IFR Flight Trainer Simulator vs Garmin GPS Trainer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
Garmin GPS Trainer
This app simulates the user interface of a GPS navigator, allowing users to explore its features and operational aspects. It's ideal for improving avionics familiarity and preparing for flights by practicing flight plans.
- Simulated multi-touch and drag interface
- Garmin SafeTaxi with airport information
- High resolution terrain and aviation databases
- Obstacle databases with power line alerting
- Simulated ADS-B Traffic and FIS-B Weather
- Chair fly flight plans
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The Garmin GPS Trainer simulates the system user interface and provides the opportunity to explore the features, options, and fundamental operational aspects of the avionics. When used in combination with the GPS Navigator Series Pilot’s Guide, the trainer can be an effective way to improve avionics familiarity and proficiency at a time and location convenient to the user. The Trainer is also a great way to prepare for a flight because a user can load the anticipated flight plan and “chair fly” the avionics portion of the flight before entering the aircraft. The GPS Trainer includes: • Simulated multi-touch and drag interface – allows you to interact with the system, graphically edit flight plans, and much more • Garmin SafeTaxi – allows you to view detailed airport information on the moving map • High resolution worldwide terrain maps and aviation databases • High resolution obstacle databases including power line alerting • Simulated interfaces and data including: -- ADS-B Traffic with TargetTrend™ Relative Motion -- FIS-B Weather with animated NEXRAD -- Airspaces, airways, and Visual Reporting Points * Note: This app contains simulated data and does not receive data from or interact with real Garmin avionics. This app should not be used for actual navigation purposes.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: IFR Flight Trainer Simulator at 82% against Garmin GPS Trainer's 33%. IFR Flight Trainer Simulator also leads on rating (3.9 vs 2.1). Garmin GPS Trainer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. IFR Flight Trainer Simulator sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Garmin GPS Trainer asks for nothing beyond the download.
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 2.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 76 and 28 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's written reviews are positive against 33% of Garmin GPS Trainer's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | IFR Flight Trainer Simulator | Garmin GPS Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (76 ratings) — better | 2.1 (28 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 81.5% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 76 — better | 28 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 155 MB | 1.3 GB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | Flygo-Aviation Ltd | Garmin DCI |
Customer experience
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator
Garmin GPS Trainer
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
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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
Garmin GPS Trainer
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator
- IFR Simulator Half Price$11.99
- IFR Simulator Unlock$24.99
Garmin GPS Trainer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is IFR Flight Trainer Simulator free?
Is Garmin GPS Trainer free?
Which has better reviews, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or Garmin GPS Trainer?
Do IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or Garmin GPS Trainer have ads?
Which is updated more often, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or Garmin GPS Trainer?
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