X vs RFS
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
X
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.
- Realistic flight physics
- Interactive 3D cockpits
- Detailed 3D airports
- Free tutorials
- Massive multiplayer
- System failure simulation
- Combat missions
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The most realistic aircraft. The world at your fingertips. It’s not a game, it’s a flight simulator. ▶ "Highly recommended." — Mel Martin, Engadget ◀ ▶ Featured by Apple in "Best New Games" ◀ ▶ Over 1 million downloads! ◀ Come experience why real pilots fly X-Plane. It starts with the flight model—the same flight model used in our FAA-certified desktop simulator—that’s complete enough to model the flex in your wings & the tilt in your landing gear. Add to that our desktop-quality aircraft with multiple liveries and interactive 3-D cockpits—so detailed you can do a full startup procedure using the hundreds of buttons, knobs, & switches in the cockpit. With working gauges, flight displays, & more, these cockpits are as realistic as those in our full desktop sim. But aircraft are no good without a place to fly them. That's why each of our 5 ▸free◂ regions features detailed terrain, lifelike city buildings, & 3D airports—complete with terminal buildings, jetways, hangars, & more. Want more? Subscribe to unlock global scenery, and get access to over 37,000 airports, with more than 11,500 airports featuring 3D terminals, hangars, & more. ▶ FEATURES √ 9 ▸free◂ tutorials, teaching the basics of takeoffs & landings, traffic patterns, helicopters, & more √ Massive multiplayer with thousands of other pilots and controllers in a single shared world (Professional subscribers only; non-subscribers can get free trial flights for a limited time) √ Fully interactive cockpits on many aircraft, wired to real systems models, with working gauges, displays, buttons, & switches √ Full startup procedures supported on many aircraft (optionally start any aircraft from cold & dark) √ More than 50 systems modeled, each of which can be failed on command √ Emergency scenarios √ Combat missions ▶ AIRCRAFT The app includes 2 aircraft (plus 5 scenery regions) for free. In addition, the following aircraft are available as in-app purchases: • ▸Free!◂ Cessna 172SP w/ 4 liveries • ▸Free!◂ Cirrus Vision SF50 w/ 5 liveries • Cirrus SR22 w/ 3 liveries • Cessna Citation X w/ 3 liveries • Airbus A320 Airliner w/ 3 liveries • Airbus A330-300 Airliner w/ 3 liveries • Boeing B737-800 Airliner w/ 3 liveries • Boeing B777-200ER Airliner w/ 3 liveries • Boeing B747-400 Jumbo Jet w/ 3 liveries • Bombardier CRJ200 Regional Jet w/ 3 liveries • Douglas DC-3 Airliner w/ 3 liveries • McDonnell Douglas MD-80 w/ 3 liveries • A-10 Thunderbolt II (“Warthog”) Fighter • F-22 Raptor Fighter • F-4 Phantom II Fighter • Beechcraft Baron B58 • Beechcraft King Air C90B • Piper PA-18 Super Cub • Piaggio P.180 Avanti • Sikorsky S76 Helicopter ▶ SCENERY 5 scenery regions are ▸free◂ for everyone! • Oahu, Hawaii • Grand Canyon • Seattle/Tacoma, Washington • Juneau, Alaska • Innsbruck, Austria Global scenery is available by purchasing a monthly or yearly subscription. ▶ MULTIPLAYER Join tens of thousands of pilots and controllers in a single, shared world! Take part in the Fly-In of the Day to meet up with hundreds of other pilots, or explore the MMO world for spontaneous encounters with fellow aviators. X-Plane Mobile's massive multiplayer experience continues to grow, with ongoing updates bringing new features, refinements, and improvements to make flying together even better. Terms of Service available at: https://www.x-plane.com/x-plane-mobile-terms-of-service/ Download X-Plane now to experience aviation like never before.
RFS
Experience the ultimate flight simulator with realistic aircraft, global scenery, and detailed airports. Engage in real-time multiplayer, manage air traffic as an ATC, and master pilot tutorials. Unlock the full experience with various subscription options.
- 65+ realistic airplane models with 3D cockpits
- 2400+ detailed HD airports
- Global satellite scenery and Ultra-HD imagery
- Real-time flights and weather
- Global multiplayer with hundreds of pilots
- ATC mode for managing air traffic
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EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE FLIGHT SIMULATOR ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE! Take your passion for aviation to new heights with RFS - Real Flight Simulator! Fly realistic aircraft, explore the world from the cockpit, and discover more immersive scenery with 3D Buildings and Ultra-HD Satellite Imagery in selected locations. From your first takeoff to long-haul flights, experience what it means to be a real pilot. FLY NOW, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! Take off, land, and complete full flights across a global flight simulation environment. Explore aircraft with 3D live cockpits, navigate detailed airports, create flight plans, and sharpen your skills with pilot tutorials. Discover familiar city skylines and landscapes brought to life with new levels of detail. UNLOCK THE FULL REAL FLIGHT SIMULATOR EXPERIENCE Choose the subscription that fits you: monthly, six-month, or yearly. Join a worldwide community of virtual aviators and access premium flight simulation features. BUCKLE UP AND BECOME A REAL PILOT! Experience the features of a PRO pilot in our realistic airplane simulator: • 65+ AIRPLANE MODELS: Pilot a growing fleet of aircraft with realistic 3D live cockpits, authentic lighting, instruments, and flight systems. • 2400+ HD AIRPORTS: Take off and land at detailed airports with 3D terminals, vehicles, and realistic ground procedures. • 3D BUILDINGS: Discover selected cities reconstructed around real-world building positions, with recognizable urban layouts, shapes, and colors. Fly above streets and neighborhoods that feel closer to the real world. Explore an expanding world of detailed 3D cities, with new areas coming in future updates. • GLOBAL SATELLITE SCENERY: Explore high-definition satellite terrain and elevation maps worldwide, bringing global landscapes to life. • ULTRA-HD SATELLITE IMAGERY: See terrain, roads, and landscapes with remarkable clarity in supported regions, adding a new level of detail from cruising altitude to final approach. Discover new Ultra-HD areas as coverage continues to expand. • REAL-TIME FLIGHTS & WEATHER: Join 40,000+ real-time flights daily with live air traffic and experience real-time weather conditions as you fly. • DETAILED CHECKLISTS: Follow authentic pilot procedures, from preflight preparation to landing. • ADVANCED GROUND SYSTEMS: Interact with refueling trucks, passenger vehicles, and follow-me cars. • ADVANCED FLIGHT PLANNING: Customize weather, system failures, and navigation routes. Share flight plans with other pilots. • AUTOPILOT & ASSISTED LANDING: Use precise autopilot controls and the Automatic Landing System for long-haul flights. ENGAGE IN GLOBAL MULTIPLAYER MODES • Fly with hundreds of other pilots around the world in real-time multiplayer. • Chat with pilots, join weekly events, and take part in Virtual Airlines (VA) to earn Flight Points. ATC MODE: BECOME AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER • ATC GAME MODE: Manage air traffic, issue instructions, and guide aircraft safely. • Experience interactive, multi-voice ATC procedures and communications from both sides of the radio. CREATE AND SHARE YOUR AVIATION PASSION • CUSTOMIZE YOUR PLANE: Design unique liveries and share them with the RFS community. • DESIGN YOUR AIRPORT: Build your favorite HD airport and see other pilots use your creation. • PLANE SPOTTING: Capture aircraft against city lights, dramatic clouds, and spectacular sunrises and sunsets. • Discover new flight routes and connect with aviation enthusiasts worldwide. REAL-TIME SIMULATION REQUIREMENTS An internet connection is required for full simulation and multiplayer features. GET READY TO SOAR THE SKIES! Buckle up and become a Real Pilot in RFS - Real Flight Simulator! TERMS OF USE: https://www.rortos.com/terms-of-use/ Support: rfs@rortos.com
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Verdict
The clearest difference is price: X at Free against RFS's $0.99. RFS's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (74% vs 58%). On ratings volume, 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
X is free to download; RFS costs $0.99 up front. X sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and RFS sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
RFS holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 25K and 24K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of X's written reviews are positive against 74% of RFS's.
X ships an update fortnightly, RFS every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.
| Parameter | X | RFS |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.0 (25K ratings) | 4.6 (24K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 58.0% of reviews | 73.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 25K — better | 24K |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #3 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.0 GB | 547 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Laminar Research | RORTOS SRL |
Customer experience
X
RFS
User reviews
X
From 25K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Realistic flight physics
- 👍 Highly interactive cockpits
- 🤠 Great for flight enthusiasts
- 💡 Potential to be used for flight training
Room to improve
- 💰 Expensive planes and subscription
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches in some planes
- 🌍 Limited free global scenery
- 🎮 Challenging controls for beginners
RFS
From 24K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Realistic simulation
- 🚀 Variety of aircraft and liveries
- 🚀 Affordable subscription
- 👍 Smooth controls
- 👍 Impressive graphics and 3D airports
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and disconnections
- 🐛 Autopilot and flight model issues
- 🐛 Lack of interactive cockpit features
- 🔋 Drains device battery quickly
- 💰 Limited free aircraft selection
Bugs and requests
X
Reported bugs
3 issues- Altitude hold issues in the MD-80
- Inconsistent cockpit quality across different planes
- Unexpected plane behavior during takeoff and landing
Requested features
5 requests- 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
RFS
Reported bugs
4 issues- Subscription issues when switching devices
- Runway and taxiway rendering problems
- Autopilot disconnects during long flights
- Inconsistent landing gear and reverse thrust behavior
Requested features
6 requests- Add more free aircraft options
- Improve ATC functionality and realism
- Implement more advanced camera views (cabin, under-wing, etc.)
- Add support for external controllers (throttle, etc.)
- Improve weather effects and turbulence simulation
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- Expand airport selection, especially in Canada
In-app purchases
X
- X-Plane Mobile Basic$4.991 Month
- X-Plane Mobile Professional$5.991 Month
- Piper SuperCub$0.99
- Baron B58$1.99
- Sikorsky S76$2.99
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Airbus A320$4.99
- F-22 Raptor$4.99
- Boeing 777-200ER$4.99
- Boeing 747-400$4.99
- Boeing B737-800$4.99
RFS
- RFS Pro (1 month)$3.991 Month
- RFS Pro (1 month)3 variants$4.991 Month
- RFS Pro (1 month)$5.991 Month
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- RFS Pro (1 month)$7.991 Month
- RFS Pro (6 month)$19.996 Months
- RFS Pro (1 year)2 variants$29.991 Year
- RFS Pro (1 year)$39.991 Year








