Comparison

Head Tracker vs SIM

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

SIM

Transform your smartphone or tablet into a customizable auxiliary display for racing, truck, flight, and farming simulations. Design your own dashboard with a variety of widgets and share your creations with a community of users. Unlock full potential with in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • Freely configurable auxiliary display
  • Easy dashboard editor
  • Large number of widgets
  • Community designs download/share
  • Virtual button box for PC
  • Personalized layouts
Read full description

Get the most out of your favorite racing, truck, flight and farming simulations with the SIM Dashboard Companion App. • Use your smartphone or tablet as a freely configurable auxiliary display. • Create your own dash with the easy editor • Choose from a large number of widgets like analog displays, gear indicator, fuel usage, lap times, RPM LED Bars and many more • Register for the community to download and share Designs with others • Button Box (for games running on a PC only), use virtual buttons to execute keystrokes on your PC Supported games This app supports more than 40 games on PC, PS5, PS4 and Xbox like: • American Truck Simulator - ATS • Assetto Corsa (PC/PS4/PS5) • Assetto Corsa Competizione - ACC • Automobilista • BeamNG.drive • DiRT Rally 2.0 (PC) • DiRT 4 (PC) • DiRT Rally (PC) • Euro Truck Simulator 2 - ETS2 • Farming Simulator 22 (PC) - FS22 • Forza Horizon 5 • Forza Horizon 4 • Forza Motorsport • F1 24 • F1 23 • F1 22 • F1 2021 • F1 2020 • F1 2019 • F1 2018 • F1 2017 - 16 • F1 2015 - 10 (PC) • GRID Legends (PC) • Grid Autosport • GT7 • iRacing • LFS • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 - fs2020 • OMSI 2 • RaceRoom Racing Experience - R3E • rFactor • rFactor 2 • Richard Burns Rally - RBR • TrackMania 2 • The Bus • X-Plane 11 ... AND MORE! Check the app for the complete and up to date list of supported games! Most relevant features • Create your personal layouts • Move and scale your widgets • Change colors • Additional options in every widget • Use your own graphics • Select from cool templates Test the free version without a time limit and use one layout and up to three widgets per game. In order to achieve its full potential, you can remove the restrictions with in app purchases. The variety of widgets can differ per game Problems or questions? If you encounter problems or have additional questions, please dont give a negative rating. Check the help pages on www.stryder-it.de/simdashboard/help first. You can also contact me and I try to solve the problem. E-mail: info(at)stryder-it.de The Software is provided "as is," with all faults, defects, bugs, and errors. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Names are used for identification purposes only.

Screenshots

Head Tracker2 screens
SIM4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SIM at 4.6 against Head Tracker's 4.1. SIM also leads on ratings volume (445 vs 62). Head Tracker's advantage is review sentiment (70% vs 43%). 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 SIM sells 24 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SIM holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SIM has 445 ratings behind it against 62, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of Head Tracker's written reviews are positive against 43% of SIM'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, SIM every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Head Tracker versus SIM: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHead TrackerSIM
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (62 ratings)4.6 (445 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.5% of reviews — better42.9% of reviews
Number of ratings62445 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB108 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperJohn YuChristian Hausmann

Customer experience

Head Tracker

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

SIM

All ratings445 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral2.9%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews49 reviews
Positive42.9%
Neutral4.1%
Negative53.1%

User reviews

Head Tracker

From 62 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great value for price
  • 🚀 Smooth and responsive tracking
  • 🎮 Enhances gaming immersion
  • ✅ Easy setup and use
  • 💡 Good alternative to expensive hardware

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Shaky tracking
  • ❌ Doesn't work with older iPhones
  • ⚠️ Inconsistent performance in low light
  • 🔄 Purchase not restoring
  • 🪲 Connection drops

SIM

From 445 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Works well for desired purpose
  • 👍 Easy to use and setup
  • 💡 Amazing data reading and display
  • 👍 Good for sim racing
  • 👍 Saves money on hardware

Room to improve

  • 👎 Free version too limited
  • 👎 Paid version issues
  • 👎 Crashing on iOS
  • 👎 Not working on PS5
  • 👎 Broken after updates

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

SIM

Reported bugs

21 issues
  • Free version too limited (3 widgets)
  • Can't get money back for accidental purchase
  • Time slip on drag times not loading
  • ACC on PS5 not working
  • iOS app not updated for AC Evo
Show 16 more
  • iOS 26 permission changes broke app
  • Not working on Horizon 5 (Horizon 4 error)
  • Pro version not usable on multiple iPhones
  • Scaling options not displaying info properly on iOS
  • Crashing on iPhone SE and iPhone 15
  • Lost pro purchase after reset/update
  • App crashes after buying pro
  • App not opening after recent update
  • App no longer opens after update
  • Email invalid, can't use dashes
  • ATS on iPad not working
  • Max speed of trip/session won't convert to mph
  • Can't log in with old account on new phone
  • Stopped working after two months
  • Ready-made widgets not loading
  • Current iOS version has frustrating bugs

Requested features

8 requests
  • Add Assetto Corsa Rally support
  • Working PSI gauge for Beamng drive
  • Remote dashboard studio for iOS
  • More engine info for Beamng
  • Add Farming Simulator 25 to console
Show 3 more
  • Grouping of layers for scaling and moving widgets
  • Save groups as preset widgets
  • Web interface to design dashboards

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Head Tracker

One-time1
  • Full Version$1.99
24 purchases

SIM

One-time24
  • TDU Solar Crown$0.99
  • F1 23 (Upgrade)$0.99
  • F1 24 (Upgrade)$0.99
Show 21 more
  • BeamNG.drive$1.49
  • Le Mans Ultimate (PC)$1.99
  • The Bus$2.99
  • Forza Horizon 4 & 5$2.99
  • Farming Simulator 25 (Upgrade)$2.99
  • F1 2021 (Upgrade)$2.99
  • WRC (EA SPORTS) (PC)$2.99
  • GT Sport$2.99
  • PC Button Box$3.79
  • Forza Motorsport 2023 & 7$3.99
  • GT7$3.99
  • F1 25$4.49
  • MS Flight Simul. 2024 & 2020$4.49
  • Farming Simulator 22$4.49
  • Farming Simulator 25$4.49
  • F1 23$4.49
  • F1 24$4.49
  • Assetto Corsa$4.79
  • iRacing$4.79
  • ETS2 & ATS$5.99
  • PRO$12.99

Questions

Is Head Tracker free?
Head Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SIM free?
SIM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Head Tracker or SIM?
SIM is rated higher. Head Tracker averages 4.1 out of 5 from 62 ratings, while SIM averages 4.6 from 445 ratings.
Do Head Tracker or SIM have ads?
Neither Head Tracker nor SIM shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Head Tracker or SIM?
Head Tracker ships an update fortnightly, and SIM every 2 weeks. Most recently, Head Tracker was updated on October 7, 2026 and SIM on October 12, 2026.

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