Read this before you switch
Orbit cannot import your flights. Not from FlightMemory, not from anywhere — there is no importer yet. Moving a logbook across means typing it in.
If you have years of history in FlightMemory, that is a real asset and it is worth getting a copy out for yourself regardless of what you use next. Orbit cannot read it, so moving means typing — which is why it is worth doing the long flights first.
It is less work than it sounds: three fields per flight — where from, where to, and when. Orbit derives the distance, the hours, the countries, the continents and every milestone from those. The method for rebuilding a history is written up in full.
The free tier holds 15 flights, so you can find out whether you like it before deciding whether to carry the rest across.
Orbit and FlightMemory, row by row
Including the rows Orbit loses. A table where one side wins everything is an advert, and you would be right not to believe it.
| Orbit | FlightMemory | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Partly.Android. iPhone in development. | Partly.Web only. |
| Log flights from any date | Yes.Any date, back to your first. | Yes.Yes |
| Import from another app | No.Nothing yet — flights are typed in. | Partly.Partly |
| Adds flights from your email | No.No | No.No |
| Live tracking and delay alerts | No.It's a logbook, not a tracker. | No.No |
| 3D globe of your flights | Yes.Real orthographic projection, drag to spin. | No.Static maps. |
| Works offline | Yes.All 8,801 airports on device. | No.No |
| Export your data | Partly.CSV, on Pro. | Partly.Awkward, but possible. |
| Works without an account | Yes.Guest-first. Sign in only to sync. | No.Account required. |
| Free tier | Partly.15 flights, then Pro. | Yes.Free, unlimited flights. |
| Price | Yes.$19.90/year or $49.90 once. | Yes.Free. |
| Ads | Yes.None, on any tier. | Not checked.Not checked |
Checked against FlightMemory’s own site and public sources on . Anything marked “not checked” is exactly that — not a quiet no.
What FlightMemory does better
- Its statistics go deeper than Orbit's — seat, class, aircraft, registration, reason for travel.
- It is free and has no cap on flights.
- Two decades of continuous operation is its own kind of reassurance.
What Orbit does better
- It is a website from another era; Orbit is a phone app that works offline.
- A 3D globe rather than a static map image.
- Getting your data out of Orbit is a CSV button rather than a project.
Asked and answered
Is FlightMemory still running?
Yes. It has been going since the 2000s and is still live, which is more than most of its contemporaries managed.
Can Orbit import from FlightMemory?
No. Orbit has no importer, so a FlightMemory history has to be re-entered. Three fields per flight is the whole job — Orbit derives distance, hours, countries and continents from the airport pair and the date.
What does Orbit do that FlightMemory does not?
It is a phone app rather than a website, it works with no signal, and it draws your flights on a real 3D globe. FlightMemory records more detail per flight; Orbit does more with less of it.
What Orbit works out for you
You enter an airport pair and a date. Everything below is computed from the airports’ own coordinates — which is why entering a flight takes a few seconds rather than a form.
Start with the flights you remember.
The long ones first — they carry most of the distance and most of the milestones. Free for your first 15, no account needed, no ads on any tier.