ForeFlight Logbook Alternative: An Honest Comparison

ForeFlight is an excellent EFB. Its charts, weather, and flight planning are industry-leading, and the logbook that comes bundled with it is genuinely capable. But here’s the question more pilots are asking: what if you just need a logbook?

At $130-$390 per year for the full ForeFlight suite, you’re paying for a lot of features you may not use. Especially if you already have a different EFB, or you fly in a cockpit where the airline provides its own tools. The logbook isn’t available as a standalone product. It’s bundled, and the bundle isn’t cheap.

This guide compares ForeFlight’s logbook against dedicated alternatives, with honest assessments of each option. If you’re considering a switch, or just wondering if there’s a better fit, here’s what you need to know.

Quick Answer

ForeFlight’s logbook is best for pilots already paying for ForeFlight as their primary EFB. If you use ForeFlight for flight planning and charts, the logbook integration is seamless and adds real value. But if you use a different EFB, don’t need an EFB at all, or simply want a standalone logbook without paying $130+/year, a dedicated logbook app will give you more for less.

What ForeFlight’s Logbook Does Well

Credit where it’s due. ForeFlight’s logbook has real strengths that make it attractive for pilots already in the ecosystem.

Auto-population from flight plans. File a flight plan in ForeFlight, fly it, and a draft logbook entry is created automatically from your track log. This is ForeFlight’s killer feature for logbook users. No other standalone logbook can replicate it because no other logbook is also an EFB.

60+ endorsement templates. ForeFlight ships with over 60 FAA-derived endorsement templates built in. For flight instructors, this is a genuine time-saver. Students can send draft entries to their CFI for remote digital signing, which is a nice workflow touch.

Web logbook access. Unlike most pilot logbook apps, ForeFlight offers a web interface where you can log flights and review entries from a desktop browser. For pilots who prefer a keyboard and mouse for data entry, this matters.

Boeing-backed stability. ForeFlight is a Boeing subsidiary. It’s not going anywhere. For pilots worried about long-term app sustainability, that backing provides real peace of mind.

Currency tracking. Color-coded recency alerts for IFR, type ratings, medical certificates, and CFI renewals. Plus formatted 8710 reports for FAA airman certificate applications. These are practical, career-relevant features.

Where ForeFlight’s Logbook Falls Short

No product is perfect, and ForeFlight’s logbook has limitations that become more apparent when you compare it to dedicated logbook apps.

No standalone option. This is the fundamental issue. You cannot buy ForeFlight’s logbook separately. The cheapest way in is the Starter plan at $130/year, and that’s for the entire EFB suite. If all you need is a logbook, you’re paying for charts, weather briefings, flight planning, and weight-and-balance tools you may never open.

Limited authority format support. ForeFlight’s PDF exports focus on FAA and European formats. If you hold licenses under TCCA (Canada), UK CAA, JCAB (Japan), GCAA (UAE), or CASA (Australia), you’ll need to format your exports manually or find another solution.

No Android support. ForeFlight is iOS-only. If you switch to an Android device, your logbook goes with your old iPad. There’s no migration path within the ForeFlight ecosystem.

Primarily FAA-oriented. The 60+ endorsement templates are FAA-derived. The currency tracking, 8710 reports, and commercial progress tracking are built around FAA requirements. Pilots operating under other authorities won’t get the same depth of regulatory tooling.

Logbook is secondary to the EFB. ForeFlight’s core product is flight planning and charts. The logbook is a feature within that product, not the focus. Development priorities naturally favor the EFB side. Dedicated logbook apps put all their engineering effort into the logbook experience.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Here’s how ForeFlight’s logbook stacks up against dedicated alternatives:

The most obvious takeaway: ForeFlight is the most expensive option, and it’s the only one that doesn’t offer the logbook as a standalone product. Every alternative on this list gives you a dedicated logbook for less money. In MyFlightbook’s case, for free.

Why Pilots Look for Alternatives

Pilots search for ForeFlight logbook alternatives for a few distinct reasons, and understanding which one applies to you helps narrow the right choice.

You use a different EFB. If your airline provides Jeppesen FliteDeck, Lido, or another EFB, or if you fly with Garmin Pilot or FlyQ, ForeFlight’s logbook integration doesn’t help you. You’re paying for EFB features you’ll never use. A standalone logbook makes more sense.

You don’t need an EFB at all. Many airline pilots have all their flight planning handled by dispatch and their airline’s systems. They need a personal logbook, not a flight planning tool. Spending $130+/year on an EFB bundle for a logbook is hard to justify.

You fly under multiple authorities. Contract pilots, expat pilots, and pilots with licenses in multiple countries need logbook exports that meet different regulatory formats. ForeFlight covers FAA and European formats, but pilots under TCCA, UK CAA, JCAB, GCAA, or CASA need more flexibility.

Price sensitivity. Over a 10-year career, ForeFlight’s Starter plan costs $1,300 just for logbook access. A dedicated app at $60-$80/year saves you $500-$700 over the same period. Over a 30-year career, the gap widens to $1,500-$2,100. That’s real money.

The Alternatives Worth Considering

Skyden: Modern, Reliable, Built to Share

Skyden is a dedicated pilot logbook app for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. At EUR 79.99/year, every feature is unlocked from day one. No tiered pricing, no feature gates.

Skyden is built around three things: protecting your hours above all (every flight is automatically backed up so nothing gets lost), making the logging experience itself enjoyable (smart autofill so flight entry takes seconds, offline-first architecture for when you’re at altitude with no connection), and giving pilots tools to share and build their flying story (shareable flight cards with route, time, and distance, plus digital signatures so captains can sign your flights without paper).

PDF exports also cover 7 authorities (EASA, FAA, TCCA, UK CAA, JCAB, GCAA, CASA), which matters for pilots holding licenses across jurisdictions, but it’s a feature included in the single tier, not the headline. Skyden supports import from 8 logbook sources (ForeFlight, LogTen, PILOTLOG, FlyLog, Carnet.aero, FlightLog, Swift, and generic CSV) plus airline-specific imports for 5 European carriers (ASL Airlines, British Airways EuroFlyer, easyJet, Ryanair, Volotea). If you’re migrating from ForeFlight, you can export your ForeFlight logbook as CSV and import it directly. Other features include certificate management with expiry reminders, an interactive flight map, and an analytics dashboard.

Limitations: Apple-only (no Android or web app). No auto-logging from flight plans. Airline roster import covers 5 European carriers, narrower than LogTen’s 100+. Smaller user base than LogTen or ForeFlight. The free tier is 20 hours total with all features unlocked, enough to evaluate but modest compared to Wingman’s 250 hours.

LogTen Pro: Best for Airline Pilots on Apple

LogTen Pro is the market leader with 160,000+ active pilots and 10,000+ five-star reviews across app stores. Its airline schedule import covers 100+ schedule formats spanning major US and international carriers, and one-tap entry creation pulls in current time and GPS location.

At $79.99/year (Basic) or $129.99/year (Pro), it’s cheaper than ForeFlight’s cheapest plan and offers substantially more logbook depth. The ALPA partnership and career job matching features are unique to LogTen.

Limitations: Apple-only. Only supports FAA and EASA formats. The Basic tier locks out key features like airline schedule import. The Pro tier at $129.99/year is still expensive.

Wingman: Best Cross-Platform Value

Wingman runs on iOS, Android, and web, with broad platform support across mobile and desktop browsers. At $59/year with a 250-hour free tier, it’s one of the most affordable premium options. Automatic roster import covers many airlines.

Limitations: Smaller community than LogTen. Primarily airline-focused. Their marketing tendency to rank themselves #1 in every comparison doesn’t help credibility.

MyFlightbook: Best Free Option

Completely free, forever. Cross-platform. Open API. Running for 15+ years. If you want a logbook that costs nothing and you can tolerate a dated interface, MyFlightbook is the obvious choice.

Limitations: The UI looks like it was built in 2010. It’s a one-person project with sustainability risk. Limited customer support. No modern mobile app experience.

How to Migrate from ForeFlight

Switching logbook apps sounds daunting, but the actual process is straightforward.

1. Export from ForeFlight. Open ForeFlight on the web, go to your logbook, and export your data as CSV. This gives you a file with all your flights, times, and remarks.

2. Import into your new app. Most dedicated logbook apps support CSV import. Skyden specifically supports ForeFlight’s CSV format, so field mapping is handled automatically. LogTen, Wingman, and MyFlightbook also accept CSV imports.

3. Verify a sample. After importing, check 10-15 entries across different time periods. Confirm that total times, night time, PIC/SIC splits, and remarks transferred correctly.

4. Run both in parallel. Use both apps for 2-4 weeks before fully committing. This gives you confidence that nothing was lost and the new app fits your workflow.

The most common migration issue is time format mismatches (decimal hours vs hours:minutes). Most apps handle this during import, but it’s worth checking. If you need a detailed walkthrough, we’ll have a full import guide covering step-by-step migration from every major logbook.

Will you lose data? No. CSV export captures your complete flight history. The original data stays in ForeFlight even after you export it. You’re copying, not moving. There’s zero risk of data loss.

Who Should Choose What

Stay with ForeFlight if you already use it as your primary EFB and the logbook integration saves you meaningful time. The auto-population from flight plans is genuinely valuable and no standalone app can replicate it. If you’re paying for ForeFlight anyway, the logbook is a solid bonus.

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. Broad multi-authority PDF support is included as a bonus.

Choose LogTen Pro if you’re an airline pilot who wants best-in-class automation, career features, and the largest community. Worth the premium if airline schedule import and one-tap entry matter to you.

Choose Wingman if you need Android support, you want the most affordable premium option, or you value the generous 250-hour free tier.

Choose MyFlightbook if budget is your top priority and you’re comfortable with a less polished interface. It’s free, it works, and it’s been around for 15+ years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use ForeFlight’s logbook without the full EFB subscription?

No. The logbook is included in all ForeFlight subscription plans but cannot be purchased separately. The cheapest plan that includes logbook access is the Starter plan at $130/year.

Will ForeFlight ever offer a standalone logbook?

There’s no indication that Boeing/ForeFlight plans to unbundle the logbook. Their business model is built around the full EFB suite, and the logbook is a retention feature that keeps pilots in the ecosystem.

Can I import my ForeFlight logbook into another app?

Yes. ForeFlight allows you to export your complete logbook as CSV from the web interface. Most logbook apps, including Skyden, LogTen, Wingman, and MyFlightbook, support CSV import. Your ForeFlight data stays intact after export.

Is ForeFlight’s logbook good enough for airline interviews?

Yes. ForeFlight generates professional PDF exports and formatted 8710 reports. For FAA-based interviews, it’s perfectly adequate. However, pilots interviewing at airlines operating under other authorities may need exports in specific formats that ForeFlight doesn’t support.

What’s the cheapest ForeFlight alternative with digital signatures?

Skyden (EUR 79.99/year) and LogTen Pro Basic ($79.99/year) both include digital signatures. ForeFlight also supports digital signatures but requires the full EFB subscription starting at $130/year.

The Bottom Line

ForeFlight’s logbook is a well-built feature inside an excellent EFB. If you’re already a ForeFlight user, there’s no reason to switch away from it. The flight plan integration alone is worth keeping.

But if you’re paying $130-$390/year primarily for the logbook, or you use a different EFB and just need a standalone logbook, you’re overpaying for what you actually use. Every dedicated logbook app in this comparison offers more logbook-specific features at a lower price.

The right choice depends on your priorities: multi-authority compliance, airline automation, cross-platform access, or zero cost. There’s a strong option for each.

Want to see how Skyden handles multi-authority exports? Your first 20 hours are free with all features unlocked, enough to run it alongside ForeFlight and decide for yourself. And if you’re ready to migrate, Skyden imports ForeFlight CSV files directly, so your flight history comes with you.

Related reading

• LogTen Pro Alternative: An Honest Comparison for Pilots
• Best Pilot Logbook Apps in 2026: Honest Comparison
• How to Import Your Pilot Logbook to Skyden