# X vs Flight Simulator

X and Flight Simulator both sit at 4.0 stars, but that hides the real split: 58% of X's written reviews are positive against 18% of Flight Simulator's. X also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid) and ratings volume (25K vs 4.8K). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. X sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Flight Simulator sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for X against 4.1 for Flight Simulator. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: X has 25K ratings behind it against 4.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 58% of X's written reviews are positive against 18% of Flight Simulator's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

## 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) | **[4.1 (4.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flight-simulator-world/id1605579522/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **25K** | 4.8K |
| Positive reviews | **58.2% of reviews** | 17.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 1.0 GB | 2.1 GB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Laminar Research](https://appshunter.io/developer/290619948) | [Sir Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/1504136162) |

## 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


### Flight Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flight-simulator-world/id1605579522)

Experience realistic airplane flying with high-resolution graphics and cutting-edge AI. Master various flying skills through numerous missions, from basic takeoffs to advanced rescue and combat scenarios. Become a seasoned pilot through challenging events.

**Highlights:** Realistic airplane flight simulation, High-resolution graphics, AI-powered scenarios, Diverse mission types (takeoff, landing, rescue, air race), Pilot skill progression, Challenging commander events

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100.000 Coin | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lockhead Martin F-35 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Game | $1.99 | one-time |
| 500.000 Coin | $2.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Airboss Belluga XLA330 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Airboss A380 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 5.000.000 Coin | $9.99 | one-time |
| Sukoi S27 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 10.000.000 Coin | $17.99 | one-time |
| Fighter Jet Package | $19.99 | one-time |
| Passenger Package | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Realistic graphics
- 💡 Variety of planes
- 👍 Fun and addictive gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 💰 Pay-to-play model
- ⏱️ Slow loading times
- 🔒 Lack of online functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Planes crashing on landing
- Compass not working properly
- Rescue mission not functioning
- Night mode causing black screen

**Requested features**

- More planes and airports
- Improved flight physics and controls
- Online multiplayer mode
- Customization options


## 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 in-app purchases available.

### 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 4.1 from 4.8K 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 fortnightly. Most recently, X was updated on October 27, 2026 and Flight Simulator on October 27, 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.*