Comparison

IFR Trainer Flight Instruments vs ATSim

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

Head to head
About

IFR Trainer Flight Instruments

Master instrument flying with interactive modules and a built-in simulator. Practice navigation instruments, IFR procedures, and holding patterns. Ideal for student pilots and instructors preparing for instrument ratings.

Highlights
  • Interactive navigation instrument modules
  • IFR procedure simulator
  • Holding pattern practice
  • Step-by-step learning
  • Built-in IFR simulator
  • Real-world holding entry training
Features
Read full description

Master instrument flying with this all-in-one IFR trainer. Includes interactive modules for ADF/RMI (FREE), VOR/ILS, HSI, IFR procedures and holding patterns. Ideal for student pilots and flight instructors preparing for instrument rating (IR). • Learn & practice navigation instruments step-by-step • Use animations and interactive exercises • Train with our built-in IFR simulator • Practice real-world holding entries (parallel, teardrop, direct) ### Modules: 1. ADF/RMI Instructor (Free Trial) 2. VOR + ILS Instructor 3. HSI Trainer 4. IFR Procedure Simulator 5. Holding Pattern Instructor Whether you're preparing for your checkride, IR test, or just want to improve situational awareness, this app helps you fly safer and smarter. Designed by pilots, for pilots. ▶ Try the ADF/RMI module for free! ▶ Trusted by aviation schools worldwide. FlyGo Aviation – Elevate Your IFR Skills.

About

ATSim

Practice air traffic control radio communication and phraseology with an AI-powered simulator. Learn through repetition and immediate feedback with realistic scenarios covering over 170 airports and various flight types.

Highlights
  • AI-powered pilot interaction
  • Voice recognition and speech analysis feedback
  • Practice radio communication
  • Master aviation phraseology
  • Over 170 airports simulated
  • VFR and IFR flight control lessons
Features
Read full description

The PlaneEnglish Air Traffic Simulator (ATSim) is an interactive air traffic control radio simulator created to enable air traffic controllers to learn and master radio communication and phraseology on their own time. ATSim provides a self-guided means to practice and master the radio through repetition and immediate feedback. AI-based pilots interact with the controller to make requests and respond to instructions. Instantaneous feedback through voice recognition and speech analysis will guide you, the controller, through realistic scenarios toward proficiency in aviation phraseology and communication. You can access more than 170 airports and step through lessons covering airport, terminal area, and in-transit control of VFR and IFR flights. Guided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) phraseology, standards, and radiotelephony procedures the current version of the simulator focuses on the FAA phraseology standards. Upcoming improvements will enable users to switch between ICAO and FAA standards. Future releases and updates to ATSim will expand the training content, lessons, and scenarios.

Screenshots

IFR Trainer Flight Instruments4 screens
ATSim3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ATSim at none against IFR Trainer Flight Instruments's 6. ATSim also leads on review sentiment (63% vs 52%) and iOS requirement (12.1 vs 18.6). IFR Trainer Flight Instruments's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (952 vs 15). On price, 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

Both are free to download. IFR Trainer Flight Instruments sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. ATSim asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

IFR Trainer Flight Instruments holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IFR Trainer Flight Instruments has 952 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of IFR Trainer Flight Instruments's written reviews are positive against 63% of ATSim's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
IFR Trainer Flight Instruments versus ATSim: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIFR Trainer Flight InstrumentsATSim
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (952 ratings) — better4.1 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews52.2% of reviews62.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings952 — better15
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.612.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size155 MB163 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFlygo-Aviation LtdPlaneEnglish

Customer experience

IFR Trainer Flight Instruments

All ratings952 ratings
Positive89.1%
Neutral3.3%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews113 reviews
Positive52.2%
Neutral6.2%
Negative41.6%

ATSim

All ratings15 ratings
Positive73.3%
Neutral13.3%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative25.0%

In-app purchases

6 purchases

IFR Trainer Flight Instruments

One-time6
  • Holding Instructor$5.99
  • VOR+ILS Instructor$9.99
  • HSI Instructor$9.99
Show 3 more
  • IFR Simulator$11.99
  • All in one$31.99
  • All in one$37.99
None

ATSim

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is IFR Trainer Flight Instruments free?
IFR Trainer Flight Instruments is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ATSim free?
ATSim is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, IFR Trainer Flight Instruments or ATSim?
IFR Trainer Flight Instruments is rated higher. IFR Trainer Flight Instruments averages 4.5 out of 5 from 952 ratings, while ATSim averages 4.1 from 15 ratings.
Do IFR Trainer Flight Instruments or ATSim have ads?
Neither IFR Trainer Flight Instruments nor ATSim shows ads.

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