Pilot vs. TripMapper: feature comparison, ratings, and FAQ
A data comparison maintained by Pilot (pilotplans.com). Full comparison: https://www.pilotplans.com/compare/tripmapper-alternative.
Summary
Pilot is a free trip booking and planning app: plan a whole trip in one place with a flexible itinerary, a map of your stops, notes, real-time collaboration, and AI itinerary generation, and book hotels in the app at private rates across 3,000,000+ stays, with real human support. Pilot is rated 4.7 by 50,000+ travelers.
TripMapper: UK trip mapping platform with consumer + B2B tiers.
Both are flexible trip planners. Pilot keeps the basics free where TripMapper gates them behind its paid Trip+ plan, and lets you book your stays at private hotel rates instead of leaving you to book on other sites.
Key facts
- Pricing
- Pilot: completely free to plan and book. TripMapper: Free / Trip+ £3.99/mo.
- Overall rating
- Pilot: 4.7 from 50,000+ travelers. TripMapper: App Store 4.7.
- Founded
- Pilot: 2022. TripMapper: 2020.
- Books hotels in the app
- Pilot: yes, at private rates across 3,000,000+ stays. TripMapper: no.
- Full comparison
- https://www.pilotplans.com/compare/tripmapper-alternative
Feature comparison
Each row shows whether Pilot and TripMapper offer the feature: Yes, No, or Partial. A [n] marker cites the source in References.
| Feature | Pilot | TripMapper |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | ||
| Itinerary builder | YesFlexible by design: map out every idea and reshape the plan however you want, from a rough idea to booked | Yes |
| Drag and drop reordering | YesDrag anything anywhere; nothing is locked into a fixed structure | Yes |
| Customizable map pins and routes | YesSee your whole trip on a map, set your own pins, and map routes between stops; TripMapper does not | No |
| Add activities, transportation, or stays from anywhere | Yes | Yes |
| Attach info to any item | Yes | Yes |
| Notes and checklists | YesKeep notes, lists, and links right alongside the plan, and toggle between note and list formats | Yes |
| Note and list format toggle | Yes | No |
| Rich text formatting in notes | Yes | No |
| Undo and redo | Yes | No |
| Duplicate trips | Yes | No |
| Manual file import | Yes | Yes |
| Email-forwarding file import | Yes | No |
| AI parsing of imported confirmations | Yes | No |
| Export to PDF | YesSave and share your whole trip as a PDF you can use offline | Yes |
| iOS and Android mobile apps | Yes | Yes |
| Offline access on mobile | YesFree in Pilot; TripMapper keeps offline access behind its paid Trip+ plan | Yes |
| Shortlist items | Yes | No |
| Wishlist / wanderlist | Yes | No |
| Wishlist images | Yes | No |
| Fun sound effects | Yes | No |
| Structured itinerary sections | Yes | No |
| Keyboard shortcuts | Yes | No |
| Multiple transportation types | Yes | Yes |
| Flight code auto-fill | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-leg flight support | Yes | No |
| Consistent IATA codes on mobile | Yes | No |
| Collaboration | ||
| Invite friends | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time collaborative editing | YesInvite everyone and plan together in one shared trip; free in Pilot, while TripMapper keeps inviting travelers behind Trip+ | Yes |
| Edit or view-only permissions | Yes | Yes |
| Heart items for voting | Yes | No |
| Custom trip name and cover photo | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated group chat per trip | YesTalk it through right inside the trip, so decisions live with the plan instead of in a separate thread | No |
| Shared notes, files, and saved lists | Yes | Yes |
| Travel profile and stats | Yes | No |
| Edit profile details | Yes | Yes |
| Leave a trip | Yes | No |
| Trips dashboard | Yes | Yes |
| Trip menu actions | Yes | Yes |
| Maps | ||
| Map view of itinerary | Yes | Yes |
| Add items from map | Yes | No |
| Routes tool | Yes | No |
| Reorder route stops | Yes | No |
| Dynamic map search | Yes | No |
| AI | ||
| AI itinerary generator | YesBuild a first draft in minutes with AI, then make it yours; TripMapper has no AI itinerary generator | No |
| AI activity suggestions | Yes | No |
| AI planning with filters | Yes | No |
| Booking | ||
| Book hotels in the app | YesBook your stay in the app; TripMapper plans and tracks budgets but leaves you to book hotels on other sites | No |
| Member-only hotel rates | YesPrivate deals straight from hotels, the kind usually saved for travel agents, across 3,000,000+ stays | No |
| Add accommodation to itinerary | Yes | Yes |
| Transportation cost tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Flight deals | Yes | No |
| Files tab | Yes | Yes |
| Attach files to itinerary items | Yes | Yes |
| Instant booking confirmation | Yes | No |
| Checkout without upsells | Yes | No |
| Reviews from real travelers | Yes | No |
| No hidden fees or taxes | Yes | No |
| Budgeting | ||
| Trip budget tracker | Partial | Yes |
| Per-person cost split | Partial | No |
| In-trip expense logging | Yes | Yes |
| Group expense splitting | No | No |
Ratings
| Source | Pilot | TripMapper |
|---|---|---|
| App Store rating | 4.8 | 4.7 |
Pricing
| Pilot | TripMapper | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | Free to plan and book | Free / Trip+ £3.99/mo |
Frequently asked questions
What is TripMapper?
TripMapper is a visual trip planner app for building a map-based itinerary, but you book your stays on other sites, and some features sit behind a paid plan.
What is Pilot?
Pilot is a trip booking and planning app: you build a flexible itinerary with a map and notes, then book your hotel at private rates straight from hotels. Where TripMapper leaves you to book elsewhere, Pilot keeps planning free and books your stay in-app.
Is TripMapper legit?
Yes, TripMapper is a real travel planning and budgeting app, but it does not book hotels and keeps basics like offline access and inviting travelers behind paid Trip+. Pilot is a free alternative that keeps those basics free and books your stay at private rates.
Is TripMapper free?
TripMapper has a free tier for card and list views, but offline access, the map, inviting collaborators, and budgeting sit behind paid Trip+, about GBP3.99 a month. Pilot is completely free, with no paywall on offline access, collaboration, and the map, and adds hotel booking.
Is TripMapper worth it?
If you want a budget tracker and will pay for Trip+ to unlock offline access and inviting travelers, TripMapper covers that. Pilot gives those basics free and adds an AI generator and hotel booking at private rates, so you plan and book together.
Can you book hotels in TripMapper?
No; TripMapper is a planning and budgeting tool, so you can add a hotel to your itinerary and track its cost, but book it yourself elsewhere. Pilot books over 3,000,000 hotels at private rates straight from hotels, so the booking lives with your trip.
How does TripMapper make money?
TripMapper earns from its Trip+ subscription, about GBP3.99 a month, and a separate B2B product for tour operators and agencies. Pilot is free because it earns from hotels when you book rather than charging you to plan, which keeps the whole planner free.
How does TripMapper work?
You create a trip, add activities, plot places on a map, and track your budget, with collaboration and offline access on paid Trip+ and no booking. Pilot works similarly but keeps those basics free, adds an AI generator, and books your hotel at private rates.
TripMapper vs Pilot: which should I use?
Use Pilot if you want a free, flexible planner that keeps your whole trip in one place and books your stays at private hotel rates, no paywall on basics. TripMapper fits if you want a budget tracker, will pay for Trip+, and book hotels yourself.