# X vs Flight Simulator

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Flight Simulator at none against X's 10. Flight Simulator also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.0) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 16.0). X's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (25K vs 660). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. X sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Flight Simulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Flight Simulator holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: X has 25K ratings behind it against 660, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 58% of X's written reviews are positive against 45% of Flight Simulator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

X ships an update fortnightly, Flight Simulator every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | X | Flight Simulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-plane-flight-simulator/id566661426/reviews) | **[4.3 (660 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flight-simulator-rc-plane-3d/id1091252710/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **25K** | 660 |
| Positive reviews | **58.1% of reviews** | 45.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 1.0 GB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **6.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Laminar Research](https://appshunter.io/developer/290619948) | [Attribute](https://appshunter.io/developer/1413734661) |

## What reviewers say

### X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-plane-flight-simulator/id566661426)

Experience realistic flight simulation with detailed aircraft and interactive cockpits. Explore numerous 3D airports and terrain, with options to expand globally via subscription. Engage in multiplayer or practice with free tutorials.

**Highlights:** Realistic flight physics, Interactive 3D cockpits, Detailed 3D airports, Free tutorials, Massive multiplayer, System failure simulation, Combat missions

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| X-Plane Mobile Basic | $4.99 | per month |
| X-Plane Mobile Professional | $5.99 | per month |
| Piper SuperCub | $0.99 | one-time |
| Baron B58 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Sikorsky S76 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Airbus A320 | $4.99 | one-time |
| F-22 Raptor | $4.99 | one-time |
| Boeing 777-200ER | $4.99 | one-time |
| Boeing 747-400 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Boeing B737-800 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Realistic flight physics
- 👍 Highly interactive cockpits
- 🤠 Great for flight enthusiasts
- 💡 Potential to be used for flight training

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive planes and subscription
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches in some planes
- 🌍 Limited free global scenery
- 🎮 Challenging controls for beginners

**Reported bugs**

- Altitude hold issues in the MD-80
- Inconsistent cockpit quality across different planes
- Unexpected plane behavior during takeoff and landing

**Requested features**

- More free planes, especially commercial airliners
- Larger free flight area and more airports
- Improved autopilot and flight planning features
- Addition of ground services like pushback and jetways
- More realistic weather, lighting, and environmental effects


### Flight Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flight-simulator-rc-plane-3d/id1091252710)

Experience the thrill of piloting remote-controlled planes in a realistic 3D environment. Master flight controls, navigate challenging obstacle courses, and land your aircraft safely within a limited battery life.

**Highlights:** Realistic 3D flight simulation, Learn to fly and land planes, Navigate obstacle courses, Time-limited battery challenges, Progressive difficulty levels

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Engaging and addictive gameplay
- 🧠 Challenging and requires strategy
- 🎨 Good UI design
- 😌 Relaxing and fun experience
- 💡 Innovative airplane flying concept

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Excessive ads throughout gameplay
- 📺 Ads interrupt at critical moments
- ⚠️ Difficulty level too high
- 💸 Aggressive in-app purchases
- 🐛 Game crashes on startup

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately on launch
- Game crashes during gameplay
- Level completion detection fails (shows 'level fair' error)
- Ads appear before game even starts

**Requested features**

- More levels
- Paper plane option
- Ad-free or reduced ad experience
- Option to disable ads with offline mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is X free?

X is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Flight Simulator free?

Flight Simulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, X or Flight Simulator?

Flight Simulator is rated higher. X averages 4.0 out of 5 from 25K ratings, while Flight Simulator averages 4.3 from 660 ratings.

### Do X or Flight Simulator have ads?

Neither X nor Flight Simulator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, X or Flight Simulator?

X ships an update fortnightly, and Flight Simulator every 8 months. Most recently, X was updated on November 5, 2026 and Flight Simulator on November 2, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*