Comparison

Sol Explorer vs IFR Flight Simulator

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

Head to head
About

Sol Explorer

Experience our Solar System from a first-person perspective in your own spaceship. Explore planets, moons, and space probes, traveling billions of miles across the cosmos. Learn about over 40 celestial objects and gain new perspectives on Earth and beyond.

Highlights
  • First-person spaceship exploration
  • Travel across the entire Solar System
  • Learn about 40+ celestial objects
  • Explore planets, moons, and probes
  • View from the edge of interstellar space
  • Size comparison videos
Features
Read full description

Get a first-person view of the planets and moons of our Solar System. Climb aboard your very own spaceship and explore... - It's your spaceship – fly wherever you want. - Cruise across the entire Solar System – over eight billion miles end to end. - Stop and learn about any object you see – moons, planets, and space probes. Over 40 celestial objects in all. - Observe Mars, explore the moons of Jupiter, fly through the rings of Saturn, travel to the edge of interstellar space. - Fly to the distant edge of the Solar System and look back on Earth. - Watch the Size of the Planets video and get amazing perspective on the planets in our Solar System – then explore some more.

About

IFR Flight Simulator

This aviation simulator helps pilots master IFR procedures and prepare for instrument ratings. Practice holdings, intercepts, and approaches with realistic flight simulation and navigation tools on your phone. Ideal for student and experienced pilots seeking convenient, effective training.

Highlights
  • Realistic aviation training
  • Worldwide flight navigation database
  • Comprehensive training modes
  • Real-time flight simulator
  • Integrated autopilot
  • Optimal holding entry path overlay
Features
Read full description

Practice holdings, radial intercepts, and DME arcs on your phone before your next simulator session. Calculate the procedure, fly it with live instruments, and review your track in the debrief. IFR Flight Simulator combines focused IFR procedure training with real-time flight simulation, worldwide navigation data, and a choice of glass cockpit or classic gauges. What you can practice: • Holding Trainer: Randomized holding situations. Determine the entry, calculate the wind correction angles, then fly the pattern. • Intercept Trainer: Inbound and outbound radial intercepts as well as QDM/QDR intercepts. • DME Arc Trainer: Fly DME arcs and calculate the angle of lead to turn onto the inbound course at the right moment. • Approaches: Set up a final intercept, a position in the pattern (downwind, base, or final), or a full approach at any airport, including ILS. • IFR mental math: Practice entries, wind correction angles, and lead points until the calculations become automatic. Worldwide navigation database: • Navigation data from a recent AIRAC cycle, with worldwide coverage: 13,000+ airports and 10,000+ VORs, NDBs, and other navaids. • Train with real airports and navaids instead of generic exercise locations. Real-time flight simulator: • Modern glass cockpit (PFD and ND) or classic gauges. • Autopilot with rotary controls for heading, altitude, and speed, or fly manually by tilting your device. • Fast-forward mode to repeat procedures efficiently. • Live Map: your position and flight path in real time. • Live Needle Overlay: watch where the HSI and CDI needles actually point as they move with the aircraft symbol across the map. • Optimal Holding Entry Path Overlay: compare your flown track with the wind-corrected entry and holding pattern. • Flight Log with Debrief: every flight is recorded. Replay the track and the needle movement, or resume the flight later. Built for instrument rating training, proficiency practice, and simulator assessments. "I am currently training for my Instrument Rating, and my FI recommended this app to me. I didn't think such a high quality, useful training tool was possible as an app. Incredible for VOR bearings, practicing holds and command headings." App Store review by Sa4mmy Questions or feedback? Reach us at support@ifrsimulator.com. Disclaimer: This application is for training and educational purposes only. It must not be used for real-world flight planning or in-flight decision-making. While the developer strives to provide information and calculations that are as accurate and up-to-date as reasonably possible, they may still be incomplete or inaccurate, and other accepted methods exist for deriving procedures and correction angles. Always verify data against official aeronautical publications and follow the guidance of a certified flight instructor. The developer accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from use of this software. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Sol Explorer4 screens
IFR Flight Simulator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sol Explorer at 5.0 against IFR Flight Simulator's 4.3. Sol Explorer also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 65%) and in-app purchases (none vs 9). IFR Flight Simulator's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 86 months) and ratings volume (107 vs 6). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. IFR Flight Simulator sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Sol Explorer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sol Explorer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IFR Flight Simulator has 107 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Sol Explorer's written reviews are positive against 65% of IFR Flight Simulator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sol Explorer ships an update every 86 months, IFR Flight Simulator every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Sol Explorer versus IFR Flight Simulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSol ExplorerIFR Flight Simulator
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better4.3 (107 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better64.7% of reviews
Number of ratings6107 — better
Update frequencyEvery 86 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size268 MB117 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperReason InteractiveTobias Maihoff

Customer experience

Sol Explorer

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

IFR Flight Simulator

All ratings103 ratings
Positive80.6%
Neutral4.9%
Negative14.6%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive64.7%
Neutral17.6%
Negative17.6%

In-app purchases

None

Sol Explorer

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

IFR Flight Simulator

Subscriptions5
  • Full Access2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Full Access7 Days trial$19.993 Months
  • Full Access$19.993 Months
Show 2 more
  • Full Access7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Full Access7 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time3
  • SALE % Pro | One-Time Purchase$49.99
  • SALE % Pro | One-Time Purchase$84.99
  • Pro Access | One-Time Purchase$169.99

Questions

Is Sol Explorer free?
Sol Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is IFR Flight Simulator free?
IFR Flight Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sol Explorer or IFR Flight Simulator?
Sol Explorer is rated higher. Sol Explorer averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while IFR Flight Simulator averages 4.3 from 107 ratings.
Do Sol Explorer or IFR Flight Simulator have ads?
Neither Sol Explorer nor IFR Flight Simulator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sol Explorer or IFR Flight Simulator?
Sol Explorer ships an update every 86 months, and IFR Flight Simulator every 5 days. Most recently, Sol Explorer was updated on October 24, 2026 and IFR Flight Simulator on October 30, 2026.

Other comparisons