IFR Flight Trainer Simulator vs Flight Test X20
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.
Flight Test X20
Prepare for FAA knowledge tests with this comprehensive study platform. It offers top-off preparation for various pilot and aviation professional written exams, including instrument rating and ATP.
- FAA knowledge test preparation
- Pilot study course
- Dispatcher study course
- Instrument rating preparation
- Instructor written test prep
- ATP written test prep
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Flight Test X20 is Sheppard Air's latest student study course learning platform for FAA knowledge tests. It allows those students studying for pilot, dispatcher, instrument rating, instructor, flight engineer, ATP, and interviewee written tests to do their top-off preparation for the final knowledge test.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Flight Test X20 at none against IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's 2. Flight Test X20 also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.6). IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's advantage is review sentiment (82% vs 60%). On price, rating, ratings volume 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. Flight Test X20 asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for IFR Flight Trainer Simulator against 3.9 for Flight Test X20. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 76 and 93 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's written reviews are positive against 60% of Flight Test X20's.
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator ships an update every 3 months, Flight Test X20 every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | IFR Flight Trainer Simulator | Flight Test X20 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (76 ratings) | 3.9 (93 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 81.5% of reviews — better | 60.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 76 | 93 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| 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 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 155 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | Flygo-Aviation Ltd | Sheppard Air, Inc. |
Customer experience
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator
Flight Test X20
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
Flight Test X20
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
Flight Test X20
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is IFR Flight Trainer Simulator free?
Is Flight Test X20 free?
Which has better reviews, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or Flight Test X20?
Do IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or Flight Test X20 have ads?
Which is updated more often, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or Flight Test X20?
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