NavTutor vs IFR Flight Trainer Simulator
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Visual aircraft holding pattern representation
- Position determination using ADF, VOR, and heading
- Standard and non-standard hold entry pattern learning
- Interactive navigation aid simulation
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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
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
NavTutor ships an update every 54 months, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.
| Parameter | NavTutor | IFR Flight Trainer Simulator |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.6 (8 ratings) | 3.9 (76 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 81.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 8 | 76 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 54 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 155 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | +4 |
| Developer | DID Software Inc | Flygo-Aviation Ltd |
Customer experience
NavTutor
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator
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
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- 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
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- 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
NavTutor
- Pro Upgrade$0.99
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator
- IFR Simulator Half Price$11.99
- IFR Simulator Unlock$24.99
Questions
Is NavTutor free?
Is IFR Flight Trainer Simulator free?
Which has better reviews, NavTutor or IFR Flight Trainer Simulator?
Do NavTutor or IFR Flight Trainer Simulator have ads?
Which is updated more often, NavTutor or IFR Flight Trainer Simulator?
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