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

The needles are moving. The examiner is watching. Your mind goes blank. The cockpit is the most expensive place to discover the gap between knowing the theory and flying the procedure. VOR Tracker is a real-time IFR procedure trainer for holding patterns, radial interceptions and DME arcs — you fly them on the instruments you already use, wherever you are, whenever you want. One-time purchase — for less than half an hour of dual instruction, and it never renews. No subscription, no ads. FLY THE INSTRUMENTS YOU ACTUALLY USE - Fixed-card CDI, RMI, HSI or EHSI — the EHSI adds wind, track and groundspeed - VOR or NDB, with realistic dip error and atmospheric noise on the NDB - Aircraft speeds from light trainer to jet TRAIN THE WAY YOU FLY - Freeze the action when things get too fast - Skip ahead through the straight bits - Drag the aircraft to reposition, or repeat any exercise from a new random start - Stuck on holding entries? Let the map show you the sectors - Build your own missions, with your own wind RAISE THE STAKES WHEN YOU'RE READY - Start calm, then add wind: steady, gusting, variable — or hidden, so you work it out yourself SEE YOUR PROGRESS - Rewind and fly it again; the previous tracks stay on the map so you can compare MADE FOR - Student pilots who would rather make their mistakes on the ground - Pilots preparing for a check ride, an IPC or a simulator assessment - Instructors who want to show an entry, a lead angle or a wind correction in real time WHAT IT IS NOT - Not a game - Not a flight simulator: it trains navigation procedures at a constant speed and altitude - Not a ground-school course: it assumes you know the theory and need the practice "I was really struggling to visualise NDB joins and an hour on this and I have it cracked." — App Store review "I highly recommend it to all of my students and to anyone learning IFR procedures." — Google Play review Recommended for simulator-assessment preparation by training organisations including Horizon Swiss Flight Academy, SKY4u Aviation Service and Airline Entry Training. VOR Tracker has trained IFR procedures since 2014, on iPhone, iPad and Android. Questions or feedback: info@vor-tracker.com Try the free browser demo: https://vor-tracker.com/app-demo/

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 (139 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 139 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

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer ships an update every 3 months, VOR Tracker every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 22, 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 (139 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews85.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2139 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.616.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size151 MB53 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 ratings139 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral2.2%
Negative4.3%
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 139 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 4 months. Most recently, IFR Holding Pattern Trainer was updated on October 9, 2026 and VOR Tracker on October 22, 2026.

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