Compare the best iPad apps for Microsoft Flight Simulator, including charts, moving maps, flight planning and cockpit controls, plus setup advice.
The best iPad companion for Microsoft Flight Simulator is Navigraph Charts for IFR flying, while Little Navmap’s browser map is the strongest free option. SimBrief is best for airline flight planning, Air Manager for touch instruments, and ForeFlight mainly for pilots who already use it outside the simulator.
Which iPad app is best for MSFS?
For most PC-based IFR flying, Navigraph Charts is the best all-round iPad app. It combines route planning, airport diagrams, procedure charts and live aircraft tracking in one interface, although its chart access requires a subscription and live position data relies on Simlink running on the simulator PC.
| Best for | Recommended option | Main advantage | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| IFR charts and moving map | Navigraph Charts | Integrated routes, procedures, airport charts and live position | Subscription required; Simlink is needed for PC tracking |
| Free flight planning and moving map | Little Navmap in Safari | Detailed planning, airport information and a browser-based map | The main program runs on a separate computer, not the iPad |
| Airliner dispatch planning | SimBrief in Safari | Creates routes, fuel plans and operational flight plans | It is a browser service rather than a native app or moving map |
| Touch-screen instruments | Air Manager | Turns the iPad into a configurable instrument panel | Requires a PC connector and aircraft-compatible instruments |
| Real-world electronic flight bag | ForeFlight | Familiar charts and planning for pilots who already use it | MSFS live data needs a compatible PC bridge |
Little Navmap is our preferred no-cost choice for general aviation and VFR flying. Its desktop application connects to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024, then serves a moving map to the iPad’s browser; our guide to setting up Little Navmap as a planner and moving map explains the wider workflow.
SimBrief complements a chart app rather than replacing one. Build the airline route and fuel plan on the iPad, then transfer it into a supported EFB or aircraft FMS; the MSFS 2024 route-import workflow for SimBrief covers the simulator-specific steps.
Only Navigraph Charts, Air Manager and ForeFlight in this shortlist are native iPad applications. Little Navmap and SimBrief use the browser, but both can be saved to the iPad home screen for quicker access.
How do I connect an iPad to Microsoft Flight Simulator?
On PC, an iPad companion normally receives simulator data through a desktop connector rather than pairing directly with Microsoft Flight Simulator over Bluetooth.
- Identify the connection method. Navigraph uses Simlink, Air Manager uses its desktop connector, and Little Navmap connects through SimConnect before publishing a local browser map.
- Install the PC component. It must run on the computer hosting MSFS 2020 or MSFS 2024. An iPad app alone cannot read the simulator’s position.
- Join the same local network where required. Little Navmap and many cockpit-panel tools need the PC and iPad on the same network. Guest Wi-Fi can block communication between devices.
- Allow network access. Permit the connector through the Windows firewall on private networks. VPN software and wireless client isolation are common causes of missing data.
- Test from a known airport. Load a flight, wait until the cockpit is active, then confirm that the app shows the aircraft at the selected airport rather than the iPad’s physical GPS location.
Cloud-synchronised services may only require the same account on both devices, while local maps need the network address displayed by the desktop program. The connection method therefore matters more than the iPad model.
Do iPad companion apps work with MSFS on console?
An iPad remains useful with console versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator, but generic live moving-map and touch-panel connections are primarily PC features.
Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 cannot run the Windows connectors used by Simlink, Little Navmap or Air Manager. Planning, charts and reference material still work independently on the iPad, and supported aircraft may offer account-based route or chart integration, but users should not assume that the aircraft symbol will move on an external app.
On PlayStation, this applies to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PS5 and PS5 Pro. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released for PlayStation. Air Manager is therefore a poor purchase if the sole aim is to control a console-based cockpit.
Can an iPad control MSFS cockpit instruments?
Yes, Air Manager can provide touch-screen gauges, switches and panels when Microsoft Flight Simulator is running on PC.
Check support for the exact aircraft before choosing an instrument package. A panel designed for the default Cessna may not communicate correctly with a complex third-party aircraft, and a generic MCDU or CDU app will not automatically support every Airbus or Boeing implementation.
Using the iPad as an ordinary second display is another option, but it differs from a purpose-built cockpit panel. Popped-out avionics windows can add rendering overhead, introduce touch or scaling problems and require rearranging after display changes.
Why is the aircraft not showing on the iPad map?
A missing or blocked desktop connector is the most common reason an iPad map does not show the Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft.
- Simlink is not running: confirm it is active on the simulator PC and signed into the same account as Navigraph Charts. Follow our Simlink connection checks if the simulator remains undetected.
- The iPad is showing its own location: select the simulator or external-device data source rather than the tablet’s internal GPS.
- The devices cannot see each other: leave guest Wi-Fi, disable network isolation and check the firewall or VPN.
- The app was suspended: reopen it after the iPad has slept or switched to another application.
- Procedures disagree between devices: this is a navdata-cycle mismatch, not a tracking fault. Our explanation of matching MSFS and chart navdata covers that separate problem.
For a typical PC setup, pair Navigraph Charts with SimBrief for airline and IFR operations, or use Little Navmap alone for a free general-aviation planner and moving map. Add Air Manager only when touch instruments are the priority; choose ForeFlight mainly when it already forms part of real-world flying.