Squawkd is an aircraft management platform built for EASA and FAA compliance, co-ownership cost splitting, and a complete airworthiness suite in one product. AircraftClubs takes a different approach. This page compares both platforms honestly — features, pricing, compliance depth, and who each one is best suited for.
· Based on publicly available information · Maintained by the Squawkd team
Skip to comparison table ↓Squawkd is an aircraft management platform built for co-owners, flying clubs, and flight schools. It offers native EASA Part-ML and FAA Part 91 compliance in a single product, with pre-flight airworthiness tracking, cost splitting, weight and balance, and a full maintenance suite. Squawkd is designed to be set up in under an hour and is priced to be accessible for clubs and co-ownership groups of any size.
AircraftClubs is a US-based aircraft management platform designed for flying clubs. It offers scheduling, maintenance tracking, and QuickBooks integration on the top tier. AircraftClubs uses per-aircraft pricing and includes unlimited users on all plans.
From $20/mo
Free trial (30 or 60 days), then $20/month for the Pro plan — or $12/month for the first 100 founding members. All features included on every plan: EASA Part-ML compliance, FAA AD tracking, cost splitting, analytics, weight and balance, document vault, and unlimited members. $10/month per additional aircraft beyond 2 included in the base plan.
No credit card required to start your trial.
$12–$18 per aircraft per month
Free data migration; no time-limited trial advertised
Scheduling, maintenance tracking, flight logging, unlimited members
QuickBooks integration, advanced reporting, priority support
All 20 features compared side by side. Squawkd column is highlighted in amber.
| Feature | Squawkd | AircraftClubs |
|---|---|---|
| EASA Part-ML compliance | ✅ Native | ❌ US only |
| UK CAA CAP 1922 compliance | ✅ Native | ❌ US only |
| FAA Part 91 support | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| Signed maintenance logbook (legal record) | ✅ Pro · FAA / EASA / UK CAA | ❌ Not available |
| FAA AD tracking | ✅ Native | ❌ Not available |
| EASA AD tracking | ✅ Native | ❌ Not available |
| Pre-flight airworthiness status | ✅ Native | ❌ Not available |
| Pre-flight check screen | ✅ Colour-coded | ❌ Not available |
| Squawk board | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| Aircraft log (Hobbs/fuel/oil) | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| Cost ledger & expense settlement | ✅ All plans | ✅ Native |
| Per-pilot balance tracking | ✅ All plans | ❌ Not available |
| Analytics & maintenance forecasting | ✅ Pro | ❌ Not available |
| Weight & balance calculator | ✅ Pro | ❌ Not available |
| Booking & scheduling | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| Calendar ICS sync | ✅ Native | ⚠️ iCal invitations only |
| Document vault | ✅ Native | ❌ Not available |
| PDF/data exports | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| Unlimited members | ✅ Pro (SOLO: up to 2) | ✅ All plans |
| Multi-aircraft support | ✅ Pro · $10/mo per extra | ✅ Per-aircraft pricing |
EASA Part-ML compliance
Squawkd
✅ NativeAircraftClubs
❌ US onlyUK CAA CAP 1922 compliance
Squawkd
✅ NativeAircraftClubs
❌ US onlyFAA Part 91 support
Squawkd
✅ NativeAircraftClubs
✅ NativeSigned maintenance logbook (legal record)
Squawkd
✅ Pro · FAA / EASA / UK CAAAircraftClubs
❌ Not availableFAA AD tracking
Squawkd
✅ NativeAircraftClubs
❌ Not availableEASA AD tracking
Squawkd
✅ NativeAircraftClubs
❌ Not availablePre-flight airworthiness status
Squawkd
✅ NativeAircraftClubs
❌ Not availablePre-flight check screen
Squawkd
✅ Colour-codedAircraftClubs
❌ Not availableSquawk board
Squawkd
✅ NativeAircraftClubs
✅ NativeAircraft log (Hobbs/fuel/oil)
Squawkd
✅ NativeAircraftClubs
✅ NativeCost ledger & expense settlement
Squawkd
✅ All plansAircraftClubs
✅ NativePer-pilot balance tracking
Squawkd
✅ All plansAircraftClubs
❌ Not availableAnalytics & maintenance forecasting
Squawkd
✅ ProAircraftClubs
❌ Not availableWeight & balance calculator
Squawkd
✅ ProAircraftClubs
❌ Not availableBooking & scheduling
Squawkd
✅ NativeAircraftClubs
✅ NativeCalendar ICS sync
Squawkd
✅ NativeAircraftClubs
⚠️ iCal invitations onlyDocument vault
Squawkd
✅ NativeAircraftClubs
❌ Not availablePDF/data exports
Squawkd
✅ NativeAircraftClubs
✅ NativeUnlimited members
Squawkd
✅ Pro (SOLO: up to 2)AircraftClubs
✅ All plansMulti-aircraft support
Squawkd
✅ Pro · $10/mo per extraAircraftClubs
✅ Per-aircraft pricingAircraftClubs integrates with QuickBooks on its top tier, which is a meaningful advantage for flying clubs that use QuickBooks for their broader financial management. Rather than manually exporting and importing data, club treasurers can synchronise flight billing and expense data directly with QuickBooks. Squawkd does not currently offer a QuickBooks integration. For clubs already invested in the QuickBooks ecosystem, this is a genuine differentiator.
Winner: AircraftClubs
AircraftClubs was built for the US market and has no EASA Part-ML functionality. There is also no FAA AD tracking, which is a notable gap for US clubs who want to manage mandatory maintenance actions systematically. Squawkd tracks both EASA and FAA ADs natively, and offers EASA Part-ML compliance as a first-class feature for European operators.
Winner: Squawkd
AircraftClubs tracks club-level costs but does not provide per-pilot balance accounts or analytical forecasting. Squawkd shows each member exactly what they owe and forecasts future costs based on usage patterns. For co-ownership groups where fair cost attribution matters, Squawkd provides a more detailed financial picture.
Winner: Squawkd
AircraftClubs offers iCal invitation-style calendar sync rather than full two-way calendar integration. Squawkd offers native ICS sync that keeps an external calendar continuously updated with aircraft bookings. For members who rely on Google Calendar, Outlook, or Apple Calendar as their primary scheduling tool, the difference in integration depth is noticeable.
Winner: Squawkd
AircraftClubs offers free data migration to new customers, which lowers the barrier to switching from another platform. Squawkd does not currently advertise a formal data migration service, though the team assists with onboarding. For clubs with years of historical data, free migration support is a practical consideration.
Winner: AircraftClubs
Both Squawkd and AircraftClubs include unlimited members on all plans. This is important for flying clubs that may have dozens of members sharing a small fleet. Neither platform penalises growth by charging per-seat.
Winner: Tie
EASA Part-ML (Part-Maintenance Light) is the European regulatory framework that governs airworthiness management for non-commercial aircraft under 2,730 kg maximum take-off mass. Under Part-ML, the owner-operator of such an aircraft takes direct responsibility for maintaining airworthiness — a model called self-managed airworthiness — without requiring a contracted CAMO (Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation). As of 2026, the majority of privately owned light aircraft in Europe fall under Part-ML.
Under self-managed airworthiness, the aircraft owner must hold or arrange an annual Airworthiness Review, resulting in an ARC (Airworthiness Review Certificate). The ARC is a legal document that affirms the aircraft is airworthy. An expired ARC grounds the aircraft — full stop. Software that tracks ARC expiry and sends renewal reminders is not a convenience feature; it is a tool for legal compliance.
Airworthiness Directives (ADs) issued by EASA are mandatory actions that must be applied to keep the aircraft airworthy. Under Part-ML, the owner-operator is responsible for tracking and complying with applicable ADs. Failure to comply with a mandatory AD can void the aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness, potentially invalidating insurance and exposing the pilot to regulatory action. Squawkd tracks both FAA and EASA ADs natively, associating directives with specific aircraft types and flagging outstanding items before flight.
Why other tools don't cover this: Most aircraft management platforms in this comparison were built for the US market, where the FAA's regulatory framework operates differently. EASA Part-ML compliance requires tracking jurisdiction-specific documentation (ARC, EASA ADs) that US-centric platforms have no concept of. Squawkd is the only platform in this comparison built with EASA Part-ML as a first-class feature, not an afterthought.
European pilots under EASA Part-ML. If you own or co-own a light aircraft registered in Europe, you are personally responsible for maintaining airworthiness under the self-managed Part-ML model. That means tracking the ARC expiry, staying current with EASA Airworthiness Directives, and maintaining a compliant maintenance record. Squawkd was built around this regulatory reality — it is the only platform in this comparison where EASA compliance is a first-class feature, not an optional add-on or missing entirely.
FAA pilots who want compliance depth. For US pilots, Squawkd provides native FAA Part 91 support and FAA AD tracking alongside a full maintenance suite. The pre-flight airworthiness status screen gives pilots a systematic go/no-go check before every flight — something most US-focused platforms do not offer. For pilots who take airworthiness seriously as more than a paper exercise, Squawkd provides the tools to back that commitment.
Flying clubs wanting complete co-ownership tools. Squawkd was designed specifically for shared aircraft. Per-pilot balance accounts show each co-owner exactly what they owe and what the aircraft costs to operate. Cost analytics and forecasting give clubs predictive visibility into upcoming expenses. The document vault stores aircraft certificates, insurance, and maintenance records in one place. Unlimited members, multi-aircraft support, and transparent flat pricing make it practical for clubs of any size.
Testimonial placeholder — real review coming soon.
Pilot name
Location · Aircraft type
Testimonial placeholder — real review coming soon.
Pilot name
Location · Aircraft type
Testimonial placeholder — real review coming soon.
Pilot name
Location · Aircraft type
Join pilots and flying clubs managing their aircraft with Squawkd. Free trial for 30 or 60 days — full feature access from day one, no credit card required.
Yes. AircraftClubs offers QuickBooks integration on its Pro tier ($18/aircraft/month). This allows club treasurers to synchronise flight billing and expenses with QuickBooks without manual data entry. It is one of the strongest differentiators for AircraftClubs among US flying clubs that already use QuickBooks for financial management.
No. AircraftClubs is a US-only platform with no EASA support. European pilots, clubs, or co-ownership groups operating under EASA Part-ML regulations cannot use AircraftClubs for airworthiness tracking, AD compliance, or any EASA-specific documentation. Squawkd is the only platform in this comparison with native EASA Part-ML support.
No. Despite being a US-focused platform, AircraftClubs does not track FAA Airworthiness Directives. This is a notable gap — clubs and co-ownership groups must track applicable ADs separately. Squawkd tracks FAA ADs natively as part of its maintenance suite.
AircraftClubs charges per aircraft per month: $12/aircraft/month for the Basic plan and $18/aircraft/month for the Pro plan. A club with 3 aircraft on the Pro plan would pay $54/month. All plans include unlimited members. Free data migration is offered to new customers.
AircraftClubs can handle the scheduling and basic cost tracking needs of a co-ownership group, but it lacks the per-pilot balance tracking, analytics, and pre-flight airworthiness status that make co-ownership management genuinely smooth. Squawkd was specifically designed for co-owners, with features like per-pilot balance accounts and cost forecasting built in from the start.
AircraftClubs does not advertise a standard time-limited free trial. It does offer free data migration for new customers, which lowers the switching cost. Squawkd offers a 30 or 60-day free trial (the longer trial is available to founding members) with full feature access during the trial period.
The main difference between AircraftClubs' Basic ($12/aircraft/month) and Pro ($18/aircraft/month) tiers is QuickBooks integration and advanced reporting, available on the Pro tier. Both tiers include scheduling, maintenance tracking, flight logging, and unlimited members.
No. AircraftClubs does not include a weight and balance calculator. Squawkd includes weight and balance on all plans. This is a meaningful gap for clubs whose aircraft are regularly flown near their weight limits, or whose members need to verify W&B compliance before flight.
Editorial independence. This comparison was written and is maintained by the Squawkd team. We have a commercial interest in Squawkd performing well in these comparisons. To mitigate that bias, we apply a consistent 18-feature evaluation framework to every platform, acknowledge where competitors are genuinely stronger, and update entries when we receive corrections. We make every effort to represent AircraftClubs and all other platforms accurately and fairly.
Information currency. Competitor features, pricing, and regulatory support are based on publicly available information as of . Aviation software evolves quickly — features are added, pricing changes, and regulatory coverage expands or narrows. Always verify current pricing, feature availability, and regulatory support directly with each vendor before making a purchasing decision.
Not regulatory or legal advice. References to EASA Part-ML, FAA Part 91, and other regulatory frameworks are for informational context only. Regulatory requirements vary by aircraft type, registration country, and operation category. Nothing in this comparison constitutes legal or regulatory advice. Consult your national aviation authority (NAA) or a qualified aviation law professional for guidance on your specific compliance obligations.
If you believe any information on this page is inaccurate, please contact us at hello@squawkd.com and we will review and correct it promptly.