You need a logbook that works for your flying, your budget, and your career. But with dozens of apps on the market, all claiming to be the best, finding the right one means cutting through a lot of marketing noise.
This guide compares 10 pilot logbook apps based on what actually matters: pricing, platform support, regulatory compliance, automation features, and real-world usability. No affiliate links. No rigged rankings. Just an honest breakdown to help you pick the right tool.
Full disclosure: I’m the founder of Skyden, one of the apps in this comparison. I’ve included it fairly alongside every competitor, limitations and all.
Quick Verdict
Best overall for most pilots: LogTen Pro. The market leader for a reason, but expensive. Best free option: MyFlightbook. Completely free, forever. Best value: Wingman. Generous free tier and affordable Pro plan. Cheapest paid plan: Logger. $29.99/year for full features. Best modern app experience: Skyden. Reliable hour protection, the smoothest UX in the category, and shareable flight cards, all in a single tier. Best for GA pilots with Garmin avionics: Garmin Pilot. Deep hardware integration. Best cross-platform (Android + iOS): Wingman or CrewLounge PILOTLOG. Most platforms supported: FlyLog. iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and web.
Now let’s break down why.
How We Evaluated
Every app was assessed across six categories:
- Pricing. What does it actually cost per year? What’s included in free tiers?
- Platform support. iOS, Android, web, desktop. Cross-platform matters.
- Regulatory compliance. Which authority formats can it export? EASA, FAA, TCCA, UK CAA, and others.
- Automation. Auto-logging, schedule import, smart autofill. How much manual entry can you avoid?
- Data portability. Can you export your data? CSV, PDF, API? How easy is it to switch away?
- User experience. Is the interface modern and fast, or does it feel like it was built in 2008?
Pricing Comparison
Let’s start with what matters most to many pilots: cost.
| App | Free Tier | Annual Price | Pricing Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| LogTen Pro | 50 hours | $79.99 (Basic) / $129.99 (Pro) | Subscription |
| ForeFlight | None | $130-$390/yr | Subscription (EFB bundle) |
| Wingman | 250 hours | $59/yr or $4.99/mo | Subscription |
| MyFlightbook | Unlimited | Free | Donation-supported |
| CrewLounge PILOTLOG | 100 flights | EUR 39.99-46.99/yr | Subscription |
| Logger | 50 flights | $29.99/yr | Subscription |
| FlyLog | Free trial | $47.88 (Basic) / $95.88 (Premium) | Subscription |
| Garmin Pilot | None | $74.99-$149.99/yr | Subscription (EFB bundle) |
| capzlog.aero | Limited | CHF ~48-120/yr | Subscription |
| Skyden | 20 hours | EUR 79.99/yr | Subscription |
A few things jump out. MyFlightbook is genuinely free with no catch. Wingman’s 250-hour free tier is remarkably generous. Most student pilots can get through their entire training without paying. Logger undercuts the entire paid market at $29.99/year for full features. And ForeFlight’s logbook can’t be purchased standalone. You’re buying the full EFB suite.
Over a 30-year career, these numbers compound. A $130/year subscription costs nearly $4,000 over a career. A free app costs nothing. That’s worth considering, even if the premium app is better.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | LogTen Pro | ForeFlight | Wingman | MyFlightbook | CrewLounge | Logger | FlyLog | Garmin Pilot | capzlog | Skyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iOS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Android | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Web app | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Offline mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EASA format | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| FAA format | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Other authorities | - | - | Limited | Limited | Limited | CASA, TCA | TCCA, CASA | - | - | TCCA, UK CAA, JCAB, GCAA, CASA |
| Auto-logging | One-tap entry + schedule import | From flight plans | Roster import | Manual | Roster import | ADS-B + airline import | ADS-B + 150+ airline systems | Avionics detection | Manual | Smart autofill |
| Airline roster import | 100+ airlines | No | Many airlines | No | Yes | Yes | 150+ systems | No | No | Yes (5 European carriers) |
| CSV import | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PDF export | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (7 formats) |
| Digital signatures | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
The feature that separates apps most visibly is automation. LogTen Pro pairs one-tap entry creation (current time + GPS + default aircraft) with a crew schedule importer covering 100+ schedule formats. ForeFlight auto-populates from its own flight plans. Wingman imports rosters automatically from many airlines. Logger pulls flights from ADS-B and airline imports. These features save real time, especially for airline pilots logging 80+ flights a month.
On the other end, MyFlightbook is primarily manual entry. It works fine if you fly a few times a week, but becomes tedious at airline pace.
Platform support is the other major dividing line. If you’re on Android, your options narrow considerably. LogTen Pro, Logger, and Skyden are Apple-only, and ForeFlight is limited to iOS and web. Wingman, MyFlightbook, CrewLounge, FlyLog, Garmin Pilot, and capzlog all support Android. FlyLog goes furthest with native apps for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and a full web app. If you fly with colleagues who use different platforms, cross-platform apps make sharing data and comparing notes easier.
Regulatory compliance varies more than most pilots realize. Most apps handle FAA and EASA formats well, see our deep dives on EASA logbook requirements and FAA logbook requirements for what compliant exports actually need to contain. But if you fly under TCCA, UK CAA, JCAB, GCAA, or CASA, your options are limited. Skyden is currently the only app offering export templates for all seven of those authorities. For pilots who hold licenses in multiple jurisdictions (increasingly common in contract and expat flying), this matters more than any other single feature.
App-by-App Breakdown
LogTen Pro: The Market Leader
Best for: Airline pilots on Apple devices who want maximum automation.
LogTen Pro has 160,000+ active pilots and 10,000+ five-star reviews across app stores. Those numbers aren’t accidental. The app is polished, reliable, and deeply integrated with airline operations. Its crew schedule importer covers 100+ schedule formats spanning major US and international airlines, one-tap entry creation prefills time and GPS location, and it includes career features like job matching through its ALPA partnership.
Strengths: Most mature ecosystem. One-tap entry plus crew schedule import. Deep airline integrations. Career job matching. Excellent print quality for interview presentations.
Limitations: Apple-only, no Android, no web app. The Pro tier at $129.99/year is one of the most expensive options. Only supports EASA and FAA formats. The Basic tier at $79.99/year locks you out of key features like airline schedule import. The interface and overall user experience feel dated, much of the visual language has not meaningfully evolved in the last decade and lags modern Apple-native apps. If you switch to Android, you lose access to your logbook. For a deeper side-by-side, see our LogTen Pro alternative comparison.
ForeFlight: The EFB Giant
Best for: GA pilots already using ForeFlight for navigation and flight planning.
ForeFlight is the dominant EFB in the US market, backed by Boeing. Its logbook auto-populates from flight plans. File a plan, fly it, and your logbook entry is mostly done. It includes 60+ endorsement templates and integrates seamlessly with the rest of the ForeFlight ecosystem.
Strengths: Seamless EFB integration. Auto-population from flight plans. Extensive endorsement library. Boeing-backed stability.
Limitations: The logbook isn’t standalone. You’re paying $130-$390/year for the full EFB suite just to access the logbook. No Android support. If you already use a different EFB, the logbook alone doesn’t justify the cost. Logbook features are secondary to the EFB. It’s a bundled add-on, not a dedicated product. For a focused logbook-vs-logbook view, see our ForeFlight logbook alternative comparison.
Wingman: Best Value
Best for: Airline pilots who need cross-platform support and roster import at a fair price.
Wingman punches above its weight. The 250-hour free tier is the most generous in the market. Automatic roster import covers many airlines. It’s cross-platform (iOS, Android, web), which is a genuine advantage over Apple-only competitors. At $59/year for Pro, it’s significantly cheaper than LogTen or ForeFlight.
Strengths: Cross-platform. Generous free tier. Aggressive pricing. Automatic roster import. Good automation.
Limitations: Smaller brand and community compared to LogTen (10,000+ users vs 160,000+). The website feels less polished than the app. Primarily airline-focused, so GA pilots won’t benefit from roster import. Their own blog ranks themselves #1 in every comparison, which doesn’t help credibility.
MyFlightbook: Best Free Option
Best for: Budget-conscious pilots, students, and anyone who refuses to pay for a logbook.
MyFlightbook is completely free and has been running for over 15 years. It’s cross-platform (iOS, Android, web), supports multiple authority formats, and has a loyal community. You can log unlimited hours without ever paying a cent. There’s even an open API for developers.
Strengths: Completely free, forever. Cross-platform. 15+ years of stability. Open API. Loyal community. No vendor lock-in risk. Your data is always exportable.
Limitations: The UI looks dated compared to modern apps. It’s a one-person project, which raises questions about long-term sustainability. Customer support is limited. The experience feels more like a web tool from 2010 than a modern mobile app. If the developer stops maintaining it, there’s no company behind it to take over.
CrewLounge PILOTLOG: Most Data Fields
Best for: Detail-oriented pilots who want maximum logging granularity.
CrewLounge captures 60 data fields per flight, more than any other app in this comparison. It has 40,000+ airports in its database and generates 150+ different report types. For pilots who need very specific data tracked, the depth is unmatched.
Strengths: 60 data fields per flight. 150+ reports. 40,000+ airports. Cross-platform (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS). Affordable (EUR 39.99-46.99/year).
Limitations: The interface is complex, dense, and visibly dated, the kind of UX you push through rather than enjoy, especially for new users coming from modern apps. Onboarding is steep and the design has not meaningfully evolved in years. The pricing structure with Enterprise and Enterprise+ tiers is confusing. There have been community complaints about customer support responsiveness and bugs going unresolved. The brand went through a rebrand from “MCC Pilot Log” that left some users feeling burned, as previous “lifetime” licenses weren’t honored.
Logger: Cheapest Paid Plan
Best for: Apple pilots who want a full-featured logbook at the lowest annual price on the market.
Logger is the cheapest serious pilot logbook at $29.99/year for unlimited logging, with 50 free flights to start. Both tiers share the same feature set: 40,000+ airports, automatic airline importers, ADS-B import and replay, digital signatures, certificate and endorsement tracking, batch editing, custom CSV import, iCloud sync, automatic night calculations, and an interactive map view. Limit templates cover EASA, FAA, CASA, and TCA.
Strengths: Cheapest paid plan in the market ($29.99/year). Same features in free and paid tiers. Modern Apple-native design. ADS-B import and automatic airline importers. iCloud sync.
Limitations: Apple-only (iPhone, iPad, Mac). No Android or web app. Smaller user base and shorter track record than incumbents. Aggressive pricing raises sustainability questions over the long term.
FlyLog: Most Platforms Supported
Best for: Pilots who want one logbook accessible from every device they own.
FlyLog from Breele LLC has been running since 2014 and supports the widest range of platforms in this comparison: iOS, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, and a full web app. With 20,000+ users and a 4.8-star rating, it imports flights from 150+ airline and crew systems, supports ADS-B import, and exports authority-compliant PDFs for FAA, EASA, TCCA, and CASA. The Premium tier adds an audit engine for error detection, VFR navigation maps, NOTAM/METAR integration, and flight recording.
Strengths: Broadest platform support of any competitor (six platforms). 150+ airline crew system imports. Audit engine for error detection. Affordable Basic tier at $3.99/month billed annually ($47.88/year). 10+ years on the market.
Limitations: Tiered pricing locks key features (ADS-B import, audit engine, VFR maps) behind the Premium tier at $95.88/year. App Store monthly subscriptions are noticeably more expensive (EUR 6.99/month Basic, EUR 12.49/month Premium, roughly EUR 84 to EUR 150 per year versus the web annual rate). The interface is dense and feature-heavy, which can feel overwhelming and dated next to modern Apple-native apps. Authority PDF coverage is narrower than Skyden (4 vs 7 formats).
Garmin Pilot: Best for Garmin Avionics
Best for: GA pilots with Garmin avionics who want hardware-to-software integration.
Garmin Pilot’s logbook integrates directly with Garmin avionics, auto-detecting flights based on airspeed and altitude data. If you already fly behind a Garmin panel, the logging is nearly automatic.
Strengths: Deep avionics integration. Auto-flight detection. Part of the broader Garmin aviation ecosystem.
Limitations: The logbook is secondary to the EFB and not a standalone product. At $74.99-$149.99/year, you’re paying for the full EFB suite. Limited authority format support. If you don’t have Garmin avionics, the main differentiator disappears.
capzlog.aero: First EASA-Certified Logbook
Best for: European pilots who want formal regulatory certification.
capzlog.aero holds a notable distinction: it’s the first pilot logbook certified against EASA AMC1 FCL.050 by the Swiss FOCA. For pilots who want the peace of mind that comes with official certification, this matters. It’s cross-platform (iOS, Android, Web) and has an “academy” section with regulatory content.
Strengths: EASA AMC1 FCL.050 certified by Swiss FOCA. Cross-platform. Regulatory education content.
Limitations: At CHF 3.99-9.99/month billed annually (roughly CHF 48-120/year depending on tier), it’s not the cheapest option. Smaller user base than the big players. Primarily European focus. The interface feels dated and form-heavy, with limited investment in modern mobile UX, getting started and navigating the app takes more effort than it should.
Skyden: Protect, Enjoy, Share
Best for: Pilots who want a logbook that protects their hours above all, feels enjoyable to use day to day, and gives them tools to share and build their flying story.
Skyden is built around three things: keeping your hours safe, making the logging experience itself enjoyable, and helping pilots share the pride they take in their job. Reliability comes first, every flight is automatically backed up so nothing gets lost, and your hours stay safe across devices. Smart autofill handles aircraft, airports, and times so flight entry takes seconds, the small UX details that make daily use actually pleasant rather than tedious. On top of logging, Skyden includes shareable flight cards (route, time, distance) that pilots use to share their flying with friends and crew, digital signatures so captains can sign flights without chasing paper, certificate and license tracking with expiry alerts, an interactive flight map, and progress analytics. PDF exports cover 7 authorities (EASA, FAA, TCCA, UK CAA, JCAB, GCAA, CASA), and migration is supported from ForeFlight, LogTen, PILOTLOG, FlyLog, Carnet.aero, FlightLog, Swift, and generic CSV, plus 5 European airline rosters (ASL Airlines, British Airways EuroFlyer, easyJet, Ryanair, Volotea). Pricing is a single tier with every feature unlocked from day one, no Basic versus Pro split.
Strengths: Reliable automatic backup, hours stay safe. Modern, clean design with smart autofill that makes daily logging enjoyable. Shareable flight cards (unique in this comparison) for pilots proud of their journey. Digital crew signatures and certificate expiry alerts. Single pricing tier, every feature unlocked, no Basic/Pro split. 7 authority PDF formats included. 4.8/5 App Store rating.
Limitations: Apple-only (iOS, iPadOS, macOS). No Android or web app. Smaller user base than LogTen or ForeFlight. Airline roster import covers 5 European carriers, narrower than LogTen’s 100+. Newer to the market, which means less community and fewer integrations. The 20-hour free tier is modest compared to Wingman’s 250 hours.
Who Should Choose What
Choosing a logbook depends on three things: what you fly, where you fly, and what you’re willing to pay. Here’s a decision framework.
Choose LogTen Pro if you’re an airline pilot on Apple devices, you want best-in-class automation, and the $129.99/year price doesn’t bother you. It’s the industry standard for good reason.
Choose ForeFlight if you already use it as your EFB and you want your logbook integrated with your flight planning. Don’t buy ForeFlight just for the logbook.
Choose Wingman if you need cross-platform support, you’re cost-conscious, and you fly for an airline. The 250-hour free tier and $59/year Pro plan are hard to beat.
Choose MyFlightbook if you want a free logbook and you can tolerate a dated interface. It’s the only option that costs literally nothing.
Choose CrewLounge if you need maximum data granularity and you’re willing to invest time learning a complex interface. The 60 fields per flight and 150+ reports are unmatched.
Choose Logger if you want full features at the lowest annual price on the market. At $29.99/year, it undercuts every paid competitor and includes ADS-B import, airline roster import, signatures, and certificate tracking.
Choose FlyLog if you want one logbook that runs natively on every platform you use (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, web). Strong airline coverage and an audit engine, with affordable Basic and feature-loaded Premium tiers.
Choose Garmin Pilot if you fly GA with Garmin avionics and want automatic flight detection from your panel.
Choose capzlog if formal EASA certification matters to you and you want a recognized regulatory stamp on your logbook tool.
Choose Skyden if you want a logbook that protects your hours above all, feels enjoyable to use day to day, and gives you tools to share your flying journey. Single tier, every feature unlocked, on Apple devices.
The Subscription Fatigue Problem
One theme that comes up constantly in pilot forums is subscription fatigue. Pilots already pay for medical certificates, checkrides, training, charts, weather services, and EFB subscriptions. Adding another $60-$130/year for a logbook feels like a lot, especially when paper logbooks cost $15 and last for years.
It’s a fair concern. Over a 30-year career, even a modest $60/year subscription totals $1,800. A premium app at $130/year adds up to $3,900. These aren’t trivial numbers.
But the math cuts both ways. A logbook app that saves you 10 minutes per flight through auto-logging, smart autofill, or roster import saves an airline pilot logging 80 flights per month roughly 13 hours a year. Whether that time savings justifies the cost is personal, but it’s not nothing.
True lifetime licenses have largely disappeared from the market. The cheapest serious paid alternative is Logger at $29.99/year, which is roughly half the cost of Wingman Pro and a fraction of LogTen or ForeFlight. Aggressively low pricing raises its own questions about long-term sustainability, but for pilots focused purely on cost, it is the new floor.
Switching Between Apps
Most pilots will switch logbook apps at least once in their career. The good news: nearly every app supports CSV import and export, so migration is possible. The bad news: it’s rarely seamless.
Common migration headaches include losing remarks and endorsement fields, time format mismatches (decimal vs hours:minutes), and missing aircraft type mappings. Before you commit to switching:
- Export your current data as CSV from your existing app (or grab our generic CSV template as a reference)
- Check the new app’s import documentation for supported fields
- Import into the new app’s free tier first and verify a sample of entries
- Run both apps in parallel for a month before fully committing
If Skyden is on your shortlist, our step-by-step import guide walks through migrating from ForeFlight, LogTen, PILOTLOG, FlyLog, Carnet.aero, FlightLog, Swift, and generic CSV.
The best time to switch is early in your career, when you have fewer hours to migrate. The worst time is right before an airline interview, when you need a clean, verified logbook. Plan ahead.
For pilots who need compliant exports across multiple authorities, check our EASA logbook requirements guide for what your exports need to contain.
If you’re still debating whether to go digital at all, our guide on digital vs paper logbooks covers the broader decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a completely free pilot logbook app?
Yes. MyFlightbook is 100% free with unlimited hours, supported by donations. Wingman offers 250 free hours per year, which is enough for most student pilots to complete training. Skyden offers 20 free hours and LogTen offers 50 free hours. CrewLounge offers 100 free flights and Logger offers 50 free flights with all features unlocked.
Do airlines accept digital logbooks for interviews?
Most major airlines now accept digital logbooks, provided you can produce a clean printed PDF. The quality of your PDF export matters. A well-formatted, authority-compliant printout is just as professional as a paper logbook. Some examiners and smaller operators still prefer paper, so always be prepared to print.
Which logbook app works on Android?
Wingman, MyFlightbook, CrewLounge PILOTLOG, FlyLog, Garmin Pilot, and capzlog.aero all support Android. LogTen Pro, ForeFlight, Logger, and Skyden are Apple-only. If Android support is non-negotiable, this narrows your options significantly.
What happens if my logbook app shuts down?
This is a legitimate concern, especially with smaller developers. Protect yourself by regularly exporting your data as CSV and storing it independently. Apps with open APIs (MyFlightbook) or standard CSV export (most apps) give you an exit path. One-person projects and venture-funded startups both carry sustainability risk, just for different reasons.
Is a subscription or one-time purchase better?
True lifetime licenses have largely disappeared from the pilot logbook market. Almost every major option is now a subscription. The closest alternative is multi-year prepay, where some apps let you lock in 3, 5, or 10 years upfront. Across a 30-year career, a $60/year subscription costs $1,800; a $30/year option like Logger drops that to $900. Subscriptions fund ongoing development, server costs, and support, so the trade-off is paying continuously for software that keeps improving versus paying less for an app whose long-term roadmap is harder to predict.
Final Thoughts
There’s no single best pilot logbook app. There’s only the best one for your specific situation.
If money is no object and you’re on Apple, LogTen Pro is the most complete package. If you need cross-platform and good value, Wingman is hard to beat. If you refuse to pay anything, MyFlightbook has served pilots well for 15+ years. And if you want a logbook built around reliability, an enjoyable daily experience, and tools to share your flying story, Skyden is designed for exactly that, with broad multi-authority PDF support included.
Whatever you choose, the most important thing is that you actually use it consistently. A mediocre app used religiously beats a perfect app used sporadically. Your logbook is the legal record of your flying career. Pick the tool that makes maintaining it effortless, and stick with it.
Want to see how Skyden handles multi-authority compliance? Your first 20 hours are free with all features unlocked from day one, enough to evaluate it alongside your current logbook with zero risk.
Related reading
- EASA vs FAA Logbook Requirements: What Actually Differs
- EASA Pilot Logbook Requirements
- FAA Pilot Logbook Requirements
- ForeFlight Logbook Alternative: An Honest Comparison
- LogTen Pro Alternative: An Honest Comparison for Pilots
- Digital vs Paper Logbooks: What Pilots Need to Know
- Import Your Logbook to Skyden: Step-by-Step Guide
- How Night Time Is Calculated