Wingmint vs FlightCircle
Both are $10-ish per aircraft. The difference is in payment processing, scheduling UX, compliance enforcement, and API access.
FlightCircle is $10 per aircraft per month with Fiserv ACH at 1.09% to 2.89% plus a $14.95 gateway fee. Wingmint is $9 per aircraft per month with Stripe ACH at 0.92% capped at $5.75. On a 4-aircraft club ACH'ing ~$13K/month in dues, Wingmint all-in is ~$156/mo vs ~$195–$430/mo on FlightCircle depending on Fiserv's tiered rate. Wingmint also ships TSA FTSP enforcement at booking time, Keycafe SmartBox key exchange, a Google-Calendar-grade scheduling UI, and a public REST API on every plan — all of which are missing or paid add-ons on FlightCircle.
Honest head-to-head. Checks where they ship it too — misses where they don't. Fact-checked against public documentation as of April 2026.
| Feature | Wingmint | FlightCircle |
|---|---|---|
Aircraft & instructor scheduling | ||
Maintenance & squawk tracking | ||
Member directory | ||
QuickBooks Online sync | ||
EAA partnership discount FlightCircle is the official EAA Flying Club software partner. Wingmint is not (yet) an EAA partner. | ||
Published platform pricing FlightCircle also publishes pricing at $10 per aircraft per month. | $9/aircraft/mo | $10/aircraft/mo |
Transparent cost-based pricing FlightCircle publishes its platform rate but does not disclose margin or cost structure. Wingmint publishes every fee line: $9/aircraft platform, 0.92% capped at $5.75 ACH, 3.34% + 35¢ card. | ||
ACH payment processing Wingmint uses Stripe ACH (0.92% capped at $5.75). FlightCircle uses Fiserv ACH at 1.09% to 2.89% with a $14.95/mo gateway fee. FlightCircle requires enabling credit cards alongside ACH — you cannot enable ACH alone. | 0.92% cap $5.75 | 1.09–2.89% + $14.95/mo |
TSA FTSP candidate vetting workflow FlightCircle has a 'TSA Security Clearance' manual checkbox on the Pilot tab that can gate dispatch. This is not the same as a full FTSP candidate vetting workflow with document upload, admin verification, and automatic booking enforcement. | ||
Keycafe SmartBox key exchange | ||
Auto-ground per FAR 91.205 FlightCircle squawks can ground aircraft manually via toggle. No automatic 91.205 inoperable-equipment logic. | ||
Public REST API on every plan FlightCircle ships API documentation at flightcircle.com/apidocs but access is a paid add-on. Wingmint includes API access on every plan. | Paid add-on | |
Google-Calendar-grade scheduling UX Wingmint uses a per-resource day-vertical grid with drag-to-create, click-to-edit, and Find a Time. FlightCircle uses a Split Vertical view that Pilots of America forum users describe as 'clunky.' | ||
Mobile-first design FlightCircle is responsive but not mobile-first. No native app, no PWA — they recommend 'Add to Home Screen' as a workaround per their FAQ. |
Fact-checked against public documentation. Verified April 2026.
4 aircraft, ~200 members, dues collected through the software via ACH (~$13K/mo).
Wingmint
~$156 / mo
Platform (4 × $9)
$36
ACH on Stripe at 0.92% capped at $5.75
200 dues pulls at $65 each, under the cap
~$120
Gateway fee
Included with Stripe.
$0
Total
~$156
FlightCircle
~$195–$430 / mo
Platform (4 × $10)
$40
Fiserv gateway
Monthly fee
$14.95
Fiserv ACH (1.09–2.89%)
Rate varies; no per-txn cap. Card processing must be enabled alongside ACH.
~$140–$375
Total
~$195–$430
FlightCircle's Fiserv ACH rate varies by club. The 1.09% floor assumes the most favorable tier. Many clubs report effective rates closer to 2%. Credit card processing must be enabled alongside ACH per FlightCircle's payment docs.
Straight answer — no sleight of hand.
Choose Wingmint if
Stripe ACH at 0.92% capped at $5.75, Google-Calendar-grade scheduling, TSA FTSP enforcement, Keycafe key exchange, and a public API included on every plan. If your club needs the cheapest payment processing and the best scheduling experience, Wingmint wins.
Stick with them if
FlightCircle has been operating for years, has the EAA partnership, and your club may already be set up on it. If the EAA endorsement matters for your board's buy-in and you can live with the Fiserv fee structure, FlightCircle is a known quantity.
Comparison FAQ
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