# X vs On Instruments

The clearest difference is price: X at Free against On Instruments's $2.99. X also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (25K vs 9). On Instruments's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 11) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

X is free to download; On Instruments costs $2.99 up front. X sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. On Instruments asks for nothing beyond the download.

On Instruments holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: X has 25K ratings behind it against 9, 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 75% of On Instruments's.

X ships an update fortnightly, On Instruments every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | X | On Instruments |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| Rating | [4.0 (25K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/x-plane-flight-simulator/id566661426/reviews) | **[4.4 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-instruments/id907222098/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **25K** | 9 |
| Positive reviews | 58.2% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 8 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 1.0 GB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Laminar Research](https://appshunter.io/developer/290619948) | [Aircraft Training Aids, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/692999325) |

## 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


### On Instruments

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-instruments/id907222098)

Hone your instrument flying skills with this simulator. Navigate various courses by precisely managing heading, altitude, and airspeed. Features multiple difficulty levels, including courses with instrument failures.

**Highlights:** Instrument scanning practice, Multiple course difficulties, Heading, altitude, airspeed control, Attitude Indicator failure simulation, Score maximization

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is X free?

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

### Is On Instruments free?

On Instruments costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, X or On Instruments?

On Instruments is rated higher. X averages 4.0 out of 5 from 25K ratings, while On Instruments averages 4.4 from 9 ratings.

### Do X or On Instruments have ads?

Neither X nor On Instruments shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, X or On Instruments?

X ships an update fortnightly, and On Instruments every 8 months. Most recently, X was updated on October 18, 2026 and On Instruments on October 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.*