Softwr

Aviation & Aerospace · head to head

SkyDemon vs X-Plane 12

SkyDemon logo

SkyDemon

Aviation & Aerospace

VFR flight planning for European pilots

From
€150/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
X-Plane 12 logo

X-Plane 12

Aviation & Aerospace

Professional flight simulation software

From
$59.99/lifetime
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: SkyDemon the first year costs 118 GBP against a 90 GBP renewal, so the entry price is higher than the ongoing one; 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: SkyDemon covers VFR planning, X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where SkyDemon and X-Plane 12 differ
AttributeSkyDemonX-Plane 12
Starting price€150/year$59.99/lifetime
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
PlatformsIos, Android, Windows, MacosWindows, Macos, Linux
Founded20091995

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Aviation & Aerospace).

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 SkyDemon

  • VFR planning
  • Airspace display
  • Weather overlay
  • Navigation
  • Flight logging
  • Traffic receivers
  • FLARM
  • ADS-B

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.

SkyDemon

  • VFR flight planning and navigation for general aviationnot X-Plane 12
  • In flight moving map and airspace awareness on a tabletnot X-Plane 12

X-Plane 12

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

Where each one falls short

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

SkyDemon

  • The first year costs 118 GBP against a 90 GBP renewal, so the entry price is higher than the ongoing one
  • Extra airfield maps and flight guides are sold as separate annual subscriptions on top of the base licence
  • Prices for those additional regional guides are not listed on the store page

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

SkyDemon

€150/year
  • SkyDemon$150/year
    • Flight planning
    • European charts
    • Weather data
  • SkyDemon + Australia$220/year
    • Europe + Australia
    • All features
    • Extended coverage

X-Plane 12

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

Which should you pick?

Choose SkyDemon if

  • You need vfr planning.
  • You work on Ios, Android, Windows, Macos.
  • You also want airspace display.
SkyDemon 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 SkyDemon or X-Plane 12 better?
Neither clearly leads. SkyDemon starts at €150/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, SkyDemon or X-Plane 12?
SkyDemon starts at €150/year and X-Plane 12 at $59.99/lifetime.
Does SkyDemon or X-Plane 12 run on more platforms?
SkyDemon runs on Ios, Android, Windows, Macos. X-Plane 12 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
What is SkyDemon best used for?
SkyDemon is most often used for vfr flight planning and navigation for general aviation, in flight moving map and airspace awareness on a tablet. Of those, vfr flight planning and navigation for general aviation and in flight moving map and airspace awareness on a tablet are not what X-Plane 12 is typically brought in for.
What can SkyDemon do that X-Plane 12 cannot?
SkyDemon covers VFR planning, Airspace display, Weather overlay, Navigation. X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, Global scenery, Realistic aircraft, Weather simulation. Both handle Windows support, Macos support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on SkyDemon

More on X-Plane 12

Keep looking

Other head to heads