Comparison

Read Before Flight vs IFR Flight Simulator

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Read Before Flight

Access a digital library for aviation professionals, including pilots, cabin crew, and dispatchers. Content is managed by Flight Standards for the entire Holding.

Highlights
  • Digital library access
  • Targeted for pilots
  • For cabin crew
  • For dispatchers
  • Managed by Flight Standards
Features
Read full description

Permite visualizar la Biblioteca Digital dirigida a pilotos, tripulantes de cabina y despachadores. Administrada por Estándares de Vuelo para todo el Holding.

About

IFR Flight Simulator

This aviation simulator helps pilots master IFR procedures and prepare for instrument ratings. Practice holdings, intercepts, and approaches with realistic flight simulation and navigation tools on your phone. Ideal for student and experienced pilots seeking convenient, effective training.

Highlights
  • Realistic aviation training
  • Worldwide flight navigation database
  • Comprehensive training modes
  • Real-time flight simulator
  • Integrated autopilot
  • Optimal holding entry path overlay
Features
Read full description

Practice holdings, radial intercepts, and DME arcs on your phone before your next simulator session. Calculate the procedure, fly it with live instruments, and review your track in the debrief. IFR Flight Simulator combines focused IFR procedure training with real-time flight simulation, worldwide navigation data, and a choice of glass cockpit or classic gauges. What you can practice: • Holding Trainer: Randomized holding situations. Determine the entry, calculate the wind correction angles, then fly the pattern. • Intercept Trainer: Inbound and outbound radial intercepts as well as QDM/QDR intercepts. • DME Arc Trainer: Fly DME arcs and calculate the angle of lead to turn onto the inbound course at the right moment. • Approaches: Set up a final intercept, a position in the pattern (downwind, base, or final), or a full approach at any airport, including ILS. • IFR mental math: Practice entries, wind correction angles, and lead points until the calculations become automatic. Worldwide navigation database: • Navigation data from a recent AIRAC cycle, with worldwide coverage: 13,000+ airports and 10,000+ VORs, NDBs, and other navaids. • Train with real airports and navaids instead of generic exercise locations. Real-time flight simulator: • Modern glass cockpit (PFD and ND) or classic gauges. • Autopilot with rotary controls for heading, altitude, and speed, or fly manually by tilting your device. • Fast-forward mode to repeat procedures efficiently. • Live Map: your position and flight path in real time. • Live Needle Overlay: watch where the HSI and CDI needles actually point as they move with the aircraft symbol across the map. • Optimal Holding Entry Path Overlay: compare your flown track with the wind-corrected entry and holding pattern. • Flight Log with Debrief: every flight is recorded. Replay the track and the needle movement, or resume the flight later. Built for instrument rating training, proficiency practice, and simulator assessments. "I am currently training for my Instrument Rating, and my FI recommended this app to me. I didn't think such a high quality, useful training tool was possible as an app. Incredible for VOR bearings, practicing holds and command headings." App Store review by Sa4mmy Questions or feedback? Reach us at support@ifrsimulator.com. Disclaimer: This application is for training and educational purposes only. It must not be used for real-world flight planning or in-flight decision-making. While the developer strives to provide information and calculations that are as accurate and up-to-date as reasonably possible, they may still be incomplete or inaccurate, and other accepted methods exist for deriving procedures and correction angles. Always verify data against official aeronautical publications and follow the guidance of a certified flight instructor. The developer accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from use of this software. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Read Before Flight4 screens
IFR Flight Simulator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: IFR Flight Simulator at 64% against Read Before Flight's 0%. IFR Flight Simulator also leads on rating (4.3 vs 1.0) and update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks). Read Before Flight's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. IFR Flight Simulator sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Read Before Flight asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

IFR Flight Simulator holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IFR Flight Simulator has 103 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Read Before Flight's written reviews are positive against 64% of IFR Flight Simulator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Read Before Flight ships an update every 5 weeks, IFR Flight Simulator weekly. The most recent releases landed on August 23, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Read Before Flight versus IFR Flight Simulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRead Before FlightIFR Flight Simulator
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (3 ratings)4.3 (103 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews63.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3103 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB116 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMobyle Inc.Tobias Maihoff

Customer experience

Read Before Flight

All ratings3 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative75.0%

IFR Flight Simulator

All ratings103 ratings
Positive80.6%
Neutral4.9%
Negative14.6%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive63.6%
Neutral18.2%
Negative18.2%

In-app purchases

None

Read Before Flight

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

IFR Flight Simulator

Subscriptions4
  • Full Access2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Full Access7 Days trial$19.993 Months
  • Full Access$19.993 Months
Show 1 more
  • Full Access7 Days trial2 variants$59.991 Year
One-time3
  • SALE % Pro | One-Time Purchase$49.99
  • SALE % Pro | One-Time Purchase$84.99
  • Pro Access | One-Time Purchase$169.99

Questions

Is Read Before Flight free?
Read Before Flight is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is IFR Flight Simulator free?
IFR Flight Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Read Before Flight or IFR Flight Simulator?
IFR Flight Simulator is rated higher. Read Before Flight averages 1.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while IFR Flight Simulator averages 4.3 from 103 ratings.
Do Read Before Flight or IFR Flight Simulator have ads?
Neither Read Before Flight nor IFR Flight Simulator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Read Before Flight or IFR Flight Simulator?
Read Before Flight ships an update every 5 weeks, and IFR Flight Simulator weekly. Most recently, Read Before Flight was updated on August 23, 2026 and IFR Flight Simulator on September 26, 2026.

Other comparisons