Comparison

Head Tracker vs SimFly Pad

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

Head to head
About

Head Tracker

This app provides responsive 6DOF head tracking for PC games using your iPhone's camera. Enjoy immersive flight and driving simulations without expensive hardware or uncomfortable headsets.

Highlights
  • 6DOF head tracking
  • Wireless Wi-Fi connection
  • No external hardware needed
  • Accurate and responsive tracking
  • Easy setup
  • Compatible with opentrack
Read full description

Head Tracker uses iPhone’s front-facing TrueDepth camera to provide responsive and accurate 6DOF (degree of freedom) head tracking input to opentrack. Allowing users to enjoy flight and driving simulation games without expensive hardware or wearing uncomfortable headsets. ================================== Supported Devices (iPhone 11 and newer) ================================== This app requires device with TrueDepth camera or Devices with A12 or later processors: iPhone 11, iPhone SE(2nd Gen), iPad (8th Gen), Pro (2nd Gen) and later are supported. ================= Features ================= - 6 DOF - Connects over wifi network, no need for cables - No need to wear any uncomfortable head tracking headsets - Accurate and responsive (up to 60fps) - simple to setup ================================== opentrack supported games includes: ================================== - Microsoft Flight Simulator - FSX - DCS World - Star Citizen - Elite: Dangerous - IL2 - Euro Truck - and more. ================= Customer Reviews ================= "Installation took a couple of minutes on the PC and after the latest update is now smooth as butter. Looking forward to more improvements! Works perfectly on Euro Truck and other racing sims I play like Assetto Corsa etc" "I sold my TrackIR headset some years ago and missed it now in the new Flight Simulator - and guess what: this is combined with opentrack the ideal replacement. It “just works” and is easy to set up. Fair pricing. 5 stars. Thank you, John." ================= How to use: ================= - Open Head Tracker app on your iPhone, set your PC's IP address, then start - Launch opentrack application on your PC, select "Network over UDP" and the "freetrack 2.0" protocol, and press start - Start your favourite simulator game, it will now follow you head movements in the virtual cockpit. Visit https://jbcconsulting448679429.wordpress.com/head-tracking-quick-start/ for detailed instructions and download opentrack preset profile. ================================== Versions (Free and in-app purchase) ================================== Try out the free version. The free version allows you to play for 10 minutes per session, you can restart to extend the trial. Upgrade to the full version via in-app purchase to remove trial limit and automatic screen dimming to reduce battery usage. ================================== More Information and Support ================================== Visit https://jbcconsulting448679429.wordpress.com for more tips, network setup and troubleshooting instruction on configuring head tracking, and contact me for support.

About

SimFly Pad

Enhance your flight simulation experience with interactive checklists, in-game camera recording, and direct cockpit control. Manage flight records and sync media to the cloud for permanent storage.

Highlights
  • Interactive flight checklists
  • In-game virtual camera
  • Cockpit instrument control
  • Flight record management
  • Cloud synchronization for media
  • Voice interaction for checklists (Beta)
Features
Read full description

SimFly Pad is an app focused on enhancing your flight simulation game experience. In SimFly Pad, you can quickly find a sophisticated flight checklist to help you complete each stage of your flight with precision. SimFly Pad is also the first App that comes with a built-in "Camera" allowing you to capture and record every moment of your flight through your phone. All photos and videos are supported for syncing to the cloud for permanent storage. Through the built-in Cockpit page of SimFly Pad, you can directly manipulate the simulated aircraft in your game, such as turning on or off landing lights, adjusting NAV frequencies, and other operations. (Note: The camera function requires an application installed on your PC to work) All Features: * Interactable checklist * Over ten elaborate build-in checklists. * Supports voice interaction (Beta version) * Supports importing custom checklists. * Virtual Camera * Capture and record your in-game footage in real-time. (requires SimFly Linker) * All photos/videos support lossless synchronization to the cloud. * Your flight data is also carried in your photos and videos. * Support real-time view of in-flight data. (barometric pressure, wind, altitude, etc.) * Support exporting videos with beautiful flight data charts. * All exported videos/photos would carry geographic metadata. (meaning you can view the geographic location in your system album). * Cockpit Instrument Control * Direct control of various panels during flight (autopilot, lighting, switches, flaps, etc.) * Supports A320/A330//A340/A350/A380/B737/B757/B777/B787/C250/G1000/C172/CRJ/GA/TBM930/SR22/B777CDU/StreamingScreen. * All components are implemented natively, offering higher performance and lower latency. * Flight Records * Manage all your flight records by tags. * Supports analysis and display of FDR data. * Support for reviewing the flight path. * Support generating and exporting flight path maps. The checklists currently included in the app are: * Douglas DC6A/6B * Airbus A320NX * Airbus A310 * Boeing 737 * Boeing 777 * Carenado M20R * Bombardier CRJ-500/700 * DATER TMB930 * Bae 146 * Cessna 310R * Beech King Air 350 * McDonnell Douglas 82 * Cessna 172SP * Comanche 250 More checklists and features are arriving. If you have any suggestions, please let us know via email at ethantoken@gmail.com or in the comments. NOTE: !!! Please DO NOT use this App in real flight. This App should ONLY be used for simulation games!!!!

Screenshots

Head Tracker2 screens
SimFly Pad4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SimFly Pad at 4.7 against Head Tracker's 4.1. Head Tracker's advantage is review sentiment (70% vs 60%) and ratings volume (62 vs 15). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Head Tracker sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SimFly Pad sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SimFly Pad holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 62 and 15 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of Head Tracker's written reviews are positive against 60% of SimFly Pad's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Head Tracker ships an update fortnightly, SimFly Pad every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on August 18, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Head Tracker versus SimFly Pad: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHead TrackerSimFly Pad
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (62 ratings)4.7 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.5% of reviews — better60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings62 — better15
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB150 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJohn YuSeeingSky Inc.

Customer experience

Head Tracker

All ratings57 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.8%
Written reviews61 reviews
Positive70.5%
Neutral3.3%
Negative26.2%

SimFly Pad

All ratings15 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative20.0%

Bugs and requests

Head Tracker

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Pitch flips upside down when yawing
  • Purchase not restoring after reinstall
  • Camera always in portrait mode
  • Image gets dark after a few seconds
  • Tracking is shaky and buggy
Show 5 more
  • Connection drops and won't reconnect
  • Does not work with iPhone SE
  • Does not work with iPhone 7
  • Does not work with iPhone 8
  • Roll axis detects other axis components

Requested features

5 requests
  • Option to turn off screen when tracking
  • Always visible rotation button for landscape camera
  • Ability to brighten screen for better tracking
  • Use IR camera for low-light conditions
  • Option to make screen black to reduce battery/screen burn

SimFly Pad

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Head Tracker

One-time1
  • Full Version$1.99
12 purchases

SimFly Pad

One-time12
  • SimFly Pad Premium Panel - B767$19.99
  • SimFly Pad B757 Premium Panel$19.99
  • Premium Panel - B737 Ng/Max$24.99
Show 9 more
  • Premium Panel - A320$24.99
  • Premium Panel - B787$24.99
  • SimFlyPad Premium Panel C250$24.99
  • Premium Panel - B777$24.99
  • Premium Panel - A330$24.99
  • Premium Panel - A380$24.99
  • SimFly Pad A350 Premium Panel$24.99
  • SimFly Pad A340 Premium Panel$24.99
  • SimFly Pad Panel - CRJ$24.99

Questions

Is Head Tracker free?
Head Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SimFly Pad free?
SimFly Pad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Head Tracker or SimFly Pad?
SimFly Pad is rated higher. Head Tracker averages 4.1 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while SimFly Pad averages 4.7 from 15 ratings.
Do Head Tracker or SimFly Pad have ads?
Neither Head Tracker nor SimFly Pad shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Head Tracker or SimFly Pad?
Head Tracker ships an update fortnightly, and SimFly Pad every 10 days. Most recently, Head Tracker was updated on August 18, 2026 and SimFly Pad on September 13, 2026.

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