Comparison

NavTutor vs IFR Flight Trainer Simulator

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

Head to head
About

NavTutor

Visualize aircraft holding patterns relative to navigation aids. Learn to determine your position and the correct entry pattern for standard and non-standard holds using ADF, VOR, and heading information.

Highlights
  • Visual aircraft holding pattern representation
  • Position determination using ADF, VOR, and heading
  • Standard and non-standard hold entry pattern learning
  • Interactive navigation aid simulation
Read full description

NavTutor provides a visual representation of an aircraft and a holding pattern relative to a navigation aid. This allows you to learn how to determine your position based on the ADF, VOR and Heading Information in the aircraft as well as determine the correct entry pattern for standard and non-standard holds

About

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator

Practice instrument flight rules (IFR) navigation with this simulator. Learn and improve IFR procedures, including VOR, NDB, and holding patterns. Offers cockpit and map modes with adjustable wind and built-in tasks for comprehensive pilot training.

Highlights
  • Cockpit and map modes
  • VOR, NDB, DME, HSI, EHSI, RMI instruments
  • Approach procedure practice
  • Adjustable wind settings
  • Holding pattern simulation
  • Custom scenario creation
  • Built-in training tasks
Features
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Flying by instrument flight rules (IFR) is not an easy task, especially for student pilots. With the IFR Flight Trainer Simulator, students can easily develop and experienced pilots can quickly improve their understanding of IFR navigation. This is the perfect app for learning and practicing IFR procedures, and it is much cheaper than a single flight hour. Try it out if you want to acquire an instrument rating or just want to brush up your IFR skills. IFR Flight Trainer Simulator was designed with simplicity and intuitive operability in mind. The instruments available are: VOR, RMI, HSI, EHSI, DME, Directional Gyro and airspeed indicator. Thanks to a NAV 1 and a NAV 2 modes, you will also be able to train for two NDB/VOR approaches. Main features: • COCKPIT/MAP - Use the cockpit mode to practice and use the map mode to set up a scenario and check you progress. Both the aircraft and ground stations can be easily relocated to a new position by dragging and dropping them. • VOR, DME, HSI, EHSI, RMI - This aviation app is carefully designed to reflect the characteristics of different instruments. Choose between VOR or NDB navigation, select your instruments (HSI/EHSI or RMI) and a speed range up to 400 kts. • APPROACH PROCEDURES - IFR Flight Trainer Simulator will help learn how to track a radial, how to intercept a radial outbound, inbound, how to fly a DME arc, and so on. It is the simplest way to learn the navigation procedures inside out! • WIND - Have you become familiar with all the procedures? Add some wind to spice things up. The wind settings are displayed on separate screen, where you can set its direction and speed to increase the challenge. • HOLDING - Set and practice standard or non-standard holding patterns. Test you skills with VOR or NDB fix holdings. You already know where your next flight will happen? Build a scenario for it in the app to practice what awaits you in real life. This way you can practice your flight in a safe environment before facing the real challenge in the cockpit. If you want to learn the essentials, take a look at the built-in tasks as well. All features: • Use the classic or glass cockpit mode to simulate what you see in a real aircraft • Use the map mode to learn and understand the procedures from a third-person point of view • Choose between VOR and NDB navigation • Use the following, carefully designed instruments: RMI, HSI, EHSI, Directional gyro, DME, Airspeed indicator • Fly your own routes by creating challenging scenarios, using holding patterns and adjusting the wind • Test your knowledge through various built-in tasks • Drag & drop the aircraft or ground station symbols to move them around quickly • Turn the aircraft with 1.5°/s, 3°/s (standard), 6°/s and 9°/s modes, or just simply rotate the compass dial • View your flight path by enabling the aircraft track trail • Simulate winds up to 50 kts • Practice IFR flying procedures by generating random scenarios Download the app to see for yourself whether we can help you learn the essentials of IFR navigation. Try it for free and prepare at home without wasting expensive flight or simulator time.

Screenshots

NavTutor1 screens
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: IFR Flight Trainer Simulator at 3.9 against NavTutor's 2.6. IFR Flight Trainer Simulator also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 50%) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 54 months). NavTutor's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.6). On price, 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

Both are free to download. NavTutor sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and IFR Flight Trainer Simulator sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IFR Flight Trainer Simulator has 76 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of NavTutor's written reviews are positive against 82% of IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NavTutor ships an update every 54 months, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
NavTutor versus IFR Flight Trainer Simulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNavTutorIFR Flight Trainer Simulator
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.6 (8 ratings)3.9 (76 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews81.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings876 — better
Update frequencyEvery 54 monthsEvery 3 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB155 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperDID Software IncFlygo-Aviation Ltd

Customer experience

NavTutor

All ratings8 ratings
Positive37.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative62.5%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator

All ratings76 ratings
Positive71.1%
Neutral6.6%
Negative22.4%
Written reviews130 reviews
Positive81.5%
Neutral4.6%
Negative13.8%

Bugs and requests

NavTutor

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • App crashes after short usage periods
  • Heading indicator gets stuck causing continuous turning
  • HSI radials appear to be offset or incorrect
  • DME distance calculations may be inaccurate (slant range issue)
  • Task completion triggers before reaching waypoints
Show 1 more
  • OBS cannot be changed without paid upgrade

Requested features

8 requests
  • Standard rate turn simulation for realistic intercepts and holdings
  • LOC (Localizer) mode for HSI reverse sensing practice
  • Fixed-card ADF instrument option
  • Adjustable turn rate settings to match different aircraft
  • Error feedback display showing incorrect flight paths
Show 3 more
  • Bearing and course to station relative to VOR1/VOR2
  • Higher difficulty levels for advanced pilots
  • Extended free trial period for proper app evaluation

In-app purchases

1 purchases

NavTutor

One-time1
  • Pro Upgrade$0.99
2 purchases

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator

One-time2
  • IFR Simulator Half Price$11.99
  • IFR Simulator Unlock$24.99

Questions

Is NavTutor free?
NavTutor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is IFR Flight Trainer Simulator free?
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NavTutor or IFR Flight Trainer Simulator?
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator is rated higher. NavTutor averages 2.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while IFR Flight Trainer Simulator averages 3.9 from 76 ratings.
Do NavTutor or IFR Flight Trainer Simulator have ads?
Neither NavTutor nor IFR Flight Trainer Simulator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NavTutor or IFR Flight Trainer Simulator?
NavTutor ships an update every 54 months, and IFR Flight Trainer Simulator every 3 months. Most recently, NavTutor was updated on November 1, 2026 and IFR Flight Trainer Simulator on November 1, 2026.

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