Comparison

DrillAR vs Drilling Simulator 3

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

Head to head
About

DrillAR

Explore a life-sized, 3D Schlumberger integrated drilling system. Examine intricate components of bottom-hole assemblies and gain insight into the latest well-drilling technologies used globally.

Highlights
  • Life-sized 3D drilling system model
  • Examine BHA components
  • Insight into drilling technologies
  • Featured drilling components: Drill Bits, Drive Systems, LWD, Hole opening
Features
Read full description

This application currently works on the following devices: iPhone 5, 5s, and 5c iPad 3, 4, and iPad Air DrillAR offers the unique opportunity to interact with a life-sized, 3D Schlumberger integrated drilling system. Watch as the Schlumberger engineered bottom-hole-assembly (BHA) drills across your screen and examine the intricacies of each BHA component. DrillAR provides insight into the newest technologies used to drill wells across the globe. Featured drilling components: · Drill Bits · Drive Systems · Logging while Drilling services · Hole opening services

About

Drilling Simulator 3

This app simulates oil and gas drilling operations, focusing on well control procedures. It allows users to practice kick detection, well shut-in, pressure stabilization, and choke operations with various well configurations and failure scenarios.

Highlights
  • Kick detection and well shut-in simulation
  • Choke panel operations with remote chokes
  • Multiple kick scenarios
  • Directional and horizontal well support
  • Failure schedule with random options
  • Subsea and surface BOP simulation
  • Swabbing effect simulation
Features
Read full description

This is a project for Drilling and Well Control optimized for iPhones and iPads. This is a basic drilling simulator that simulates drilling operations based in panels for kick detection, shut-in the well, stabilization of pressures and the choke operations during the well control operations using a hydraulic choke panel simulator. Features: 1. Drilling, kick detection, shut-in, pressures stabilization and control 2. MULTIPLE KICKS (3 SINGLE BUBBLES)  3. DIRECTIONAL/HORIZONTAL WELL  4. WELL CONTROL ON CHOKE PANEL WITH 2 REMOTE CHOKES 5. Standpipe Manifold and Choke Manifold 6. FLOAT VALVE,  7. GESTURE SWAIPE UP/DOWN TO MOVE DRILLSTRING  8. FAILURES SCHEDULE WITH RANDOM OPTION (Mud Pumps 1 and 2 “power end failure” or “fluid end failure”, Chokes 1 and 2 “plugged” or “washed”, One Drill Bit Nozzle “plugged” or “washed”) 9. Set a KICK without drilling required. 10. Subsea Stack BOP and Surface Stack BOP Additional features:   1. Optionally it is possible to use others apps as Remote Choke like "Driller's Method Simulator" and "Wait and Weight Simulator". Both are available for sale in our Portfolio. 2. Swabbing effect simulation This effect occur when the drill string is pulled out of the wellbore to reduce the bottom hole pressure enough to create an underbalance condition and to cause a flow from formation into the wellbore. This effect is performed on this Simulator by moving the finger up in the well layout on the screen. iPad version: 1. Pre-recorded data view 2. Screen layout optimized for 12.9-inch iPad Pro (High Resolution) 3. Three codes (default "0000" for all: admin, instructor, student) to view the gas into the borehole, the pressure at bottom, at shoe and at bop and to enable / disable the Lag Time (by adjusting the choke to change the kill pressure and drill pipe pressure, etc). 4. Use the arrow keys on keyboard for iPad Pro to operate the choke. iPhone version: 1. Pre-recorded data available in the well configuration views. 2. Screen layout optimized for iPhone and iPad Pro (High Resolution) 3. All features available without codes. A graphical very useful tool for training, drillers, toolpusher, drilling engineers, mud engineers and students in the well control procedures. - Well configuration, drilling, kick detection, shut-in and control. - Interactive system: no pre-set methods; - Ability to apply control methods: Driller's method, Wait and Weight method (or Engineer's method), dynamic volumetric and static volumetric (lubricate and bleed); - Hydraulics and Hydrostatics; - Behavior of the kick (until 3 single kick bubbles simultaneously in borehole); - Applied with subsea stack or surface stack; - Set well with until 4 sections: riser, casing, liner, open hole ; - Set Drill String with drill pipe1, drill pipe2, heavy weight, drill collar1, drill collar2 - Support for horizontal and directional wells (builder and plotter) - Bop flow meter (volume to close and to open bop) - Gas compressibility factor (Z) calculations using formulas more accurately by Hall and Yarborough (1973) - Option to select a more didactic choke control mode instead of a more realistic simulation (default) Others apps available on our portfolio that may be useful for you: - Drilling Hydraulics - Kick Tolerance - Leak-Off Test Simulator - Leak-Off Test Analyzer - MPD Simulator - Well Control Methods - Well Control Worksheets - Well Control Simulators specific for each method (Driller's Method, Wait and Weight and Volumetric) These tools can complement (work with) this simulator by creating files which can be used in this application; and more Oil & Gas in our website. DISCLAIMER: These tools & materials are provided 'as is' without warranties of any kind, express or implied. Please verify the tools provided by this application by yourself before you use them. Ensure you understand the impact of using these tools. Any use you choose to make of these tools & materials is undertaken by you entirely at you own risk.

Screenshots

DrillAR1 screens
Drilling Simulator 34 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: DrillAR at Free against Drilling Simulator 3's $49.99. DrillAR also leads on iOS requirement (6.0 vs 12.0). Drilling Simulator 3's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

DrillAR is free to download; Drilling Simulator 3 costs $49.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Drilling Simulator 3 holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DrillAR ships an update every 4 months, Drilling Simulator 3 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 4 level
DrillAR versus Drilling Simulator 3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDrillARDrilling Simulator 3
PriceFree — better$49.99
Rating4.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS6.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size780 MB37 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSchlumberger Technology CorporationCarlos Moura

Customer experience

DrillAR

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Drilling Simulator 3

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

DrillAR

No in-app purchases

None

Drilling Simulator 3

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DrillAR free?
DrillAR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Drilling Simulator 3 free?
Drilling Simulator 3 costs $49.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DrillAR or Drilling Simulator 3?
Drilling Simulator 3 is rated higher. DrillAR averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Drilling Simulator 3 averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do DrillAR or Drilling Simulator 3 have ads?
Neither DrillAR nor Drilling Simulator 3 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DrillAR or Drilling Simulator 3?
DrillAR ships an update every 4 months, and Drilling Simulator 3 every 2 months. Most recently, DrillAR was updated on October 7, 2026 and Drilling Simulator 3 on October 26, 2026.

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