Comparison

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator vs PPL Navigation Trainer

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

Head to head
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
Read full description

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.

About

PPL Navigation Trainer

Learn essential flight computer calculations for private pilot exams. Practice with automatically generated questions and detailed solutions covering a range of navigation topics. Prepare effectively for your aviation exams with this educational tool.

Highlights
  • Flight computer calculation practice
  • Automatic question generation
  • Detailed problem-solving walkthroughs
  • Covers multiplication, division, and conversions
  • Wind triangle and endurance calculations
  • Course correction and ETA computation
Features
Read full description

PPL Navigation Trainer teaches you how to use the Flight Computer, also known as a Whizz Wheel, to perform the navigation calculations you'll need to know to pass your private pilot exams. Revision pages show you how to perform navigation calculations, and then test questions let you practice doing them yourself. The questions are automatically generated to provide almost infinite variety and detailed run-throughs show you how to solve each problem. Topics covered include: - Multiplication and division - Metric to imperial conversions - Fuel weight to volume - Flight endurance calculations - Wind triangle problems - Crosswind limits - True air speed and ETA computation - Course corrections Download for free and trial four topics. PPL Navigation Trainer is the perfect way to prepare for your Navigation and Flight Performance and Planning exams.

Screenshots

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator4 screens
PPL Navigation Trainer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: IFR Flight Trainer Simulator at 3.9 against PPL Navigation Trainer's 1.0. IFR Flight Trainer Simulator also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 50%) and ratings volume (76 vs 1). PPL Navigation Trainer's advantage is iOS requirement (6.0 vs 18.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 Flight Trainer Simulator sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and PPL Navigation Trainer sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 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 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IFR Flight Trainer Simulator has 76 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's written reviews are positive against 50% of PPL Navigation Trainer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator ships an update every 3 months, PPL Navigation Trainer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator versus PPL Navigation Trainer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIFR Flight Trainer SimulatorPPL Navigation Trainer
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (76 ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews81.5% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings76 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.66.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size155 MB9 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperFlygo-Aviation LtdKarl Bunyan

Customer experience

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator

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

PPL Navigation Trainer

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral16.7%
Negative33.3%

Bugs and 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

PPL Navigation Trainer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator

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

PPL Navigation Trainer

One-time1
  • All subjects$8.99

Questions

Is IFR Flight Trainer Simulator free?
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PPL Navigation Trainer free?
PPL Navigation Trainer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or PPL Navigation Trainer?
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator is rated higher. IFR Flight Trainer Simulator averages 3.9 out of 5 from 76 ratings, while PPL Navigation Trainer averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or PPL Navigation Trainer have ads?
Neither IFR Flight Trainer Simulator nor PPL Navigation Trainer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or PPL Navigation Trainer?
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator ships an update every 3 months, and PPL Navigation Trainer every 2 months. Most recently, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator was updated on October 13, 2026 and PPL Navigation Trainer on September 25, 2026.

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