I’m been considering upping the game with the Sim with either Vatsim or Ivao. It’s a confidence thing and a little bit daunting if I’m honest. So, best way to know which one to go for is ask those on here?
As daft as it may seem, but which one is alittle more understanding with newbies?
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My experience is that VATSIM is a bit more easy on newbies compared to IVAO (and that’s from someone who has 500+ hours on IVAO but recently switched to VATSIM)
Also VATSIM has a lot more users lately
Edit: If you need anything or want to ask something I’d be happy to help you. I don’t know everything but I might be able to help you
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Great advice thanks Martijoo. I’ll do a little bit more homework with Vatsim and study it more, but for sure will take you up on the offer of help, I’m sure I’ll need it! 
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I use them both and they are both good. To be any controller on vatsim you have to have training and pass exams. On ivao if you want to be controller you can start at some airports after reading the docs. You get more people on vatsim. Don’t be afraid if you just put new pilot on your remarks then both will understand.
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I have no experience with IVAO but Vatsim has been a positive experience.
I’d you are worried about phraseology Pilot2ATC is great for practice and has a 12 day trial.
I also signed up for VATSTAR and did their discovery flights which is a group of new users with the instructors who walk you through the process and then fly with you and practice call outs at towered and non towered.
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Is there anyway to listen in and get a feel for things, but without actually setting up a flight? Just a curiosty thing.
Yes they have an observer mode as well.
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Great thanks for that! Something I’ll start with.
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5,000+ hour VATSIM user here, love it. Events happen all the time and are super fun!
Flew a Cessna 152 in this yesterday, had a blast.
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Vatsim is awesome. Ivao is more arcade and less populated
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Hi Martijoo,
Do you know how I would access observer mode on Vatsim? Thanks
You will need to download the act client software and log on as observer that way you can hear what’s going on.
Sorry I’m going to sound stupid now. Is act client the vpilot thing? If not where do I find that? 
Vpilot is the pilot client. If you go onto vatsim website you download the act client follow the instruction to join as observer. You could just login on vpilot as a pilot and park somwere out the way and just put in your flightplan something like. New to vatsim not flying but just hearing how it works. The atc then will leave you alone.
Thanks I’ll give it a go👍. That’s all I want to do at the moment is listen in and get a feel for it.
It’s alot of fun but the fist time if hard as you don’t want to make any mistakes. Do give it a go you will love it. Good luck.
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1000+ hours on VATSIM. I think is the way to go…They are super professionals all over the world and they all speak a good english. In order to be a controller they have to go through serious training and exams. Is much more populated and you’ll always find some online airports/FIR’s and any time. If you wish to try payware there is Pilotedge: they control the whole western US everyday and they provide all kind of training. I logged 1000+ hours with them in the past as well
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Haaa. That was the PHX event!!! Was there too 
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Sorry for the late answer but indeed I’d do the same: park the aircraft somewhere and just listen. Maybe even try to get a ground clearance for the first time. I might get some problems with this but: just getting the clearance and than log off in my opinion shouldn’t be a problem to get your started.
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Once you get used to airports you will also get used to clearances. When I fly out of EDDF, KSFO and many others I don’t even need my charts because I know 90% what the clearance wiuld be. My advice is to sit at a parking spot and listen for 30 minutes…then you will probably know in advance what runway you will get and probably what SID. Also avoid to jump in mega events like crossfires or FNO’s. Find an airport like EDDF, they are online for several hours a day, it alway has traffic but during non event days it’s not that busy and controllers will have time to repeat thing to you and allow you to ask questions if you have doubts
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