Garmin GPS Trainer vs IFD Trainer Xp
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Garmin GPS Trainer
This app simulates the user interface of a GPS navigator, allowing users to explore its features and operational aspects. It's ideal for improving avionics familiarity and preparing for flights by practicing flight plans.
- Simulated multi-touch and drag interface
- Garmin SafeTaxi with airport information
- High resolution terrain and aviation databases
- Obstacle databases with power line alerting
- Simulated ADS-B Traffic and FIS-B Weather
- Chair fly flight plans
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The Garmin GPS Trainer simulates the system user interface and provides the opportunity to explore the features, options, and fundamental operational aspects of the avionics. When used in combination with the GPS Navigator Series Pilot’s Guide, the trainer can be an effective way to improve avionics familiarity and proficiency at a time and location convenient to the user. The Trainer is also a great way to prepare for a flight because a user can load the anticipated flight plan and “chair fly” the avionics portion of the flight before entering the aircraft. The GPS Trainer includes: • Simulated multi-touch and drag interface – allows you to interact with the system, graphically edit flight plans, and much more • Garmin SafeTaxi – allows you to view detailed airport information on the moving map • High resolution worldwide terrain maps and aviation databases • High resolution obstacle databases including power line alerting • Simulated interfaces and data including: -- ADS-B Traffic with TargetTrend™ Relative Motion -- FIS-B Weather with animated NEXRAD -- Airspaces, airways, and Visual Reporting Points * Note: This app contains simulated data and does not receive data from or interact with real Garmin avionics. This app should not be used for actual navigation purposes.
IFD Trainer Xp
Learn to operate the Avidyne IFD system by connecting to Xplane 11. This app allows you to tune frequencies and fly approaches within your home simulator without needing any additional plugins. Familiarize yourself with the full capabilities of the IFD series.
- Connects to Xplane 11
- No Xplane plugin required
- Tune frequencies
- Fly approaches
- Familiarize with IFD series
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Master the Avidyne IFD in a whole new way, by connecting to your Xplane 11 home simulator! The app will automatically connect to an instance of XPlane that is running on the same network. No plugin for XPlane is required. Tune frequencies, fly approaches and familiarize yourself with all the IFD series has to offer!
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: IFD Trainer Xp at 4.0 against Garmin GPS Trainer's 2.1. IFD Trainer Xp also leads on iOS requirement (9.1 vs 13.0). Garmin GPS Trainer's advantage is ratings volume (28 vs 3). On price, review sentiment, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
IFD Trainer Xp holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Garmin GPS Trainer has 28 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Garmin GPS Trainer's written reviews are positive against 40% of IFD Trainer Xp's.
Garmin GPS Trainer ships an update every 3 months, IFD Trainer Xp every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Garmin GPS Trainer | IFD Trainer Xp |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.1 (28 ratings) | 4.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | 40.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 28 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPad | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 9.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.3 GB | 152 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Garmin DCI | Avidyne |
Customer experience
Garmin GPS Trainer
IFD Trainer Xp
In-app purchases
Garmin GPS Trainer
No in-app purchases
IFD Trainer Xp
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Garmin GPS Trainer free?
Is IFD Trainer Xp free?
Which has better reviews, Garmin GPS Trainer or IFD Trainer Xp?
Do Garmin GPS Trainer or IFD Trainer Xp have ads?
Which is updated more often, Garmin GPS Trainer or IFD Trainer Xp?
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