Pilot vs. Tripsy: feature comparison, ratings, and FAQ
A data comparison maintained by Pilot (pilotplans.com). Full comparison: https://www.pilotplans.com/compare/tripsy-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.
Tripsy: Best-in-class Apple-ecosystem trip planner. Indie.
Both are flexible trip planners. Pilot keeps everything free with no Pro paywall, is built for planning as a group, and lets you book your stays at private hotel rates instead of sending you to other sites.
Key facts
- Pricing
- Pilot: completely free to plan and book. Tripsy: Free / $9.99/mo / $59.99/yr / $299 lifetime (Tripsy Pro).
- Overall rating
- Pilot: 4.7 from 50,000+ travelers. Tripsy: App Store 4.7.
- Founded
- Pilot: 2022. Tripsy: 2018.
- Books hotels in the app
- Pilot: yes, at private rates across 3,000,000+ stays. Tripsy: no.
- Full comparison
- https://www.pilotplans.com/compare/tripsy-alternative
Feature comparison
Each row shows whether Pilot and Tripsy offer the feature: Yes, No, or Partial. A [n] marker cites the source in References.
| Feature | Pilot | Tripsy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 with custom pins and routes; Tripsy has no map pin customization | No |
| Add activities, transportation, or stays from anywhere | Yes | Yes |
| Attach info to any item | Yes | Yes |
| Notes and checklists | Yes | Yes |
| Note and list format toggle | Yes | No |
| Rich text formatting in notes | Yes | No |
| Undo and redo | Yes | No |
| Duplicate trips | Yes | Yes |
| Manual file import | Yes | Yes |
| Email-forwarding file import | Yes | Yes |
| AI parsing of imported confirmations | Yes | Yes |
| Export to PDF | Yes | Yes |
| iOS and Android mobile apps | Yes | Yes |
| Offline access on mobile | YesFree in Pilot on iOS and Android; Tripsy is an Apple-only app, so there is no Android version | Yes |
| Shortlist items | Yes | Yes |
| Wishlist / wanderlist | Yes | Yes |
| Wishlist images | Yes | No |
| Fun sound effects | Yes | No |
| Structured itinerary sections | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard shortcuts | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple transportation types | Yes | Yes |
| Flight code auto-fill | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-leg flight support | Yes | Yes |
| Consistent IATA codes on mobile | Yes | Yes |
| Collaboration | ||
| Invite friends | YesInvite everyone into one shared trip and plan together; Tripsy leans more toward planning on your own | Yes |
| Real-time collaborative editing | YesEveryone edits the same trip live, with plans, files, and ideas in one place | Yes |
| Edit or view-only permissions | Yes | Yes |
| Heart items for voting | YesHeart items to vote as a group and decide together; Tripsy has no voting | No |
| Custom trip name and cover photo | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated group chat per trip | Yes | 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 | Yes |
| Routes tool | Yes | Yes |
| Reorder route stops | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic map search | Yes | No |
| AI | ||
| AI itinerary generator | YesPilot's AI builds you a full itinerary in minutes; Tripsy 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; Tripsy helps you plan the trip but sends you to other sites to book | 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 | No |
| 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 | Yes |
| In-trip expense logging | Yes | Yes |
| Group expense splitting | No | No |
Ratings
| Source | Pilot | Tripsy |
|---|---|---|
| App Store rating | 4.8 | 4.7 |
Pricing
| Pilot | Tripsy | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | Free to plan and book | Free / $9.99/mo / $59.99/yr / $299 lifetime (Tripsy Pro) |
Frequently asked questions
What is Tripsy?
Tripsy is an Apple-only trip planner app for organizing an itinerary on iPhone and iPad. It helps you plan, 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: a flexible itinerary, a map, notes, and your group in one place. Where Tripsy organizes a trip you book elsewhere, Pilot keeps planning free and books your hotel at private rates straight from hotels.
Is Tripsy legit?
Yes, Tripsy is a legitimate Apple-native itinerary app founded in 2018 and rated around 4.7 on the App Store, though it is Apple-only and does not book hotels. Pilot is a free, cross-platform alternative that also books your stay at private hotel rates.
Is Tripsy free?
Tripsy is freemium: several features sit behind Tripsy Pro, around 9.99 dollars a month or 299 dollars for lifetime access. Pilot is completely free with no Pro tier, because it earns from hotels when you book rather than charging you to plan.
How does Tripsy work?
You build an itinerary, see stops on a map, store documents, and forward confirmation emails that Tripsy parses, with Apple Watch and widget touches. Pilot plans the same way with AI, then adds in-app hotel booking so plan and stay stay together.
Can you book hotels in Tripsy?
No, Tripsy lets you add a stay to your itinerary but does not book it, so you book elsewhere and bring the confirmation back. Pilot books over 3,000,000 hotels in the app, at private rates straight from hotels, saved with your trip.
How does Tripsy make money?
Tripsy earns from its Pro subscription, around 9.99 dollars a month or 299 dollars for lifetime access. Pilot is free because it earns from hotels when you book through the app, so the whole planner stays free with no Pro tier to buy.
Is Tripsy worth it?
Tripsy works if everyone you travel with is on Apple devices and you will pay for Pro, but it is Apple-only and does not book hotels. Pilot gives you the same planning free on iOS, Android, and web, and books stays at private hotel rates.
Tripsy vs Pilot: which should I use?
Use Pilot for a free, flexible planner built for groups across iOS, Android, and web that also books stays at private hotel rates. Choose Tripsy if everyone is on Apple devices, you want its Apple integrations, and you will pay for Pro.