios, android and web from one subscription, producing pdf logbook reports in faa, easa, uk cap 407 and transport canada formats, checking currency and flight time totals with built-in analyzers. Of those, keeping a pilot logbook synchronised across windows, mac, ios, android and web from one subscription and producing pdf logbook reports in faa, easa, uk cap 407 and transport canada formats are not what X-Plane 12 is typically brought in for.
What can Safelog Pilot Logbook do that X-Plane 12 cannot?
Safelog Pilot Logbook covers Flight logging, Currency tracking, Report generation, Cross-platform. X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, Global scenery, Realistic aircraft, Weather simulation. Both handle Windows support, Macos 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
Share

Related pages

More on Safelog Pilot Logbook

More on X-Plane 12

Keep looking

Other head to heads