Comparison

Prepware CFI vs VOR Tracker

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

Head to head
About

Prepware CFI

Prepare for the FAA Knowledge Exam with this comprehensive study and test tool. It offers flashcard-style review of questions, answers, and explanations, allowing you to study by subject or take realistic practice tests.

Highlights
  • Flashcard-style review
  • Questions, answers, and explanations
  • Study by subject
  • Practice tests
  • Comprehensive preparation tool
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Comprehensive preparation, study and test tool for the FAA Knowledge Exam. Flashcard style review of questions, answers and explanations included for you to study by subject or with a true-to-form practice test.

About

VOR Tracker

This app provides a realistic IFR navigation training experience for pilots. Practice holding patterns, radial interceptions, and other critical procedures in real-time using various flight instruments. It's designed to help pilots apply theoretical knowledge in a simulated cockpit environment.

Highlights
  • Real-time IFR simulation
  • VOR and NDB navigation practice
  • Multiple instrument displays (CDI, RMI, HSI, EHSI)
  • Practice holding patterns and radial interceptions
  • Map mode for progress verification
  • Freeze and fast modes for training control
Features
Read full description

The needles are moving. The examiner is watching. Your mind goes blank. The cockpit is the most expensive place to discover the gap between knowing the theory and flying the procedure. VOR Tracker is a real-time IFR procedure trainer for holding patterns, radial interceptions and DME arcs — you fly them on the instruments you already use, wherever you are, whenever you want. One-time purchase — for less than half an hour of dual instruction, and it never renews. No subscription, no ads. FLY THE INSTRUMENTS YOU ACTUALLY USE - Fixed-card CDI, RMI, HSI or EHSI — the EHSI adds wind, track and groundspeed - VOR or NDB, with realistic dip error and atmospheric noise on the NDB - Aircraft speeds from light trainer to jet TRAIN THE WAY YOU FLY - Freeze the action when things get too fast - Skip ahead through the straight bits - Drag the aircraft to reposition, or repeat any exercise from a new random start - Stuck on holding entries? Let the map show you the sectors - Build your own missions, with your own wind RAISE THE STAKES WHEN YOU'RE READY - Start calm, then add wind: steady, gusting, variable — or hidden, so you work it out yourself SEE YOUR PROGRESS - Rewind and fly it again; the previous tracks stay on the map so you can compare MADE FOR - Student pilots who would rather make their mistakes on the ground - Pilots preparing for a check ride, an IPC or a simulator assessment - Instructors who want to show an entry, a lead angle or a wind correction in real time WHAT IT IS NOT - Not a game - Not a flight simulator: it trains navigation procedures at a constant speed and altitude - Not a ground-school course: it assumes you know the theory and need the practice "I was really struggling to visualise NDB joins and an hour on this and I have it cracked." — App Store review "I highly recommend it to all of my students and to anyone learning IFR procedures." — Google Play review Recommended for simulator-assessment preparation by training organisations including Horizon Swiss Flight Academy, SKY4u Aviation Service and Airline Entry Training. VOR Tracker has trained IFR procedures since 2014, on iPhone, iPad and Android. Questions or feedback: info@vor-tracker.com Try the free browser demo: https://vor-tracker.com/app-demo/

Screenshots

Prepware CFI4 screens
VOR Tracker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: VOR Tracker at 86% against Prepware CFI's 32%. VOR Tracker also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.4) and ratings volume (138 vs 37). Prepware CFI's advantage is price ($9.99 vs $19.99) and chart position (#134 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Prepware CFI costs $9.99 and VOR Tracker $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VOR Tracker holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 37 and 138 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 32% of Prepware CFI's written reviews are positive against 86% of VOR Tracker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Prepware CFI versus VOR Tracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrepware CFIVOR Tracker
Price$9.99 — better$19.99
Rating2.4 (37 ratings)4.7 (138 ratings) — better
Positive reviews32.3% of reviews85.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings37138 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank#134 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperASAKarsten Heiland

Customer experience

Prepware CFI

All ratings37 ratings
Positive24.3%
Neutral24.3%
Negative51.4%
Written reviews65 reviews
Positive32.3%
Neutral23.1%
Negative44.6%

VOR Tracker

All ratings138 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral2.2%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews126 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral2.4%
Negative11.9%

Bugs and requests

Prepware CFI

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

VOR Tracker

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Knob rotation difficult
  • To From indicator sometimes does not work
  • App freezes on download
  • App freezes on opening
  • Not able to download 2nd time
Show 3 more
  • Holding pattern depiction inaccurate
  • App freezes every time I open it
  • App doesn't work, totally unusable

Requested features

25 requests
  • Scroll wheel for knobs
  • Add CDI option
  • Add RMI pointer
  • Add ILS approaches
  • Add non-precision approaches
Show 20 more
  • Add point-to-point navigation
  • Add user-defined patterns
  • Add fix-to-fix scenarios
  • Add more hold entry options
  • Add wind correction details
  • Add written ATC instructions
  • Add common VOR nav receiver
  • Add option for basic 6-pack instruments
  • Add custom/randomized ATC hold instructions
  • Add speed control slider
  • Auto-restart on timer reset
  • Random wind option
  • More scenarios
  • More videos from developer
  • Point to point addition
  • Low enroute charts practice
  • Practice missed approaches
  • Second VOR/ADF bearing needle for HSI
  • Option to know when task completed successfully
  • Hold patterns away from VOR on radial/DME

In-app purchases

None

Prepware CFI

No in-app purchases

None

VOR Tracker

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Prepware CFI free?
Prepware CFI costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VOR Tracker free?
VOR Tracker costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Prepware CFI or VOR Tracker?
VOR Tracker is rated higher. Prepware CFI averages 2.4 out of 5 from 37 ratings, while VOR Tracker averages 4.7 from 138 ratings.
Do Prepware CFI or VOR Tracker have ads?
Neither Prepware CFI nor VOR Tracker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Prepware CFI or VOR Tracker?
Prepware CFI ships an update every 4 months, and VOR Tracker every 4 months. Most recently, Prepware CFI was updated on October 18, 2026 and VOR Tracker on October 16, 2026.

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