# X vs OptiFlight

The clearest difference is rating: OptiFlight at 4.6 against X's 4.0. OptiFlight also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 58%). X's advantage is ratings volume (25K vs 1.3K) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. X sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and OptiFlight sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

OptiFlight holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: X has 25K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of X's written reviews are positive against 80% of OptiFlight's.

X ships an update fortnightly, OptiFlight every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | X | OptiFlight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-plane-flight-simulator/id566661426/reviews) | **[4.6 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optiflight/id1490464625/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **25K** | 1.3K |
| Positive reviews | 58.2% of reviews | **79.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1.0 GB | 131 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) | [Krish Suchdev](https://appshunter.io/developer/1378468452) |

## What reviewers say

### X

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

Experience a highly realistic flight simulator with accurate physics and detailed 3D cockpits. Explore numerous airports and terrain, with options to expand scenery and aircraft through subscription and in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Realistic flight model, Interactive 3D cockpits, Detailed 3D airports, Free tutorials, Massive multiplayer, System failure simulation, Emergency scenarios

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| 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 |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-80 | $4.99 | 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


### OptiFlight

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optiflight/id1490464625)

Design intricate flight networks to connect cities and guide passengers efficiently. Adapt your routes to dynamic events like airport rushes and closures across over 350 themed levels. Test your strategic planning skills in historical, present-day, and weather-simulated scenarios.

**Highlights:** Design flight networks, Create historical flight maps, Simulate inclement weather, Use real-world cities, 350+ levels, Analyze in-game statistics, Compete on leaderboards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $1.00 | one-time |
| OptiFlight Expansion | $1.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $5.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is X free?

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

### Is OptiFlight free?

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

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

OptiFlight is rated higher. X averages 4.0 out of 5 from 25K ratings, while OptiFlight averages 4.6 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do X or OptiFlight have ads?

Neither X nor OptiFlight shows ads.

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

X ships an update fortnightly, and OptiFlight every 6 weeks. Most recently, X was updated on September 26, 2026 and OptiFlight on September 19, 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.*