EFB comparison
Nine EFB apps, side by side.
Platforms, published prices, trials, charts, plates, 3D, offline, ADS-B and logbook for Ascent EFB, ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, SkyDemon, FltPlan Go, Avare, FlyQ EFB, iFly EFB and WingX. Every competitor cell was read from the vendor's own page and each column says which page and when.
Last verified
EFB app comparison table
Swipe the table sideways to see every app.
| Compared | Ascent EFBGeoSpatios Ours. Read from ascentefb.com and the App Store listing on November 10, 2026 | ForeFlightForeFlight (Boeing) Read from foreflight.com/pricing and App Store listing on November 10, 2026 | Garmin PilotGarmin Read from App Store listing and Google Play listing on November 10, 2026 | SkyDemonSkyDemon Read from skydemon.aero, SkyDemon store and In-flight features on November 10, 2026 | FltPlan GoFltPlan.com Read from FltPlan Go info page on November 10, 2026 | Avare / AvareXApps4Av Read from Avare project README and AvareX App Store listing on November 10, 2026 | FlyQ EFBSeattle Avionics Read from FlyQ EFB product page and App Store listing on November 10, 2026 | iFly EFBAdventure Pilot Read from iflyefb.com, iFly store and App Store listing on November 10, 2026 | WingXHilton Software Read from App Store listing on November 10, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iPhone and iPad only, iOS 18.0 or later. No Android, no Windows. | iPad and iPhone (2 iPads and 1 iPhone, or 1 iPad and 2 iPhones). Web is listed as an add-on | iPhone and iPad (iOS 18.0 or later). A Google Play listing for Android is published | iPad, iPhone, Android and PC (2 PCs and 2 mobile devices per personal plan) | iPad, iPhone and Android | Avare: Android. AvareX: Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows and Linux | iPhone and iPad (iOS/iPadOS 15 or later per the product page). FlyQ Online on the web | Android, iOS and Windows (2 devices on one platform; Multi-Platform option to mix) | iPhone and iPad (iOS 17.0 or later) |
| Entry price (US, per year) | $59.99 the first year | $130 Starter | $109.99 U.S. Standard | $139 first year (or $15 a month) | Free | Free | $99.99 VFR | $94.99 base | $74.99 one-year subscription |
| Top tier price | $89.99 a year after the first year (same single plan) | $390 Premium ($260 Essential in between) | $209.99 U.S. Premium (Worldwide Premium $599.99) | $115 on renewal (one personal plan) | Free (no paid tier listed) | AvareX optional Pro Services $49.99 a year ($4.99 a month) | $199.99 VFR and IFR | $94.99 plus IFR option $55 and Multi-Platform $29.99 | $74.99 plus Advanced IFR $74.99 |
| Plans or tiers | 1 plan, no tiers or add-ons | 3 tiers: Starter, Essential, Premium | 2 US tiers: Standard, Premium, plus regional plans | 1 personal plan, annual or monthly | 1, free | Free app, optional AvareX Pro Services | 2: VFR, VFR and IFR (IFR upgrades also sold) | 1 base plan with add-ons | 1 subscription with Advanced IFR add-on |
| Free option | No permanent free tier | No free tier listed | No free tier listed | No free tier listed | Yes | Yes | No free tier listed | No free tier listed | VFR Free listed as an in-app item |
| Trial | One-time 30-day Pro trial per registered account | 30-day free trial of the top plan on download (App Store listing) | 30 days free on initial download | 30 days free | Not applicable | Not applicable | 30 days free | 30-day free trial (iflyefb.com) | 30-day free period |
| Geo-referenced charts | Yes. VFR and IFR enroute charts (Low, High, Area) on the moving map | Geo-referenced approaches and charts listed from Essential up | Geo-referenced FliteCharts listed under IFR Premium | Vector charts. Georeferenced plates can be embedded in the chart | Sectionals, Victor Low and Jet High charts (geo-referencing not stated for these) | Offline moving map on current FAA charts | Geo-referenced airport diagrams and approach plates listed | Moving map on seamless FAA charts and plates | Geo-referenced airport diagrams and IAP geo-referencing |
| Approach plates | Yes. Geo-referenced approach plates on the moving map | Geo-referenced approach charts from Essential ($260) up | Approach procedures in Standard. Geo-referenced FliteCharts listed under IFR Premium | Georeferenced approach plates, European library | Geo-referenced approach plates, taxi charts and airport diagrams, U.S. and Canada | 13,000+ geo-referenced approach plates and taxi diagrams | Geo-referenced approach plates | Geo-referenced approach plates and airport diagrams (App Store listing) | Geo-referenced approach plates (IAP geo-referencing) |
| 3D view / synthetic vision | 3D terrain today. 3D replay and debrief, and synthetic vision split view, arriving in 1.9.6 | Synthetic vision listed from Essential up | Synthetic vision (SVX) listed in Premium | Not listed on the pages read | Not listed on the pages read | AvareX: 2D/3D track viewer with terrain. Synthetic vision not listed | 3D synthetic vision and an augmented reality view (App Store listing) | 3D synthetic vision / EFIS mode | Synthetic vision, included with a current subscription |
| Offline use | Yes. Downloaded regions keep charts, terrain, airports and the plan available with no signal | Automatic chart downloads listed. No general offline statement on the pages read | Not listed on the pages read | Not listed on the pages read | Yes. Online, offline and in-flight access to charts, plates and NavLogs | Yes. Offline charts, download once | Not listed on the pages read | Not listed on the pages read | Region-based map data downloads. No general offline statement |
| ADS-B receiver support | Yes. Traffic from GDL 90 Wi-Fi receivers such as Stratux. Receiver track input for 3D replay arriving in 1.9.6 | Yes, via Avionics Connectivity (ADS-B weather and traffic), from Starter | Yes. Garmin GDL 50 series portable receiver named | Traffic with a suitable receiver (devices not named on the pages read) | Yes. Garmin, L-3 Lynx, Dual, Dynon, Echo UAT, FlightBox, Stratux and others listed | AvareX: GDL90 receivers such as Stratux, Stratus and Echo. Avare: free ADS-B add-on apps | Connects to 20+ ADS-B and in-panel systems | Yes. Real-time ADS-B traffic and weather | Yes. ADS-B in-flight weather and traffic |
| Logbook | Yes. Offline logbook with endorsements | Yes, Digital Logbook from Starter | Yes. Electronic logbook that syncs with flyGarmin | Yes. Part-FCL compliant digital logbook | Yes, eLogbook | AvareX: digital logbook with currency tracking | Yes. Flight recorder and Visual Logbook | Not listed on the pages read | Not listed on the pages read |
| Head to head | See the roundups below | Ascent vs ForeFlight ↗ | Ascent vs Garmin Pilot ↗ | See the roundups below | See the roundups below | See the roundups below | See the roundups below | See the roundups below | See the roundups below |
Prices are US list prices per year as published on each page read on November 10, 2026; promotions, regional plans and taxes vary. "Not listed on the pages read" means the vendor pages we read did not state it, not that the app lacks it. Check the vendor before you buy. Ascent's 3D replay and debrief, airspace alerts, Copilot (beta), Mayday Assist and synthetic vision are arriving in Ascent 1.9.6; the App Store build today is 1.8.
How to choose
Pick by the flying you do.
We make Ascent, and it is not the right answer for every pilot. Here is where the others win.
- Student pilotFltPlan Go or Avare to start free; Ascent if you train on an iPad
- Ask your school which EFB its instructors use first, because flying the same app as your CFI saves time in the airplane. If cost decides it, FltPlan Go and Avare are free. If you train on an iPad and want one plan with nothing to upgrade later, Ascent is $59.99 the first year.
- VFR weekend flyerAscent in the US; SkyDemon in Europe
- Ascent puts VFR charts, weather, traffic, 3D terrain and offline regions in one plan with no tier to outgrow. If you fly VFR in Europe, SkyDemon is widely used there and its European plates and airspace are the reason to pick it.
- IFR pilotCompare ForeFlight Essential, Garmin Pilot Premium and Ascent
- ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot have long IFR track records and broad published toolsets, with geo-referenced approach charts listed in ForeFlight's $260 Essential tier and under Garmin's IFR Premium (read from their pages on November 10, 2026). Ascent includes IFR enroute charts and geo-referenced approach plates on the moving map in its one plan. Fly the approaches you use on each trial before you choose.
- Mountain and terrain-heavy flyingAscent for 3D terrain; ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, FlyQ, iFly or WingX if you need synthetic vision today
- Ascent is built around reading terrain at a glance in 3D. Its synthetic vision split view is arriving in Ascent 1.9.6; ForeFlight Essential, Garmin Pilot Premium, FlyQ, iFly and WingX list synthetic vision now. Ascent has no terrain alerting, so if you want terrain warnings, look at the vendors that list them.
- Android userNot Ascent. Garmin Pilot, iFly, SkyDemon, FltPlan Go or Avare
- Ascent runs on iPhone and iPad only. On Android, Garmin Pilot, iFly EFB, SkyDemon, FltPlan Go and Avare all publish Android apps, and iFly also runs on Windows.
Go deeper
Head to head, tier by tierAscent vs ForeFlight ↗Head to head, Standard and PremiumAscent vs Garmin Pilot ↗The two incumbents comparedForeFlight vs Garmin Pilot ↗Tier and add-on mathHow much does an EFB cost? ↗Every app, longer write-upsBest EFB apps 2026 ↗Where each one fitsForeFlight alternatives ↗
Questions
- What is the best EFB app in 2026?
- There is no single best EFB. ForeFlight publishes the broadest tiered feature set, Garmin Pilot pairs with Garmin panels and runs on Android, SkyDemon is widely used for European VFR, FltPlan Go and Avare are free, and Ascent EFB is one plan at $59.99 the first year and $89.99 after with 3D terrain and offline regions included.
- Which EFB apps are free?
- FltPlan Go is free on iPad, iPhone and Android, and Avare is free on Android, with AvareX on more platforms and optional paid Pro Services. Both were read from their own pages on November 10, 2026. Ascent has no permanent free tier; every registered account gets a one-time 30-day Pro trial.
- Does Ascent EFB run on Android?
- No. Ascent EFB is for iPhone and iPad on iOS 18.0 or later. If you fly with an Android tablet, Garmin Pilot, iFly EFB, SkyDemon, FltPlan Go and Avare publish Android apps.
- How was this comparison checked?
- Every competitor cell was read from that vendor's own published page, store page or App Store listing on November 10, 2026, and each column links to its sources. Where a page did not state something, the cell says it is not listed rather than marking the app as lacking it. GeoSpatios makes Ascent EFB, so treat the Ascent column as a vendor claim.
Fly it, then decide.
Every new account gets a one-time 30-day Pro trial. Then $59.99 the first year and $89.99 a year after. One plan, iPhone and iPad, iOS 18.0 or later.
Get Ascent on the App Store