# PlaneEnglish: ARSim — user reviews > 141 indexed App Store user reviews of PlaneEnglish by PlaneEnglish, rated 4.08/5 from 324 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planeenglish-arsim/id1461037185/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/planeenglish-arsim/id1461037185.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 202 · 4★ 40 · 3★ 30 · 2★ 9 · 1★ 43 ## What do users think of PlaneEnglish? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Great practice for radio communications - 👍 Helpful for non-native English speakers - 👍 Organized learning process - 👍 Customizable with user's callsign and airport - 👍 Covers VFR and IFR scenarios **Cons** - 🐛 Voice recognition issues - often misses or misinterprets words - 🐛 App crashes and loading issues - 🔒 Subscription model instead of one-time purchase - 🔒 Expensive for some users - 🔒 Limited free content, most features require paid subscription **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashing on startup - Voice recognition not working properly - Progress not saving between sessions - Incorrect callsign/aircraft type displayed in scenarios **Most requested features** - More realistic ATC communication scenarios - Better feedback on pronunciation and pacing - Ability to add custom airports and scenarios - Offline mode for practicing without internet - Integration with flight simulators ## Newest reviews (16 of 141) ### 4/5 — Wish it had Australian radio calls *2026-05-18* Seems like there have been a lot of improvements since last time I used it and I am enjoying it. I wish it could add an Australian version as the calls are a little different but it is still helping me a lot understand radio chat ### 2/5 — Ok but too much touch required *2026-04-19, version 1.5.13* This is a solid C+ app, but I really don’t like that you need to tap the mic icon to speak and the speaker icon to listen. It should be a fluid conversation like it is with Siri or Alexa or Whisper or 11labs voices. It feels pretty archaic the way it is, and because it requires full attention it’s hard to train for multitasking and distractions like will be given to you on cog and compass tests ### 4/5 — App does not open without cell or WiFi signal. *2026-03-09, version 1.5.13* Why doesn’t the app open and work offline ? ### 4/5 — Very useful but poorly designed *2025-10-02, version 1.5.11* This has been a great help in my flight training. The scenarios are good, having my N number as a custom field and even my local airport, are great. The speech reco is really bad however. The rest of the app is also a bit of a mess. Would be better if more attention was paid to thr central features of the app. Also more of a guided progression. ### 3/5 — Voice Recognition Horrible *2025-07-30* This is a decent app/program lots of potential. I’m a former flight instructor getting current again. The AI voices are horrendous. In 2025 there are far better ways to go about this. The worst part of the experience is the horrible voice recognition. Regardless of the microphone, headset, input device I used, the program refuses to pick up all the words. Not always the same words every time, just misses words completely. I’ll listen to the readback, and can clearly hear that it’s correct, but the program will not recognize them. I would say only about 5% of the time do I get 100% recognition. Another thing, even though there are technically specific ways to go about communications in aviation, if you’re just starting out and using this to learn communications, what you will hear in the real world is quite different. Especially with tower airports, controllers, want short and concise read backs. **Developer response:** Sorry to hear of your experience Mklein73. We recommend exploring the Settings options for the alternate speech recognition engines available (Fast and High Performance) as well as the voices (you can always download new ones following the instructions in ARSim). The training content in ARSim is based on the FAA and ICAO guidelines for aviation phraseology from the AIM and JO7110, so while you may hear variations while flying the guidelines is what you will find in ARSim. Thanks and reach out for any issues: service@planeenglish.net and our team will readily assist. ### 3/5 — Nice app but needs work on word recognition *2025-05-29, version 1.5.9* I love the app but I have a consistent issue where it refuses to hear certain words. I can go back and reread the exact words it wants to hear. Even tried to do it as slow as possible as well as having someone else read it. I end up just skipping ahead on those lessons instead of trying to fight with it. ### 4/5 — Almost Awesome *2025-05-21* This app is pretty great. The idea of getting to practice your radio calls instead of reading them out of a book is a really neat concept and an effective approach to training. I don’t like that you have to keep paying in order to have access. It’s a temporary subscription where you have a limited amount of time for access. Other software you pay and it’s yours. If you ever get rusty over time it’s no problem. You can come back and access it anytime you want. But with this app you gotta stay current on your subscription. The only other criticism I might have is that maybe some of the vocabulary in the Basics section could use more information. Like for certain words, it might be nice to have a definition, description or some examples to better understand what that thing is. Like a student pilot just getting started might have no idea what a METAR is or what Rime ice is or what the definition of wind shear is. This app will sometimes have you practicing the pronunciation of words/phrases but don’t bother giving any information to help you learn what it means. Other than that, it’s a pretty good training tool. **Developer response:** Thank you for the feedback and rating. An immediate option for the vocabulary is to check out the Glossary module, which provides definitions, quiz, and pronunciation practice for aviation vocabulary. It’s more extensive and in-depth. Thanks! ### 4/5 — Very helpful but crashes *2025-05-20, version 1.5.7* I love this app. It is very helpful! It explains everything and even gives tou senarios to practice figuring out what calls to make. Only 2 things wrong. Sometimes it crashes and you have to restart the lesson you were on. Other thing is, you have to pay for it monthly. I wish there was a one time fee option. It is an expensive app but worth the purchase if you need to become proficient again or are learning. ### 3/5 — Meh *2025-05-19, version 1.5.7* The user interface is clunky, to say the least, but most frustrating is the poor voice recognition. It continuously misinterprets common simple words (e.g., “fife” for “five”) and usually misinterprets uncommon words (e.g., airport names). ### 4/5 — Improving *2025-04-29* I’m required to complete lessons inside of ARSim for my school and I’m continually counted wrong regardless of the way I’m pronouncing Phenom or RNAV. In fact, the voice doesn’t say RNAV. It says R N A V. Very frustrating. Edit: The creators are definitely making improvements which help a lot, thank you. We’ve been using this app in a classroom of 60 people and my prof has a problem with the handoffs from Miami center to Kansas center, which is not practical. Also, atc will clear for visual approach but at the same time assign an altitude. Small things here and there that are not accurate. 4/5 stars and slowly getting better! **Developer response:** Thank you again for the edits and for communicating with us. The example handoffs you mention may be awkward, but are meant to be examples. The visual approach clearances do include the descend altitude as part of the clearance for completeness (in cases when ATC still retains separation responsibility) but we’ll make some adjustments so that you see both cases. Thanks again! ### 3/5 — Get rid of phenom *2025-03-24, version 1.5.6* I’m required to complete lessons inside of ARSim for my school and I’m continually counted wrong regardless of the way I’m pronouncing Phenom or RNAV. In fact, the voice doesn’t say RNAV. It says R N A V. Very frustrating. ### 3/5 — Not Bad *2025-02-04, version 1.5.2* If you say exactly what the script says, you'll learn well. The problem is that the system will not account for variations (e.g. "information Kilo" vs "with Kilo", or taxi readback starting vs ending with the runway). If AI recognizes a range of proper comms (and especially issues in a range of comms), this would be 5 stars. ### 4/5 — Feedback not correct *2024-08-14, version 1.5* Unique !!! App I love it but doesn’t work as is supposed to, even when you say all words in the correct place time and pronunciation the app just don’t get it which is really frustrating please check that out ### 4/5 — I don’t understand *2024-08-03, version 1.5* So when you pay for a subscription it says you get access to 500 plus airports but when i go into xc flight etc i get the option to choose from like maybe 10? So im giving this a 4 till i figure out what is going on. Other than that, pretty good app so far ### 3/5 — Not Bad, could be better *2024-06-11* At first I thought it was having issues with my accent, but it wasn’t. There needs to be a better way of indicating a step is done, something more obvious than the next arrow being enabled. It took me doing a slip of tongue before noticing it won’t let you advance without finishing first. Please look into an app, like DuoLingo for inspiration. On the plus side, having to say things out loud took the fright I had initially. I feel more confident now. The app is kinda expensive though. It feels like the developer concluded student pilots must love expensive stuff. ### 4/5 — Solid, but needs polish *2024-06-09, version 1.5* I tried this app for a month (VFR). I’m a rusty private pilot and want to get my skills sharp again, including my radio work. While this app does a great job of instilling the basics of proper phraseology (and even pronunciation in some cases), I found the various chapters and topic sub-groupings confusing, and the user interface with the mic and other buttons at the bottom of the practice screen a bit perplexing at first. Some trial and error and a YouTube video or two got me sorted, but I didn’t find it especially intuitive. For instance, I assumed the mic button was a press-and-hold to talk button, but is instead a TAP-to-record button (no need to hold it down when speaking as in the real airplane). Also, the accuracy grade bar that illuminates in different colors from red to green appeared at first to be a kind of equalizer, presumably measuring my volume and cadence, not reflecting a score of some kind. Again, this was figured out after a few minutes, but a simple numerical score might be an improvement. Lastly, in what I hope is being taken as constructive critique, please get rid of the synthesized ATC responses. They’re terrible, akin to what I remember from twenty years ago using the Comm1 Radio Simulator software on my PC. Some real human voices recorded speaking the responses over a scratchy VHF radio would level-up the realism and the fun of learning the back-and-forth between pilot and controller. Also, for student pilots, it wouldn’t be so starkly different from what they’ll hear in their headset during real flights in the system. I know nothing about app development, but since all the app’s scenarios are scripted, it would seem to be only a matter of getting some controllers (or just some voice actors) to pre-record all the various ATC responses, preferably over an actual radio. All that said, I’m still giving this app an enthusiastic 4 stars for its thorough coverage of the myriad concepts involved, the fact that it offers both VFR and IFR comms simulation, is reasonably priced, and conveniently usable on phone, tablet, and desktop devices. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Not perceiving words *2025-12-26, version 1.5.13* It doesn't process the words being said, even when I speak extremely slowly, quickly, or with different accents; sometimes it only processes about 30% of them. My stress levels have increased, I'm extremely tense. ### 1/5 — Amazing *2025-02-01, version 1.5.2* I earned my Private Pilot license in 2010 and my Instrument rating in 2011..I had soooo many flash cards. This app would have been extremely helpful! It is an amazing tool for a refresh if you haven’t flown in awhile. I highly recommend this app not only for comm training but for learning/reviewing the terminology as well. ### 1/5 — Charged for free trial *2024-11-22, version 1.5.2* Thought it was a free trial, within days got charged for the premium package… do yourself a favor and don’t risk it ### 1/5 — Great idea but *2024-07-20* Lesson hangs and get stuck . Not worth the money. Forgot about it and only remembered when the subscription renewed. Honestly I lasted about 10 minutes. ### 1/5 — Yorucu *2024-07-17, version 1.5* Söylediklerinizi çok zor duyuyor. ### 1/5 — Bad app! Stay away! *2024-07-10, version 1.5* I tried the app and thought it was subpar. It doesn’t really give you a great practice baseline with how you're supposed to talk to ATC. And some of jargon you wouldn’t even use in reality. There are better programs and when I tried requesting a refund, the app developer straight up complained to Apple about it and I couldn’t get my money back. If that doesn’t scream customer desperation I don’t know what does. There’s plenty of radio coms training you can learn for free on YouTube. Don’t waste your money on this worthless product. ### 1/5 — This app breaks my microphone *2023-11-29, version 1.4.2* Not sure what APIs you guys are using but every time I try to use the app, you stop my microphone working and I need to restart my phone. iPhone 15 Pro Max on 17.1. Because of your poor usage of the microphone, the lessons are also useless because your app can’t hear me. ### 1/5 — App crashes when creating account *2023-11-02, version 1.4* App crash when creating account ### 1/5 — Doesn't work *2022-12-02, version 1.3.20* Try to open the app and it stalls trying to "downloading updates". Has never actually worked. ### 1/5 — NOT created/designed by experts *2022-11-09, version 1.3.20* This app is garbage. Don’t waste your time or money. Some of their phraseology is just wrong and it’s embarrassing that they try to pass themselves off as teachers. Just take a look at their social media. Their “tips” clearly aren’t from industry professionals. These people need to get some actual pilots or controllers who know the book inside and out on their dev team. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Improving comms skills. *2026-06-15, version 1.5.13* Excellent and outstanding app. Very helpful. ### 5/5 — Good app *2026-01-23, version 1.5.13* I found it helpful to practice say ATC instructions and I am pleased with the Readback IFR clearance lesson. ### 5/5 — Amazing *2025-11-11, version 1.5.12* Awesome tool ### 5/5 — Amazing *2025-05-20, version 1.5.8* Great app ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2024-08-22, version 1.5.2* This is a big help for me on my PPL journey. One weird thing: sometimes my callsign gets replaced with ARC. Not sure why but it’s only for some prompts. I have yet to find a pattern to this behavior. It’s by no means a dealbreaker, just annoying. ### 5/5 — OKAY APP *2024-08-16, version 1.5* Pls add some more things ### 5/5 — Excellent app for new Pilots *2024-05-29, version 1.4.5* Wish I knew about his when I was starting off. Follows a organized learning process from start to beginning and the microphone recording has some bugs but overall amazing app for learning. ### 5/5 — Great app *2024-05-22, version 1.4.5* This app is great for learning and pronouncing radio calls. The developers did great by allowing for multiple different teaching styles so that people can use it the way that helps them the best. Overall five stars, use it everyday! ### 5/5 — I love it! *2024-05-03, version 1.4.5* Haven’t found anything like it for free. This is the exact training app I’ve been looking for. It has what I’ve needed to train for, but didn’t really know how to start, for FREE. There is a majority of the app you have to pay for, but the free portion is perfect for me right now! ### 5/5 — Happy with my subscription *2024-04-11, version 1.4.4* I’ve had ARsim for about a month now and I’ve purchased the IFR subscription to practice craft clearance. Definitely recommend if you struggle with getting them it has definitely helped me a lot. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-09.*