Compare the best flight simulator games for iPhone and iPad, with clear picks for realism, airliners, offline flying, multiplayer and free play.
For general flight simulation on iOS and iPadOS, the best games are Infinite Flight for airline operations, X-Plane Mobile for flight dynamics, Aerofly FS Global for graphics and offline use, and RFS for multiplayer flying. Infinite Flight is the safest all-round choice, but an iPad makes X-Plane and Aerofly easier to operate.
| Simulator | Best for | Main strength | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infinite Flight | Global airline operations | Route planning, broad aircraft selection and organised live flying | The full fleet, worldwide flying and live features depend on its paid tier |
| X-Plane Mobile | Flight dynamics and general aviation | Convincing handling and interactive cockpits | It is not the desktop edition and cannot use desktop add-ons |
| Aerofly FS Global | Graphics and offline solo flying | Smooth visuals, detailed cockpits and downloadable scenery | Aircraft and scenery downloads can consume substantial storage |
| RFS | Multiplayer airline flying | Airline routes, flight planning and an active online environment | Advanced features require its paid tier, and cockpit depth varies by aircraft |
Which iOS flight simulator is best for you?
Choose Infinite Flight if you want to plan realistic airline routes, fly around the world and join a structured multiplayer network. Its touch interface works well on an iPhone, although cockpit controls and charts are more comfortable on an iPad.
Choose X-Plane Mobile if hand-flying, approaches and general-aviation handling matter more than online airline operations. Our explanation of what X-Plane Mobile includes on iPhone and iPad also covers the important differences from desktop X-Plane.
Choose Aerofly FS Global for detailed aircraft, attractive scenery and self-contained solo flights. It is especially effective on a capable iPad, but downloading several scenery areas can make its real storage requirement much larger than the initial installation.
Choose RFS if scheduled airline flying, multiplayer traffic and operational role-play are the priority. It offers plenty to do, but do not assume every aircraft has the same level of functional cockpit systems.
No mobile simulator reproduces a desktop study-level fleet from top to bottom. System depth, working switches and flight-management features vary between aircraft, even within the same app.
Is an iPad better than an iPhone for flight simulation?
An iPad is better for reading instruments, operating cockpit controls and using charts alongside the simulator. An iPhone remains useful for shorter flights, but small switches, flight-management screens and virtual controls become crowded.
A larger display does not guarantee better performance. The processor, available memory, free storage and thermal limits matter more than screen size; an older iPad may perform worse than a newer iPhone. Our iPad-focused comparison of native flight simulator apps examines those tablet-specific trade-offs.
A controller can improve hand-flying, but support and button mapping differ between apps. Check compatibility for the exact simulator and controller rather than assuming every iOS-compatible gamepad will expose throttles, rudder and view controls correctly.
Can iPhone and iPad flight simulators work offline?
Aerofly FS Global is usually the strongest choice for offline flying once the required aircraft and scenery have been downloaded. X-Plane Mobile can also use installed content offline, but worldwide scenery and network services have separate connectivity requirements.
Infinite Flight and RFS are less suitable when disconnected because many of their defining features involve worldwide data, multiplayer or live services. No simulator can provide live traffic, multiplayer ATC or streamed scenery without a connection.
Before travelling, open the simulator online, finish all scenery and aircraft downloads, then test the intended flight in Aeroplane Mode. This catches missing regions and licence checks before they become a problem.
Are there any good free iOS flight simulators?
Free access is useful for testing controls and device performance, but it rarely includes the complete aircraft fleet, worldwide scenery and multiplayer service. Purchase models can also differ between editions, so compare the included content rather than looking only at the initial download price.
Our breakdown of free iOS flight simulators and their restrictions identifies which options provide meaningful flying before payment and which features remain locked.
How do you prevent stuttering, missing scenery and control problems?
- Check storage before installing. Aircraft and scenery packs can require far more space than the base app, and iOS also needs spare capacity for downloads and updates.
- Complete content downloads on a stable connection. Blank terrain or low-detail scenery often means the relevant region has not finished downloading rather than a graphics fault.
- Reduce demanding settings individually. Start with traffic density, clouds, shadows and rendering resolution. Lowering everything at once makes it difficult to identify the actual bottleneck.
- Calibrate the controls. Place the device flat before calibrating tilt input, reduce sensitivity if the aircraft oscillates, and add a small dead zone when a physical controller drifts.
- Restore purchases under the original account. Missing aircraft after reinstalling or changing devices are often an entitlement problem, not a failed download.
Can you play Microsoft Flight Simulator on iPhone or iPad?
Neither Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 nor Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a native iOS or iPadOS app. A full PC or console simulator may be accessible through a compatible cloud-streaming service, but that requires a fast connection and usually a controller; it does not offer the predictable offline performance of a native mobile simulator.