Pilot vs. Wanderlog: feature comparison, ratings, and FAQ
A data comparison maintained by Pilot (pilotplans.com). Full comparison: https://www.pilotplans.com/compare/wanderlog-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.
Wanderlog: Collaborative trip planner for detail-oriented groups.
Both are flexible trip planners. Pilot keeps the basics free where Wanderlog charges for Pro, 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. Wanderlog: Free; Pro $39.99/yr (offline access, PDF export).
- Overall rating
- Pilot: 4.7 from 50,000+ travelers. Wanderlog: Trustpilot 1.8, App Store 4.9, Google Play 4.7.
- Founded
- Pilot: 2022. Wanderlog: 2018.
- Books hotels in the app
- Pilot: yes, at private rates across 3,000,000+ stays. Wanderlog: no.
- Full comparison
- https://www.pilotplans.com/compare/wanderlog-alternative
Feature comparison
Each row shows whether Pilot and Wanderlog offer the feature: Yes, No, or Partial. A [n] marker cites the source in References.
| Feature | Pilot | Wanderlog |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | ||
| Itinerary builder | YesFlexible by design: map out all your ideas and reshape the plan however you want, from a rough idea to booked | Yes[1] |
| Drag and drop reordering | YesDrag anything anywhere; nothing is locked into a fixed structure | Yes[2] |
| Customizable map pins and routes | YesSee your whole trip on a map and make it yours | Yes[3] |
| 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 | Yes[4] |
| 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 | No |
| Email-forwarding file import | Yes | Yes[5] |
| AI parsing of imported confirmations | Yes | Yes[5] |
| Export to PDF | YesFree in Pilot; Wanderlog keeps PDF export behind its paid Pro plan | Yes[6] |
| iOS and Android mobile apps | Yes | Yes |
| Offline access on mobile | YesFree in Pilot; Wanderlog keeps offline access behind its paid Pro plan | Yes[7] |
| Shortlist items | Yes | No |
| Wishlist / wanderlist | Yes | Yes |
| Wishlist images | Yes | No |
| Fun sound effects | Yes | No |
| Structured itinerary sections | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard shortcuts | Yes | No |
| Multiple transportation types | Yes | No |
| Flight code auto-fill | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-leg flight support | Yes | No |
| Consistent IATA codes on mobile | Yes | Yes |
| Collaboration | ||
| Invite friends | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time collaborative editing | Yes | Yes[5] |
| 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 | Yes | No[8] |
| 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[5] |
| Add items from map | Yes | Yes |
| Routes tool | Yes | Yes |
| Reorder route stops | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic map search | Yes | No |
| AI | ||
| AI itinerary generator | Yes | Yes[5] |
| AI activity suggestions | Yes | Yes[5] |
| AI planning with filters | Yes | Yes |
| Booking | ||
| Book hotels in the app | YesBook your stay in the app; Wanderlog lists hotels and links out to other sites to book | No[9] |
| Member-only hotel rates | YesPrivate deals straight from hotels, the kind usually saved for travel agents, across 3,000,000+ stays | No[10] |
| 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[11] |
| Reviews from real travelers | Yes | No |
| No hidden fees or taxes | Yes | No[10] |
| Budgeting | ||
| Trip budget tracker | Partial | Yes |
| Per-person cost split | Partial | Yes[5] |
| In-trip expense logging | Yes | Yes |
| Group expense splitting | No | Yes |
Ratings
| Source | Pilot | Wanderlog |
|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot rating | 4.4 | 1.8[12] |
| App Store rating | 4.8 | 4.9[12] |
| Google Play rating | 4.2 | 4.7[12] |
Pricing
| Pilot | Wanderlog | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | Free to plan and book | Free; Pro $39.99/yr (offline access, PDF export)[13] |
Frequently asked questions
What is Wanderlog?
Wanderlog is a trip planner app for building itineraries and collaborating with a group; it organizes the trip, but you book stays on other sites and some features need a paid plan.
What is Pilot?
Pilot is a trip planner that books hotels too: build a flexible itinerary with a map and notes, then book your stay at private rates straight from hotels. Where Wanderlog sends you elsewhere to book, Pilot keeps the stay with the plan.
Is Pilot a good Wanderlog alternative?
Yes, it does the same drag-and-drop planning, maps, notes, and live collaboration for free, while Wanderlog charges about 40 dollars a year for offline access and PDF export. Pilot also books your stay at private rates across 3,000,000+ hotels, which Wanderlog only links out to.
Is Wanderlog free?
Wanderlog has a free tier (planning, maps, notes, collaboration, and capped AI), but offline access and PDF export need Pro at about 40 dollars a year. Pilot is completely free, including offline access, and adds the in-app hotel booking Wanderlog doesn't have.
Is Wanderlog Pro worth it?
Wanderlog Pro (about 40 dollars a year) mainly unlocks offline access, PDF export, an ad-free experience, and unlimited AI messages. Pilot gives those basics for free and also books your hotel at private rates, which Pro can't, so it's worth trying Pilot first.
Can you book hotels in Wanderlog?
No, Wanderlog lists hotels and prices but links you out to book, even on Pro. Pilot books more than 3,000,000 hotels in the app at private rates straight from hotels, so the booking lives with the rest of your trip.
How does Wanderlog make money?
Wanderlog earns from its Pro subscription (about 40 dollars a year) and referral commissions when it sends you elsewhere to book. Pilot earns from hotels when you book in the app, not from charging you to plan, so the planner stays free.
What is the best free alternative to Wanderlog?
Pilot: it's completely free with no paywall on the basics Wanderlog locks behind Pro (offline access, PDF export), covers the same planning, maps, notes, and collaboration, and adds in-app hotel booking at private rates.
Pilot vs Wanderlog: which should I use?
Use Pilot for a free, flexible planner that also books your stays at private hotel rates in one place. Choose Wanderlog only if you'll pay its yearly Pro fee for basics like offline access and prefer booking each part yourself elsewhere.
References
- wanderlog.com itinerary planner (2026-06-03)
- wanderlog.com: drag-and-drop itinerary timeline (2026-06-03)
- wanderlog.com: Google Maps integration with pins (2026-06-03)
- wanderlog.com: notes with links and checkboxes (2026-06-03)
- wanderlog.com (2026-05-30)
- wanderlog.com/pro: PDF export is a paid Pro feature (2026-06-03)
- wanderlog.com/pro: offline access is a paid Pro feature (2026-06-03)
- not listed on wanderlog.com (2026-05-30)
- wanderlog.com lists hotels and links to external booking sites; no in-app booking (2026-05-30)
- does not process bookings (2026-05-30)
- no in-app checkout (2026-05-30)
- Trustpilot, App Store, Google Play (2026-05-30)
- wanderlog.com/pro (2026-05-30)