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Aviation · head to head

DUATS vs simBrief

DUATS logo

DUATS

Aviation

FAA Direct User Access Terminal System for flight briefings

From
$9.95/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
simBrief logo

simBrief

Aviation

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: DUATS service has been discontinued as of May 2018; simBrief the free version uses a navigation database the vendor describes as slightly outdated by default
  • They diverge on capability: DUATS covers Flight briefings, simBrief covers Weather integration.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DUATS and simBrief actually diverge.

Attributes where DUATS and simBrief differ
AttributeDUATSsimBrief
Starting price$9.95/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb
Founded19902009

Identical on both: 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 DUATS

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

Only in simBrief

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

Both cover

  • Flight planning
  • Plan sharing
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

DUATS

  • Flight briefingnot simBrief
  • Flight planningnot simBrief
  • Flight filingnot simBrief
  • Weather briefingnot simBrief

simBrief

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

Where each one falls short

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

DUATS

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

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  • The free version uses a navigation database the vendor describes as slightly outdated by default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

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

simBrief

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

Which should you pick?

Choose DUATS if

  • You need flight briefings.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want weather data.
DUATS 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 DUATS or simBrief better?
Neither clearly leads. DUATS starts at $9.95/month and simBrief at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DUATS or simBrief?
simBrief has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $9.95/month for DUATS and Free for simBrief.
Does DUATS or simBrief run on more platforms?
DUATS runs on Web, Ios, Android. simBrief runs on Web.
Can I use simBrief for free?
Yes. simBrief has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DUATS starts at $9.95/month.
What is DUATS best used for?
DUATS is most often used for flight briefing, flight planning, flight filing, weather briefing. Of those, flight briefing and flight planning are not what simBrief is typically brought in for.
What can DUATS do that simBrief cannot?
DUATS covers Flight briefings, Weather data, Flight filing, NOTAMs. simBrief covers Weather integration, NOTAM analysis, Fuel calculation, Briefing generation. Both handle Flight planning, Plan sharing, Web 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
simBrief: Is SimBrief free to use?

Yes, SimBrief is free to use. It is a free flight planning service provided by Navigraph for Flight Simulation enthusiasts. Creating a Navigraph account is free, quick, and easy.

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
simBrief: What does SimBrief provide for flight planning?

SimBrief is a web-based dispatching system that generates in-depth flight plan packages featuring detailed fuel planning, weather forecasts, current NOTAMs, ETOPS calculations, and much more in seconds.

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
simBrief: Can I upgrade SimBrief for better features?

SimBrief is free by default and uses a slightly outdated navigation database. You can purchase a Navigraph subscription after registering to access the latest navigation database and additional features.

Source
simBrief: How do I access SimBrief?

To access SimBrief, you need to sign in using a Navigraph account. You can create a free Navigraph account from the SimBrief website.

Source
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