# X vs SimplePlanes

The clearest difference is price: X at Free against SimplePlanes's $5.99. X also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (25K vs 3K). SimplePlanes's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 11). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

X is free to download; SimplePlanes costs $5.99 up front. X sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. SimplePlanes asks for nothing beyond the download.

SimplePlanes 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 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 84% of SimplePlanes's.

X ships an update fortnightly, SimplePlanes every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | X | SimplePlanes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $5.99 |
| Rating | [4.0 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-plane-flight-simulator/id566661426/reviews) | **[4.6 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simpleplanes/id823869162/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **25K** | 3K |
| Positive reviews | 58.2% of reviews | **83.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#104** |
| Size | 1.0 GB | 335 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Laminar Research](https://appshunter.io/developer/290619948) | [Jundroo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/311852133) |

## 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


### SimplePlanes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simpleplanes/id823869162)

**Currently charting:** #104 Top Paid · Simulation (US App Store)

Design, build, and fly your own aircraft with realistic physics. Explore a vast community-created library of over 250,000 planes or test your creations in challenging scenarios.

**Highlights:** Build custom airplanes with modular parts, Realistic flight physics simulation, Download over 250,000 community-created aircraft, Engage in flight challenges, Sandbox mode for unrestricted building, Educational tutorials on airplane design

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and creative sandbox
- 🚀 Powerful building mechanics
- 📥 Ability to download community-created planes
- 🎨 Customizable vehicles
- ⚙️ Realistic physics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches (crashes, invisible collisions, control issues)
- 🚫 Lack of mod support on mobile
- 🌍 Limited map/island selection on mobile
- 🔍 Difficulty finding/downloading larger planes on mobile
- 🎮 Awkward mobile controls

**Reported bugs**

- Undo function causing plane glitches
- Autopilot issues (retracting landing gear)
- Invisible collision problems
- Planes spawning in ground/air unexpectedly
- Graphical/performance issues on older devices

**Requested features**

- Add multiplayer mode
- Implement more advanced damage/failure models
- Expand map selection (e.g. desert island, underwater view)
- Improve AI behavior and add more combat-focused missions
- Introduce new vehicle types (e.g. tanks, ships, trains)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is X free?

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

### Is SimplePlanes free?

SimplePlanes costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

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

SimplePlanes is rated higher. X averages 4.0 out of 5 from 25K ratings, while SimplePlanes averages 4.6 from 3K ratings.

### Do X or SimplePlanes have ads?

Neither X nor SimplePlanes shows ads.

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

X ships an update fortnightly, and SimplePlanes every 3 months. Most recently, X was updated on September 26, 2026 and SimplePlanes on September 23, 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.*