Comparison

Drilling Simulator 3 vs KICKDRILL

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

Head to head
About

Drilling Simulator 3

This app simulates oil and gas drilling operations, focusing on well control procedures. It allows users to practice kick detection, well shut-in, pressure stabilization, and choke operations with various well configurations and failure scenarios.

Highlights
  • Kick detection and well shut-in simulation
  • Choke panel operations with remote chokes
  • Multiple kick scenarios
  • Directional and horizontal well support
  • Failure schedule with random options
  • Subsea and surface BOP simulation
  • Swabbing effect simulation
Features
Read full description

This is a project for Drilling and Well Control optimized for iPhones and iPads. This is a basic drilling simulator that simulates drilling operations based in panels for kick detection, shut-in the well, stabilization of pressures and the choke operations during the well control operations using a hydraulic choke panel simulator. Features: 1. Drilling, kick detection, shut-in, pressures stabilization and control 2. MULTIPLE KICKS (3 SINGLE BUBBLES)  3. DIRECTIONAL/HORIZONTAL WELL  4. WELL CONTROL ON CHOKE PANEL WITH 2 REMOTE CHOKES 5. Standpipe Manifold and Choke Manifold 6. FLOAT VALVE,  7. GESTURE SWAIPE UP/DOWN TO MOVE DRILLSTRING  8. FAILURES SCHEDULE WITH RANDOM OPTION (Mud Pumps 1 and 2 “power end failure” or “fluid end failure”, Chokes 1 and 2 “plugged” or “washed”, One Drill Bit Nozzle “plugged” or “washed”) 9. Set a KICK without drilling required. 10. Subsea Stack BOP and Surface Stack BOP Additional features:   1. Optionally it is possible to use others apps as Remote Choke like "Driller's Method Simulator" and "Wait and Weight Simulator". Both are available for sale in our Portfolio. 2. Swabbing effect simulation This effect occur when the drill string is pulled out of the wellbore to reduce the bottom hole pressure enough to create an underbalance condition and to cause a flow from formation into the wellbore. This effect is performed on this Simulator by moving the finger up in the well layout on the screen. iPad version: 1. Pre-recorded data view 2. Screen layout optimized for 12.9-inch iPad Pro (High Resolution) 3. Three codes (default "0000" for all: admin, instructor, student) to view the gas into the borehole, the pressure at bottom, at shoe and at bop and to enable / disable the Lag Time (by adjusting the choke to change the kill pressure and drill pipe pressure, etc). 4. Use the arrow keys on keyboard for iPad Pro to operate the choke. iPhone version: 1. Pre-recorded data available in the well configuration views. 2. Screen layout optimized for iPhone and iPad Pro (High Resolution) 3. All features available without codes. A graphical very useful tool for training, drillers, toolpusher, drilling engineers, mud engineers and students in the well control procedures. - Well configuration, drilling, kick detection, shut-in and control. - Interactive system: no pre-set methods; - Ability to apply control methods: Driller's method, Wait and Weight method (or Engineer's method), dynamic volumetric and static volumetric (lubricate and bleed); - Hydraulics and Hydrostatics; - Behavior of the kick (until 3 single kick bubbles simultaneously in borehole); - Applied with subsea stack or surface stack; - Set well with until 4 sections: riser, casing, liner, open hole ; - Set Drill String with drill pipe1, drill pipe2, heavy weight, drill collar1, drill collar2 - Support for horizontal and directional wells (builder and plotter) - Bop flow meter (volume to close and to open bop) - Gas compressibility factor (Z) calculations using formulas more accurately by Hall and Yarborough (1973) - Option to select a more didactic choke control mode instead of a more realistic simulation (default) Others apps available on our portfolio that may be useful for you: - Drilling Hydraulics - Kick Tolerance - Leak-Off Test Simulator - Leak-Off Test Analyzer - MPD Simulator - Well Control Methods - Well Control Worksheets - Well Control Simulators specific for each method (Driller's Method, Wait and Weight and Volumetric) These tools can complement (work with) this simulator by creating files which can be used in this application; and more Oil & Gas in our website. DISCLAIMER: These tools & materials are provided 'as is' without warranties of any kind, express or implied. Please verify the tools provided by this application by yourself before you use them. Ensure you understand the impact of using these tools. Any use you choose to make of these tools & materials is undertaken by you entirely at you own risk.

About

KICKDRILL

This app provides drilling and well personnel with a flexible and effective way to practice and maintain essential well control knowledge. It offers exam-style questions aligned with industry standards, training and exam modes, and instant explanations to reinforce learning.

Highlights
  • Exam-style questions
  • API and NORSOK aligned
  • Training mode
  • Exam mode
  • Instant explanations
  • Progress tracking
Features
Read full description

KickDrill – Train Well Control Anytime, Anywhere KickDrill helps drilling and well personnel practice and maintain essential well control knowledge. Whether you're preparing for recertification or refreshing your skills on the job, KickDrill gives you fast, focused training based on real operational scenarios. - Exam‑style questions aligned with current API and NORSOK requirements - Training mode and exam mode - Instant explanations to reinforce learning - Track your progress over time - Designed for drilling, well, and subsea professionals KickDrill makes well control training simple, flexible, and effective — so you can stay confident and prepared. View our terms & conditions: https://kickdrill.com/terms-and-conditions/

Screenshots

Drilling Simulator 34 screens
KICKDRILL4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: KICKDRILL at Free against Drilling Simulator 3's $49.99. Drilling Simulator 3's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

KICKDRILL is free to download; Drilling Simulator 3 costs $49.99 up front. KICKDRILL sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Drilling Simulator 3 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Drilling Simulator 3 against 5.0 for KICKDRILL. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Drilling Simulator 3 versus KICKDRILL: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrilling Simulator 3KICKDRILL
Price$49.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB75 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCarlos MouraRichard Steffensen

Customer experience

Drilling Simulator 3

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

KICKDRILL

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Drilling Simulator 3

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

KICKDRILL

Subscriptions3
  • KICKDRILL Weekly Subscription$4.997 Days
  • KICKDRILL Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • KICKDRILL Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • KICKDRILL Subscription$9.99

Questions

Is Drilling Simulator 3 free?
Drilling Simulator 3 costs $49.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is KICKDRILL free?
KICKDRILL is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Drilling Simulator 3 or KICKDRILL?
Drilling Simulator 3 and KICKDRILL are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Drilling Simulator 3 or KICKDRILL have ads?
Neither Drilling Simulator 3 nor KICKDRILL shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Drilling Simulator 3 or KICKDRILL?
Drilling Simulator 3 ships an update every 2 months, and KICKDRILL every 2 months. Most recently, Drilling Simulator 3 was updated on September 15, 2026 and KICKDRILL on September 12, 2026.

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