Software Comparison · Updated March 2026

Pilot-Next vs OpenFlyers

Two European flying club management tools — one built for aircraft partnerships, one built for regulated flying clubs. Here's the honest comparison.

TL;DR — Which Should You Choose?

Choose Pilot-Next if…

You manage an aircraft partnership or co-ownership group, need per-pilot balance management and automated cost splitting, want an intuitive mobile experience, or want AI assistant integration through the built-in MCP server.

Choose OpenFlyers if…

Your club requires EASA/DTO regulatory compliance, pilot license and medical expiry tracking, or blockchain-backed accounting integrity. OpenFlyers is also a fit for driving schools, sailing clubs, and other non-aviation rental organizations.


Pricing Comparison

As of March 2026. Prices listed in EUR. Always confirm current pricing with each vendor.

Pilot-Next

SOLO

1 aircraft, 1 pilot

Free forever

BASIC

Billed annually

€9/month

PRO

Billed annually

€18/month

ULTRA

Billed annually

€45/month

Flat per-company pricing. Add unlimited aircraft without changing tiers.
OpenFlyers

Solo

1 resource, max 5 users

Free

First Price

(€120/year/aircraft)

€10/resource/mo

Business

(€180/year/aircraft)

€15/resource/mo

Business+

(€210/year/aircraft)

€17.50/resource/mo

Première

(€600/year/aircraft)

€50/resource/mo

Maintenance tracking is an additional €700/resource/year add-on.

Pricing note: For a 3-aircraft club, OpenFlyers Business costs €45/month (€15 × 3) plus €175/month if you add maintenance tracking (€700/3 × 3 ÷ 12). Pilot-Next PRO at €18/month covers all aircraft with maintenance included.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeaturePilot-NextOpenFlyers
Free tier✅ SOLO — free forever✅ Solo (1 resource, 5 users)
Starting paid price€9/month (flat)€10/resource/month (~€120/year)
Pricing modelFlat per companyPer resource (aircraft/vehicle) per year
Aircraft booking✅ 2-click
Pilot balance management✅ full credit/debit tracking
Automated invoicing✅ (with OCR)
Maintenance tracking✅ included in paid plans⚠️ €700/resource add-on
Pilot license/medical tracking
EASA/DTO compliance tools
Calendar sync✅ Google, Outlook, Apple
Mobile-optimized✅ fully responsive⚠️
AI / MCP integration✅ built-in MCP server
European-native (EUR)✅ (French company)
GDPR compliant
Blockchain accounting
Aircraft co-ownership model✅ built for co-owners⚠️ possible but not core focus

Key Differences Explained

Pricing: Flat vs Per-Resource

Winner: Pilot-Next

Pilot-Next charges a flat monthly fee per company, regardless of how many aircraft or pilots you add. OpenFlyers charges per resource (aircraft, vehicle, or simulator) per year. For a club with 1–2 aircraft, costs are comparable. For clubs with 3+ aircraft, Pilot-Next becomes significantly cheaper — and Pilot-Next's maintenance tracking is included, while OpenFlyers charges an additional €700/resource/year for it.

Pilot Balance Management

Winner: Pilot-Next

Pilot-Next has a built-in pilot balance system: pilots can top up their account, and flights are automatically deducted from their balance. This is core to the aircraft partnership model where each co-owner or member needs to track their share of costs. OpenFlyers handles invoicing and accounting but does not offer a pre-payment or running balance system per pilot.

Pilot Credential & License Tracking

Winner: OpenFlyers

OpenFlyers includes pilot authorization and certificate validity management — it tracks license expiry dates, medical certificates, type ratings, and other qualifications, and sends automated alerts before expiry. This is a meaningful feature for regulated clubs and ATOs. Pilot-Next currently does not include credential tracking, which may be a dealbreaker for clubs with strict regulatory requirements.

Maintenance Tracking

Winner: Pilot-Next

Both platforms offer maintenance tracking, but with very different cost structures. Pilot-Next includes maintenance tracking in its paid plans with no additional charge. OpenFlyers charges €700 per resource per year for the maintenance add-on — for a 3-aircraft club, that's €2,100/year (€175/month) in addition to the base subscription.

Mobile Experience

Winner: Pilot-Next

Pilot-Next is built mobile-first, optimized for use from the airfield on any smartphone. Booking in 2 clicks from a phone is a core design goal. OpenFlyers has a web-based interface but is not primarily designed for mobile-first use.

AI Integration

Winner: Pilot-Next

Pilot-Next includes a built-in MCP (Model Context Protocol) server, making it the first flying club management software that AI assistants can connect to directly. Claude, ChatGPT, and other MCP-compatible agents can book flights, check availability, and query balances through natural language. OpenFlyers has no AI integration.

Try Pilot-Next Free

No credit card required. Start with the free SOLO tier and upgrade when you're ready.

Get Started for Free

Rated 4.9 / 5 · Based on 89 reviews

Features
Screens
Pricing
FAQ