# IFR Holding Pattern Trainer vs Piper PA

The clearest difference is rating: Piper PA at 4.8 against IFR Holding Pattern Trainer's 2.0. Piper PA also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 40%) and ratings volume (389 vs 2). IFR Holding Pattern Trainer's advantage is price ($5.99 vs $9.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer costs $5.99 and Piper PA $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Piper PA holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Piper PA has 389 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 78% of Piper PA's.

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer ships an update every 3 months, Piper PA every 4 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | IFR Holding Pattern Trainer | Piper PA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$5.99** | $9.99 |
| Rating | [2.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ifr-holding-pattern-trainer/id674946112/reviews) | **[4.8 (389 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piper-pa-44-training/id844432720/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **389** |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **77.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#134** |
| Size | 151 MB | 20 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **14.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Flygo-Aviation Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/550770776) | [Aircraft Training Aids, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/692999325) |

## What reviewers say

### IFR Holding Pattern Trainer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ifr-holding-pattern-trainer/id674946112)

This aviation trainer helps IFR pilots and students master complex holding procedures through clear explanations, visual aids, and interactive practice. It covers all entry types and includes quizzes for timing, intercept, and tracking, plus a gamified mode for real-world scenario practice.

**Highlights:** Interactive learning system for holding entries, Step-by-step explanations and visual illustrations, Practice quizzes for timing, intercept, and tracking, Real-time visualization of holding patterns, Gamified map-based practice mode, Tested by real pilots and instructors

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Piper PA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/piper-pa-44-training/id844432720)

**Currently charting:** #134 Top Paid · Education (US App Store)

Study aircraft systems and limitations with interactive diagrams and detailed descriptions. Practice normal and emergency operations, and explore a detailed cockpit illustration. This app serves as a reference for aviation training.

**Highlights:** Interactive system diagrams, Normal and emergency operation practice, Detailed cockpit illustration, POH information organization, System limitations noted

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great for students
- 👍 Good information and visuals
- 👍 Makes systems learning a breeze
- 👍 Well worth the money
- 👍 Fantastic app for Seminole familiarization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Works poorly on iPhone
- 👎 Extremely basic information
- 👎 Not worth the money
- 👎 Not comprehensive enough
- 👎 Some areas poorly written/shown

**Reported bugs**

- Works very poorly on the iPhone
- Landing gear system is wrong
- Nose gear in wrong position
- Typos and spelling errors (e.g., 'cabin hear', 'string loaded')
- Information on up limit switches for gear system may be incorrect

**Requested features**

- Add G1000 functionality
- Include poster of G1000 and fuel injected models
- Add prop governor system
- Update app with more information and diagrams
- Fix typos and spelling errors


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IFR Holding Pattern Trainer free?

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Piper PA free?

Piper PA costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, IFR Holding Pattern Trainer or Piper PA?

Piper PA is rated higher. IFR Holding Pattern Trainer averages 2.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Piper PA averages 4.8 from 389 ratings.

### Do IFR Holding Pattern Trainer or Piper PA have ads?

Neither IFR Holding Pattern Trainer nor Piper PA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IFR Holding Pattern Trainer or Piper PA?

IFR Holding Pattern Trainer ships an update every 3 months, and Piper PA every 4 months. Most recently, IFR Holding Pattern Trainer was updated on November 6, 2026 and Piper PA on November 6, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*