Squawkd is an aircraft management platform built for EASA and FAA compliance, co-ownership cost splitting, and a complete airworthiness suite in one product. OpenFlyers 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.
OpenFlyers is a French aircraft management platform used primarily by aero-clubs and flight schools in France and the EU. It offers EASA and DTO compliance tools, pilot licence and medical tracking, and a blockchain-based accounting system. OpenFlyers uses per-resource pricing that can become expensive at scale.
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.
Free Solo (1 resource) · €10–€50/resource/month for clubs
Permanent free tier available
1 resource (aircraft or simulator), basic flight logging and accounting
Pilot tracking, scheduling, EASA compliance, blockchain accounting
Full maintenance tracking as a paid add-on; priced per aircraft per year
All 20 features compared side by side. Squawkd column is highlighted in amber.
| Feature | Squawkd | OpenFlyers |
|---|---|---|
| EASA Part-ML compliance | ✅ Native | ✅ EASA/DTO compliance |
| UK CAA CAP 1922 compliance | ✅ Native | ❌ Not available |
| FAA Part 91 support | ✅ Native | ❌ Not available |
| Signed maintenance logbook (legal record) | ✅ Pro · FAA / EASA / UK CAA | ⚠️ Maintenance add-on (€700/aircraft/yr; no CRS signing workflow) |
| FAA AD tracking | ✅ Native | ❌ Not available |
| EASA AD tracking | ✅ Native | ⚠️ Partial (pilot credentials) |
| 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 | ✅ Blockchain accounting |
| Per-pilot balance tracking | ✅ All plans | ✅ Native |
| Analytics & maintenance forecasting | ✅ Pro | ❌ Not available |
| Weight & balance calculator | ✅ Pro | ❌ Not available |
| Booking & scheduling | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| Calendar ICS sync | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| Document vault | ✅ Native | ❌ Not available |
| PDF/data exports | ✅ Native | ✅ Native |
| Unlimited members | ✅ Pro (SOLO: up to 2) | ✅ Native |
| Multi-aircraft support | ✅ Pro · $10/mo per extra | ⚠️ Per-resource (expensive at scale) |
EASA Part-ML compliance
Squawkd
✅ NativeOpenFlyers
✅ EASA/DTO complianceUK CAA CAP 1922 compliance
Squawkd
✅ NativeOpenFlyers
❌ Not availableFAA Part 91 support
Squawkd
✅ NativeOpenFlyers
❌ Not availableSigned maintenance logbook (legal record)
Squawkd
✅ Pro · FAA / EASA / UK CAAOpenFlyers
⚠️ Maintenance add-on (€700/aircraft/yr; no CRS signing workflow)FAA AD tracking
Squawkd
✅ NativeOpenFlyers
❌ Not availableEASA AD tracking
Squawkd
✅ NativeOpenFlyers
⚠️ Partial (pilot credentials)Pre-flight airworthiness status
Squawkd
✅ NativeOpenFlyers
❌ Not availablePre-flight check screen
Squawkd
✅ Colour-codedOpenFlyers
❌ Not availableSquawk board
Squawkd
✅ NativeOpenFlyers
✅ NativeAircraft log (Hobbs/fuel/oil)
Squawkd
✅ NativeOpenFlyers
✅ NativeCost ledger & expense settlement
Squawkd
✅ All plansOpenFlyers
✅ Blockchain accountingPer-pilot balance tracking
Squawkd
✅ All plansOpenFlyers
✅ NativeAnalytics & maintenance forecasting
Squawkd
✅ ProOpenFlyers
❌ Not availableWeight & balance calculator
Squawkd
✅ ProOpenFlyers
❌ Not availableBooking & scheduling
Squawkd
✅ NativeOpenFlyers
✅ NativeCalendar ICS sync
Squawkd
✅ NativeOpenFlyers
✅ NativeDocument vault
Squawkd
✅ NativeOpenFlyers
❌ Not availablePDF/data exports
Squawkd
✅ NativeOpenFlyers
✅ NativeUnlimited members
Squawkd
✅ Pro (SOLO: up to 2)OpenFlyers
✅ NativeMulti-aircraft support
Squawkd
✅ Pro · $10/mo per extraOpenFlyers
⚠️ Per-resource (expensive at scale)OpenFlyers covers EASA DTO and aero-club compliance, particularly pilot currency, licence tracking, and medical validity. Squawkd approaches EASA compliance through the Part-ML lens: ARC expiry, EASA Airworthiness Directives, and pre-flight airworthiness status for owner-operators. These two platforms cover EASA compliance in genuinely different ways — OpenFlyers is stronger on pilot credentials, Squawkd is stronger on aircraft airworthiness management.
Winner: Tie
Squawkd tracks both EASA and FAA Airworthiness Directives natively, associating each AD with specific aircraft types and surfacing outstanding items before flight. OpenFlyers does not track EASA ADs in the maintenance sense — its compliance coverage relates to pilot credentials and DTO documentation rather than mandatory aircraft maintenance actions. For AD compliance, Squawkd is the more complete platform.
Winner: Squawkd
OpenFlyers has a mature pilot licence and medical currency tracking system. It can alert instructors and club managers when a member's medical or licence is approaching expiry — preventing an unlicensed or unmedical pilot from booking or being scheduled. Squawkd focuses on aircraft airworthiness rather than pilot qualification management. For flying schools and clubs where instructor currency matters, OpenFlyers has a meaningful advantage.
Winner: OpenFlyers
OpenFlyers uses a blockchain-based ledger to create a tamper-proof audit trail of all financial transactions. For French aero-clubs that are member-owned associations (associations loi 1901) and must present verifiable accounts to members, this is a genuine differentiator. Squawkd uses a conventional cost ledger and settlement system without blockchain audit trails. For clubs that need legally defensible accounting records, OpenFlyers' approach has merit.
Winner: OpenFlyers
OpenFlyers' per-resource pricing model means costs scale linearly with fleet size. At €10–€50 per aircraft per month, a club with 5 aircraft pays €50–€250/month before the maintenance add-on (which costs €700 per aircraft per year — an additional €58/aircraft/month). A 5-aircraft club with full maintenance tracking could pay €300–€600/month. Squawkd's flat per-aircraft pricing is considerably more predictable and usually cheaper.
Winner: Squawkd
Squawkd includes a weight and balance calculator and a document vault on all plans. OpenFlyers offers neither. For owner-operators who store aircraft certificates, insurance documents, and POHs centrally, or who need W&B calculation before flight, these are functional gaps in the OpenFlyers offering.
Winner: Squawkd
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.
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Location · Aircraft type
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Pilot name
Location · Aircraft type
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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.
OpenFlyers is a French platform and the primary interface language is French, though some documentation is available in English. The platform is widely used in France and other French-speaking countries. For non-French-speaking clubs in other EU member states, the language barrier may be a practical obstacle.
OpenFlyers charges €10–€50 per resource (aircraft or simulator) per month for clubs, plus €700/resource/year for the maintenance add-on. A club with 3 aircraft using the mid tier plus maintenance would pay roughly €180–€330/month. Squawkd charges $20/month for up to 2 aircraft, with additional aircraft at $10/month — a 3-aircraft club pays $30/month. Squawkd is significantly cheaper for most club configurations.
No. OpenFlyers does not track EASA Airworthiness Directives in the aircraft maintenance sense. Its compliance coverage relates to pilot credentials, DTO documentation, and licence currency rather than mandatory aircraft maintenance actions. Squawkd tracks EASA ADs natively as part of its airworthiness management suite.
OpenFlyers was built specifically for French aero-clubs and is widely used in France. It covers the specific compliance requirements of French club associations, including blockchain accounting for member-owned organisations (associations loi 1901), DTO compliance for training, and pilot licence tracking. If you run a traditional French aero-club, OpenFlyers is a mature and well-regarded option.
No. OpenFlyers is exclusively an EASA and French regulatory compliance platform. There is no FAA Part 91 support, no FAA AD tracking, and no US-specific functionality. It is not designed for US pilots or FAA-regulated operations.
OpenFlyers offers a maintenance tracking module as a paid add-on, priced at €700 per resource (aircraft) per year. This is separate from the base subscription and adds full aircraft maintenance tracking, including work orders and service records. For clubs with multiple aircraft, this add-on cost is a significant part of the total price.
Yes. OpenFlyers offers a permanently free Solo plan for a single resource (one aircraft or simulator). This covers basic flight logging and accounting. Clubs that need scheduling, multiple aircraft, or compliance features must subscribe to a paid plan, which is priced per resource per month.
No. OpenFlyers does not include a weight and balance calculator. Squawkd includes weight and balance on all plans as a native feature. Pilots who need to calculate W&B before flight — particularly those flying aircraft close to the certified MTOW or with varied passenger loads — would need to use a separate tool with OpenFlyers.
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 OpenFlyers 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.