Comparison

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator vs VRflow C172N

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

VRflow C172N

Features
Read full description

Boost your learning rate with VRflow C172N, an advanced, interactive cockpit procedure trainer for the C172 "N" variant. Get ready for your training, check ride or next flight with this strong learning tool, build specifically for efficient cockpit procedure training. FULL VERSION FEATURES (requires subscription): • Normal procedures • Selected emergency procedures • Cockpit familiarization/Explore Mode • Dynamic checklists • Step-by-step procedure explanations • Dynamic aircraft systems and screens • Training Mode/Exam Mode DEMO VERSION FEATURES (free) • One normal procedure included • Explore Mode not available VRflow is a well-proven procedure training platform used by airlines, ATOs and air forces worldwide. Enjoy the benefits of the most efficient procedure training platform, originally build for virtual reality and now available on iOS. Advanced visual learning technologies are incorporated to accelerate learning rate and improve knowledge retention. You will learn and understand the structure and task sharing of procedures, the correct callouts and flows. Explore Mode enables you to explore and understand the switches, knobs, levers, panels and screens of the cockpit interactively. All aircraft systems behave realistically, so you will become familiar with how the aircraft behaves in real life. The aircraft even maneuvers automatically, providing you with the correct visual cues and context of a flight. The entire cockpit is modeled accurately in 3D, including screens and the outside world. VRflow has been tested by real life pilots with experience on the C172. NOTE: VRflow is a procedure trainer - NOT a flight simulator. Read the end user license agreement (EULA) here: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator4 screens
VRflow C172N4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: VRflow C172N at every 2 days against IFR Flight Trainer Simulator's every 3 months. VRflow C172N also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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 Flight Trainer Simulator sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and VRflow C172N sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

IFR Flight Trainer Simulator ships an update every 3 months, VRflow C172N every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator versus VRflow C172N: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterIFR Flight Trainer SimulatorVRflow C172N
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (76 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews81.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings76 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size155 MB816 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperFlygo-Aviation LtdVRpilot ApS

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

VRflow C172N

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

VRflow C172N

Subscriptions1
  • C172N monthly subscription$9.991 Month

Questions

Is IFR Flight Trainer Simulator free?
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VRflow C172N free?
VRflow C172N is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or VRflow C172N have ads?
Neither IFR Flight Trainer Simulator nor VRflow C172N shows ads.
Which is updated more often, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator or VRflow C172N?
IFR Flight Trainer Simulator ships an update every 3 months, and VRflow C172N every 2 days. Most recently, IFR Flight Trainer Simulator was updated on October 13, 2026 and VRflow C172N on October 11, 2026.

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