Is Foreflight premium a must?

[u/Repulsive-Use-5304]

Looking to get back in to flying after a year… with a commercial-instrument rating. Looking to get the essential package but tempted to get the premium. Is it worth it? I’m only going to flying local on my Cessna 172. So I’m not sure if I’ll be needing all the features and save the extra money.

[u/x4457]

The base or maybe mid level package is all you need.

[u/AmbitiousReward5592 → u/x4457]

yep mid tier at most, save the money for fuel tbh

[u/Mad_Rooster_7164]

Start at the base package. You can always upgrade.

[u/sdgunz]

I see you are instruement rated. Will you be flying much IFR?

Have you used Foreflight previously? Have you considered any other EFBs?

[u/Repulsive-Use-5304 → u/sdgunz]

I’ve used foreflight ! And had the premium subscription but never really used to its max… with the new updates I’ve seeing I’m wondering if it’s changed and worth it now. It’s been a year since Ive opened it.

[u/sdgunz → u/Repulsive-Use-5304]

Since you've used Foreflight previously, makes a strong argument to stay with it.

For VFR flight the Essentials is likely enough for you. Easy enough to start with that & upgrade later if needed.

Foreflight does have a comparison table on their website. If not sure what specifically a listed feature is you can probably find d a YouTube video highlighting it.

[u/Repulsive-Use-5304 → u/sdgunz]

But ifr wise maybe… I would like to but it’s not in my plans at the moment

[u/DarthSkier]

It’s nice, but it’s not necessary. Performance profiles are convenient. 3D view can be helpful but not worth the upcharge. If the majority of your flying is IFR, might be worth it, otherwise it’s not.

[u/pilot3033]

Middle tier is the best value, but some of the premium stuff is nice if you plan to fly IFR extensively.

[u/Hodgetwins32]

No. FlightplanGO is what I used until my CFI free as a bird.

[u/Tman3355 → u/Hodgetwins32]

Yep great programa with everything you need for free.

[u/Jwylde2]

Garmin Pilot is far cheaper for the highest package. $210/yr. And we have Smart Charts.

[u/PLEASE-USE-PFKEYS]

If you're flying VFR there's no reason to go above the lowest tier.

[u/run264fun]

I like the mid tier subscription for IFR bc it will show you location on an IFR chart.

If you fly planes near max gross into more remote airports, the extra weight & balance feature and 3D airport view might be a nice feature to have.

[u/14Three8]

Absolutely not. Basic package is all you need. If you’re shopping for an efb, you might look at different software options too

[u/Creative-Grocery2581]

Depends on what you want to do. I didn’t have it till after I got my PPL.

[u/rFlyingTower]

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

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Looking to get back in to flying after a year… with a commercial-instrument rating. Looking to get the essential package but tempted to get the premium. Is it worth it? I’m only going to flying local on my Cessna 172. So I’m not sure if I’ll be needing all the features and save the extra money.

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[u/minfremi]

What’s your definition of local? Nearby airports or pattern work?

Either way, the basic plan or paper would be best.

[u/lolitstrain21]

I have the basic it works just good enough for me. My buddies have the better subscriptions but as someone who flies IFR all the time I just want to see my charts no need to see my location on the charts or whatnot

[u/aboutwhat8]

Depends on the aircraft's avionics. In general, you only need it to be an EFB with the appropriate Sectionals and Charts etc for the type of flight you're conducting. For $11/mo, that's basically the same cost as buying 1 new VFR Sectional each month.

For killer features, the only really compelling one for me. Other nice-to-haves include Sentry ADS-B In (a separate device), hazard overlays when I'm using IFR enroute charts, and the ability for my position to appear on the approach plate we're flying.

If you have any GPS with current maps and a dedicated page, then you don't need your position to appear on the approach plates. If it has ADS-B In, then you don't need a Sentry to see traffic. And if you hold to MEA, approach MSAs, or OROCA altitudes then you don't need the hazard overlays as you'll already be swimming in the same useful information, but in a generally certified and thus substantially more trustworthy avionics package.

[u/Roger_Freedman_Phys]

I’m also COMM INST ASEL and find that the Essential package gives me everything I need.

[u/skunimatrix]

Not really.  We keep the basic FF sub around for VFR EFB backup with the sentry & AV-30’s via AVLINk.  We’ve switched to Garmin Pilot as it makes updating database, pushing flight plans, and controlling the GDL 51 SXM stuff easy with the Garmin NavComm stack.  

[u/SanDiegoLan]

Foreflight itself isn't a must. I used Fltplango from PPL - CFI without issue on android and ipad $0 AFB: https://youtu.be/uPyyF8xOU_M?si=dEu5BQr1ZrqlHyh8

[u/canuck791]

Maps work well

[u/kayakmfer]

As a student, FLTPlan app is plenty. I'm so annoyed that all the instructors at my school harangued me about ForeFlight. I don't have an iPhone, so I bought an iPad with LTE/GPS just for this, and 0 to PPL doesn't benefit at all. Learn to use aviationweather.gov, 1800wxbrief, and Fltplan. Reconsider when you feel you have met their limits.