Comparison

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.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Connects to Xplane 11
  • No Xplane plugin required
  • Tune frequencies
  • Fly approaches
  • Familiarize with IFD series
Read full description

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 call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Garmin GPS Trainer versus IFD Trainer Xp: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGarmin GPS TrainerIFD Trainer Xp
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.1 (28 ratings)4.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews40.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings28 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS13.09.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1.3 GB152 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGarmin DCIAvidyne

Customer experience

Garmin GPS Trainer

All ratings19 ratings
Positive31.6%
Neutral10.5%
Negative57.9%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral4.2%
Negative62.5%

IFD Trainer Xp

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative40.0%

In-app purchases

None

Garmin GPS Trainer

No in-app purchases

None

IFD Trainer Xp

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Garmin GPS Trainer free?
Garmin GPS Trainer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is IFD Trainer Xp free?
IFD Trainer Xp is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Garmin GPS Trainer or IFD Trainer Xp?
IFD Trainer Xp is rated higher. Garmin GPS Trainer averages 2.1 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while IFD Trainer Xp averages 4.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Garmin GPS Trainer or IFD Trainer Xp have ads?
Neither Garmin GPS Trainer nor IFD Trainer Xp shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Garmin GPS Trainer or IFD Trainer Xp?
Garmin GPS Trainer ships an update every 3 months, and IFD Trainer Xp every 2 months. Most recently, Garmin GPS Trainer was updated on October 23, 2026 and IFD Trainer Xp on October 24, 2026.

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