Comparison

Holdings vs IFR Flight Simulator

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

Head to head
About

Holdings

Practice aviation holding patterns with interactive visualizations. Covers entries, briefings, and actual holding with timing and wind corrections. Ideal for flight students and experienced pilots to maintain proficiency.

Highlights
  • Interactive holding pattern visualization
  • Practice entries with course and timing
  • Complete holding briefings
  • Actual holding practice with wind corrections
  • Altitude assignment decisions
  • Aircraft perspective and overview map
Features
Read full description

Holdings is a great way to practice holding patterns with a visualization unseen on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch so far. Whether you are a flight student or an experienced jumbo pilot, Holdings keeps you fit for the test or to be able to double check the FMS and to stay ahead of the aircraft! Holdings takes you through all necessary steps, from the type of entry to wind and timing corrections on the actual pattern. Every step is visualized either via the aircraft’s perspective, i.e. an HSI, or a clear, intuitive overview map of the holding and aircraft position / flight path. Holdings lets you practice: ▶ Entries - Type of entry - every course, heading, wind correction angle and timing for the entry ▶ Holding Briefing - complete holding briefing including must-have items as well as additional information ▶ Actual Holding - outbound and inbound course, heading, WCA, timing - by receiving altitude assignments, you will have to decide whether to fly a 1 or 1.5 minute holding pattern Start practicing with Holdings and fly your next one completely by hand! Please note: The procedures depicted in this app may differ from those used by your airline / flight school. There is no guarantee for correct procedures.

About

IFR Flight Simulator

This aviation simulator helps pilots master IFR procedures and prepare for instrument ratings. Practice holdings, intercepts, and approaches with realistic flight simulation and navigation tools on your phone. Ideal for student and experienced pilots seeking convenient, effective training.

Highlights
  • Realistic aviation training
  • Worldwide flight navigation database
  • Comprehensive training modes
  • Real-time flight simulator
  • Integrated autopilot
  • Optimal holding entry path overlay
Features
Read full description

Practice holdings, radial intercepts, and DME arcs on your phone before your next simulator session. Calculate the procedure, fly it with live instruments, and review your track in the debrief. IFR Flight Simulator combines focused IFR procedure training with real-time flight simulation, worldwide navigation data, and a choice of glass cockpit or classic gauges. What you can practice: • Holding Trainer: Randomized holding situations. Determine the entry, calculate the wind correction angles, then fly the pattern. • Intercept Trainer: Inbound and outbound radial intercepts as well as QDM/QDR intercepts. • DME Arc Trainer: Fly DME arcs and calculate the angle of lead to turn onto the inbound course at the right moment. • Approaches: Set up a final intercept, a position in the pattern (downwind, base, or final), or a full approach at any airport, including ILS. • IFR mental math: Practice entries, wind correction angles, and lead points until the calculations become automatic. Worldwide navigation database: • Navigation data from a recent AIRAC cycle, with worldwide coverage: 13,000+ airports and 10,000+ VORs, NDBs, and other navaids. • Train with real airports and navaids instead of generic exercise locations. Real-time flight simulator: • Modern glass cockpit (PFD and ND) or classic gauges. • Autopilot with rotary controls for heading, altitude, and speed, or fly manually by tilting your device. • Fast-forward mode to repeat procedures efficiently. • Live Map: your position and flight path in real time. • Live Needle Overlay: watch where the HSI and CDI needles actually point as they move with the aircraft symbol across the map. • Optimal Holding Entry Path Overlay: compare your flown track with the wind-corrected entry and holding pattern. • Flight Log with Debrief: every flight is recorded. Replay the track and the needle movement, or resume the flight later. Built for instrument rating training, proficiency practice, and simulator assessments. "I am currently training for my Instrument Rating, and my FI recommended this app to me. I didn't think such a high quality, useful training tool was possible as an app. Incredible for VOR bearings, practicing holds and command headings." App Store review by Sa4mmy Questions or feedback? Reach us at support@ifrsimulator.com. Disclaimer: This application is for training and educational purposes only. It must not be used for real-world flight planning or in-flight decision-making. While the developer strives to provide information and calculations that are as accurate and up-to-date as reasonably possible, they may still be incomplete or inaccurate, and other accepted methods exist for deriving procedures and correction angles. Always verify data against official aeronautical publications and follow the guidance of a certified flight instructor. The developer accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions, or outcomes arising from use of this software. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Holdings4 screens
IFR Flight Simulator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: IFR Flight Simulator at Free against Holdings's $2.99. IFR Flight Simulator also leads on rating (4.3 vs 2.8) and review sentiment (65% vs 29%). Holdings's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On ads 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

IFR Flight Simulator is free to download; Holdings costs $2.99 up front. IFR Flight Simulator sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Holdings asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

IFR Flight Simulator holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IFR Flight Simulator has 106 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of Holdings's written reviews are positive against 65% of IFR Flight Simulator's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Holdings ships an update every 12 months, IFR Flight Simulator every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Holdings versus IFR Flight Simulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHoldingsIFR Flight Simulator
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating2.8 (4 ratings)4.3 (106 ratings) — better
Positive reviews28.6% of reviews64.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4106 — better
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB117 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOliver PuetzTobias Maihoff

Customer experience

Holdings

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral14.3%
Negative57.1%

IFR Flight Simulator

All ratings103 ratings
Positive80.6%
Neutral4.9%
Negative14.6%
Written reviews34 reviews
Positive64.7%
Neutral17.6%
Negative17.6%

In-app purchases

None

Holdings

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

IFR Flight Simulator

Subscriptions5
  • Full Access2 variants$9.991 Month
  • Full Access7 Days trial$19.993 Months
  • Full Access$19.993 Months
Show 2 more
  • Full Access7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Full Access7 Days trial$79.991 Year
One-time3
  • SALE % Pro | One-Time Purchase$49.99
  • SALE % Pro | One-Time Purchase$84.99
  • Pro Access | One-Time Purchase$169.99

Questions

Is Holdings free?
Holdings costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is IFR Flight Simulator free?
IFR Flight Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Holdings or IFR Flight Simulator?
IFR Flight Simulator is rated higher. Holdings averages 2.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while IFR Flight Simulator averages 4.3 from 106 ratings.
Do Holdings or IFR Flight Simulator have ads?
Neither Holdings nor IFR Flight Simulator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Holdings or IFR Flight Simulator?
Holdings ships an update every 12 months, and IFR Flight Simulator every 5 days. Most recently, Holdings was updated on October 24, 2026 and IFR Flight Simulator on October 25, 2026.

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