Comparison

On Instruments vs IFR Simulator

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

Head to head
About

On Instruments

Hone your instrument flying skills with this simulator. Navigate various courses by precisely managing heading, altitude, and airspeed. Features multiple difficulty levels, including courses with instrument failures.

Highlights
  • Instrument scanning practice
  • Multiple course difficulties
  • Heading, altitude, airspeed control
  • Attitude Indicator failure simulation
  • Score maximization
Features
Read full description

Practice and hone your IFR instrument scanning skills while playing a variety of courses “On Instruments”. Each course includes a series of heading, altitude, and airspeed changes that must be flown with precision to maximize your score. Courses are divided into Easy, Intermediate and Expert Levels. Additional courses without course guidance are available, as well as a series with an Attitude Indicator failure.

About

IFR Simulator

Practice essential instrument flight procedures with realistic displays and worldwide airspace. Build confidence in tracking, intercepts, holds, and wind correction anytime, anywhere. Import custom approach plates and utilize advanced navigation tools.

Highlights
  • Realistic PFD and ND-style navigation displays
  • Custom map overlays with approach plate import
  • VOR and NDB navigation training
  • Holding pattern practice with entry visualization
  • Adjustable wind and performance settings
  • Autopilot with dedicated controls
Features
Read full description

IFR Simulator is an educational flight training app designed to help you practice core instrument procedures using realistic, instrument-style displays, with worldwide airspace available for training and procedural practice. Use the simulator to build confidence with IFR fundamentals such as tracking, intercepts, holds, and wind correction—anytime, anywhere. KEY FEATURES • Realistic instrument displays: - PFD (attitude, airspeed, altitude, heading, vertical speed) - ND-style navigation display with course/deviation and navigation indications - Custom Map Overlays: Import your own PDF or image approach plates and place them directly onto the moving map. - Updated NAVaids - Autopilot • ILS/VOR/ADF navigation training: - Select a VOR, tune/identify, set course (OBS), intercept and track radials - TO/FROM indications and CDI behavior • Custom Map Overlays: - Import your own PDF or image approach plates and place them directly onto the moving map. - Use our new two-point alignment tool to perfectly match your charts with real-world coordinates. • NDB navigation training: - ADF-style bearing tracking practice • DME Arc practice: - Learn arc intercepts and corrections with distance awareness • Holding patterns: - Standard and non-standard holds - Entry guidance/visualization (when enabled) - Show/hide holding patterns and procedures on the map • Map tools: - Moving map with selectable navaids - Flight track display (show/hide) and clear track - “Go Here” positioning for quick practice setups • Navaid management: - Search ILS/VOR/NDB by ID/name/country(Updated NAVaids) - Favorites - Create custom navaids (user-defined) and edit coordinates • Wind & performance: - Adjustable wind direction and speed - Groundspeed / track / drift information for training wind correction concepts - Groundtrack • Autopilot & controls: - Autopilot modes for guided practice - Dedicated knobs for CRS/HDG/IAS/ALT/VS - Flight Settings for quick airspeed/altitude adjustments IMPORTANT IFR Simulator is for training and educational purposes only. It is not intended for real-world navigation or flight operations. PRO SUBSCRIPTION (Optional) Upgrade to IFR Pro to unlock premium exercises and advanced scenarios. Holding Calculator is free and does not require subscription. Free Trial • Includes a free trial (duration varies by plan). • If you start a free trial, any unused portion of the trial will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Auto-Renewing Subscription Terms (Apple Required) • Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. • Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period, at the cost of the selected plan. • You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your App Store account settings after purchase. • Restore purchases is available in the app. Links Privacy Policy: https://gist.github.com/egitimtakipuygulamasi/b2d76e09599f3e31277d6c84ce4b47cd Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Support ifrsimulator@outlook.com

Screenshots

On Instruments4 screens
IFR Simulator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: On Instruments at 75% against IFR Simulator's 0%. On Instruments also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.6). IFR Simulator's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and update cadence (weekly vs every 8 months). On 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

IFR Simulator is free to download; On Instruments costs $2.99 up front. IFR Simulator sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. On Instruments asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

On Instruments ships an update every 8 months, IFR Simulator weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
On Instruments versus IFR Simulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOn InstrumentsIFR Simulator
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (9 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings9 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAircraft Training Aids, LLCGizem Celik

Customer experience

On Instruments

All ratings9 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral12.5%
Negative12.5%

IFR Simulator

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

On Instruments

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

IFR Simulator

Subscriptions2
  • IFR Pro Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • IFR Pro Yearly7 Days trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is On Instruments free?
On Instruments costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is IFR Simulator free?
IFR Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do On Instruments or IFR Simulator have ads?
Neither On Instruments nor IFR Simulator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, On Instruments or IFR Simulator?
On Instruments ships an update every 8 months, and IFR Simulator weekly. Most recently, On Instruments was updated on October 6, 2026 and IFR Simulator on September 22, 2026.

Other comparisons