# X vs RFS

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | X | RFS |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $0.99 |
| Rating | [4.0 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-plane-flight-simulator/id566661426/reviews) | **[4.6 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rfs-real-flight-simulator/id1444761746/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **25K** | 24K |
| Positive reviews | 58.0% of reviews | **73.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#3** |
| Size | 1.0 GB | 547 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Laminar Research](https://appshunter.io/developer/290619948) | [RORTOS SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/454802333) |

## 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


### RFS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rfs-real-flight-simulator/id1444761746)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Paid · Racing, #35 Top Paid · Simulation, #39 Top Grossing · Racing, #85 Top Paid · Games, #137 Top Paid (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| RFS Pro (1 month) | $3.99 | per month |
| RFS Pro (1 month) | $4.99 | per month |
| RFS Pro (1 month) | $5.99 | per month |
| RFS Pro (1 month) | $7.99 | per month |
| RFS Pro (6 month) | $19.99 | per 6 months |
| RFS Pro (1 year) | $29.99 | per year |
| RFS Pro (1 year) | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Realistic simulation
- 🚀 Variety of aircraft and liveries
- 🚀 Affordable subscription
- 👍 Smooth controls
- 👍 Impressive graphics and 3D airports

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and disconnections
- 🐛 Autopilot and flight model issues
- 🐛 Lack of interactive cockpit features
- 🔋 Drains device battery quickly
- 💰 Limited free aircraft selection

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription issues when switching devices
- Runway and taxiway rendering problems
- Autopilot disconnects during long flights
- Inconsistent landing gear and reverse thrust behavior

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is X free?

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

### Is RFS free?

RFS costs $0.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, X or RFS?

RFS is rated higher. X averages 4.0 out of 5 from 25K ratings, while RFS averages 4.6 from 24K ratings.

### Do X or RFS have ads?

Neither X nor RFS shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, X or RFS?

X ships an update fortnightly, and RFS every 3 weeks. Most recently, X was updated on November 6, 2026 and RFS on November 6, 2026.

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