Comparison

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer vs VOR Tracker

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer

This aviation trainer helps IFR pilots and students master complex holding procedures through explanations, visual aids, and interactive learning. It includes a test module and a quick finder map to enhance understanding and preparation for exams.

Highlights
  • Interactive learning system
  • Visual illustrations of holding patterns
  • Direct, parallel, and teardrop entry explanations
  • Test module with feedback
  • Quick Finder map view
  • Tested by real pilots and instructors
Features
Read full description

Holding Pattern (IFR) Instructor is specially designed for IFR pilots and students to better understand how to manage holdings, one of the most complex IFR procedures. This app provides significant insights into holding procedures as an educational method, combining clear explanations, visual illustrations, and interactive practice tools. ALREADY TESTED BY REAL PILOTS AND INSTRUCTORS Holding Pattern (IFR) Instructor has been developed and tested by real pilots and trainers, covering the full range of holding scenarios, including situations that frequently cause difficulties in real operations. This ensures a learning experience that goes beyond any other app available in this area. CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVED AT FLIGHT SCHOOLS The teaching method implemented in Holding Pattern (IFR) Instructor is used at flight schools all around the world, contributing to a higher proportion of successful exams. This achievement makes our app so popular among students and instructors alike. INTERACTIVE LEARNING SYSTEM The built-in interactive learning system guides users through all three holding entry types - direct, parallel, and teardrop - with step-by-step explanations and visual illustrations. The exclusive FlyGo Trick provides a simple six-step method to always select the correct entry type with confidence. TEST MODULE The test module lets users practise identifying the correct entry procedure for any combination of aircraft heading and inbound course, with immediate visual feedback to reinforce learning. TIMING QUIZ A dedicated quiz module to master outbound leg timing. Users practise calculating the required outbound flight time based on observed inbound duration and altitude, and learn to apply the EASA wind correction rule for precise heading corrections. INTERCEPT AND TRACK QUIZ Sharpen your intercept and tracking skills with practical quiz questions: determine the correct intercept angle based on CDI deviation and inbound course, and calculate wind-corrected headings for accurate track following. QUICK FINDER Quick Finder provides an interactive compass and heading control where all critical paths and directions of the holding pattern are visualised in real time. Students can instantly see the correct entry type, standard and non-standard pattern variants, and experiment with any combination of heading and inbound course - with an optional help overlay for guided learning. GAME MODE Put your knowledge to the ultimate test with the gamified map-based practice mode. Compete for the best score and challenge others via Game Center integration. ----- FOR STUDENTS If you are a student, then we wish good luck for the preparation and good luck for the examination! FOR INSTRUCTORS If you are a flight trainer, then we hope you will find useful our app and it helps your students better understand holding patterns! Enjoy our app and FLY SAFE! The FlyGo-Aviation team

About

VOR Tracker

This app provides a realistic IFR navigation training experience for pilots. Practice holding patterns, radial interceptions, and other critical procedures in real-time using various flight instruments. It's designed to help pilots apply theoretical knowledge in a simulated cockpit environment.

Highlights
  • Real-time IFR simulation
  • VOR and NDB navigation practice
  • Multiple instrument displays (CDI, RMI, HSI, EHSI)
  • Practice holding patterns and radial interceptions
  • Map mode for progress verification
  • Freeze and fast modes for training control
Features
Read full description

tl;dr: Simply the best training app for VOR/NDB navigation. Are you not comfortable with flying holding patterns and radial interceptions, especially in stressful situations like a check ride or a sim assessment? You do understand what you have learnt, but find it difficult to apply once the needles start moving? Then look no further, VOR Tracker is what you need. VOR Tracker is a small but powerful training tool for pilots. It is the only one of its kind for the iPhone & iPad, providing the real aircraft feel the other apps are missing! VOR Tracker is a real IFR simulation, so you will find no multiple choice questions or yet more methods which might or might not work for you.  You can actually practice IFR procedures in real time, using either a fixed card CDI, RMI, HSI, or EHSI, which provides additional information like wind, track, and groundspeed. Practice holding patterns, DME arcs, radial interceptions, and 2 needle tracking in real time. It is practice what it is all about! There is no need for explaining again and again what you already know from flight school. It is about applying your knowledge when the flight instruments start moving! Wherever you are, IFR training is only two taps away! Chose between a VOR and NDB and get used to the different characteristics. The NDB comes with atmospheric disturbances and an adjustable dip error to match the instrument you are used to. Don’t waste your time trying to imagine what you would do in the aircraft – just do it! VOR Tracker is designed for: - Student pilots who have the theoretical knowledge for flying IFR procedures, and want to save money by preparing for their pilot training. - Pilots who want to refresh their IFR navigation skills for an upcoming check ride. - Pilots going for an assessment. Holding patterns and radial interceptions are commonly used during sim assessments and can really spoil the day. Being prepared will make the difference! - People who have the knowledge of flying IFR procedures and want to give it a try. VOR Tracker is NOT: - a game. - a flight simulator, it focuses on navigation at a constant speed and altitude. - a flight training course teaching you how to fly IFR procedures. Still interested? Read on to find out how VOR Tracker will boost your skills in no time! - Choose between a fixed card CDI, RMI, HSI, or EHSI. - Use the instruments like you would do in the real aircraft. - Use the map mode to verify your progress. - Lost? Use the help function to display the holding pattern entries in the map mode. - Things are going a bit too fast? Use the freeze mode to orientate. - Getting bored in straight flight? Use the fast mode. - You want to start over or change the aircraft’s position or heading? Just drag & drop, or twist the aircraft symbol. - Practice a particular holding pattern or radial interception exercise over and over again from new, random starting positions using the reposition button. - Start with no wind and increase the difficulty later on by adding wind. - To add more realism, the wind can be selected to be gusty and/or variable in direction. - Getting settled? Why not increase the aircraft’s speed in the settings menu? - Customize your own missions and adjust the wind the way you want. - Use the hidden wind function to add a realistic challenge. - Analyze your progress in the map mode. Rewind and start over. The previous track lines will still be displayed for you to see the difference. Prepare yourself without wasting expensive flight time – use VOR Tracker to brush up your IFR skills! VOR Tracker is the most efficient trainer for holding patterns and radial interceptions available on the App Store. Supporting you during your IFR training, it will pay for itself in no time. Take that as a promise!

Screenshots

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer4 screens
VOR Tracker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: VOR Tracker at 86% against IFR Holding Pattern Trainer's 40%. VOR Tracker also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.0) and ratings volume (137 vs 2). IFR Holding Pattern Trainer's advantage is price ($5.99 vs $19.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer costs $5.99 and VOR Tracker $19.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VOR Tracker holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VOR Tracker has 137 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of IFR Holding Pattern Trainer's written reviews are positive against 86% of VOR Tracker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
IFR Holding Pattern Trainer versus VOR Tracker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIFR Holding Pattern TrainerVOR Tracker
Price$5.99 — better$19.99
Rating2.0 (2 ratings)4.7 (137 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews85.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2137 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size151 MB46 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFlygo-Aviation LtdKarsten Heiland

Customer experience

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative60.0%

VOR Tracker

All ratings137 ratings
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.2%
Negative4.4%
Written reviews126 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral2.4%
Negative11.9%

Bugs and requests

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

VOR Tracker

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Knob rotation difficult
  • To From indicator sometimes does not work
  • App freezes on download
  • App freezes on opening
  • Not able to download 2nd time
Show 3 more
  • Holding pattern depiction inaccurate
  • App freezes every time I open it
  • App doesn't work, totally unusable

Requested features

25 requests
  • Scroll wheel for knobs
  • Add CDI option
  • Add RMI pointer
  • Add ILS approaches
  • Add non-precision approaches
Show 20 more
  • Add point-to-point navigation
  • Add user-defined patterns
  • Add fix-to-fix scenarios
  • Add more hold entry options
  • Add wind correction details
  • Add written ATC instructions
  • Add common VOR nav receiver
  • Add option for basic 6-pack instruments
  • Add custom/randomized ATC hold instructions
  • Add speed control slider
  • Auto-restart on timer reset
  • Random wind option
  • More scenarios
  • More videos from developer
  • Point to point addition
  • Low enroute charts practice
  • Practice missed approaches
  • Second VOR/ADF bearing needle for HSI
  • Option to know when task completed successfully
  • Hold patterns away from VOR on radial/DME

In-app purchases

None

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer

No in-app purchases

None

VOR Tracker

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is IFR Holding Pattern Trainer free?
IFR Holding Pattern Trainer costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is VOR Tracker free?
VOR Tracker costs $19.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, IFR Holding Pattern Trainer or VOR Tracker?
VOR Tracker is rated higher. IFR Holding Pattern Trainer averages 2.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while VOR Tracker averages 4.7 from 137 ratings.
Do IFR Holding Pattern Trainer or VOR Tracker have ads?
Neither IFR Holding Pattern Trainer nor VOR Tracker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, IFR Holding Pattern Trainer or VOR Tracker?
IFR Holding Pattern Trainer ships an update every 3 months, and VOR Tracker every 3 months. Most recently, IFR Holding Pattern Trainer was updated on September 7, 2026 and VOR Tracker on September 25, 2026.

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