Many sim racers hit the same crossroads: choose iRacing or Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC)? Both are world-class sims, but they work differently and serve different goals. Here is the comparison that matters: what it costs, how it feels, who you race, and what hardware it wants.
Why this choice matters
Your sim dictates more than graphics or physics. It sets your weekly race rhythm, community, and hardware needs. Plenty of drivers run both, but this helps you start smart.
Costs and models
- iRacing: service model. About EUR 13 per month or EUR 110 per year plus content (EUR 10-15 per track, around EUR 15 per car). Year one often totals EUR 300-500 if you run several series. In return you get laser-scanned tracks, monthly physics updates, and structured officials.
- ACC: about EUR 40 one-time; DLC together roughly EUR 50-80. No subscription, no online fees. Frequent Steam sales, and it runs on PC, PS5, and Xbox.
Budget first: ACC is the price winner; iRacing costs more but buys structure and breadth.
Content and disciplines
- iRacing: 135+ cars (F1, F3, GT, prototypes, NASCAR, dirt oval, rallycross) and 100+ tracks. New content every quarter. Great if you like to switch.
- ACC: laser-focused on GT3/GT4 with official liveries, endurance formats, night and rain. Less breadth, deeper in one championship.
Many racers combine them: ACC for GT weekends, iRacing for variety.
Driving feel and physics
- iRacing: stable, predictable tire model and crystal-clear telemetry. Can feel “tight” or “on rails” to some, but setup changes are easy to trace.
- ACC: organic and tactile. Grip builds with temperature, rain changes grip progressively, and force feedback is rich. Needs more GPU tuning.
Beginners often find ACC more intuitive; iRacing rewards data-driven racers who want consistency.
Online racing and community
- iRacing: officials on set schedules, matchmaking via iRating/Safety Rating, licenses from Rookie to Pro. Strict but clean, with tons of guides and coaching.
- ACC: flexible. Public servers or private leagues/endurance events. Ratings (Safety, Racecraft, Consistency, Car Control) guide you gently and also work on console.
Graphics and requirements
| Sim | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| iRacing | GTX 1060 / RX 580, i5-8400, 16 GB RAM | RTX 3070 / RX 6700 XT, i7-12700K, 16 GB RAM |
| ACC | GTX 1070 / RX 5700, i7-8700K, 16 GB RAM | RTX 4070 / RX 7800 XT, i7-13700K, 32 GB RAM |
iRacing runs light and steady, including in VR. ACC looks fantastic but hits GPU/CPU harder, especially with rain, night, or triple screens.
Learning curve and guidance
- iRacing: climb via licenses; officials and ghost laps help. Ideal if you want a clear progression path.
- ACC: straight into GT3. Steeper start, but you grow fast if you practice consistency and tire temps. Less hand-holding, more self-work.
Hardware and compatibility
Both support the same wheels and pedals. Load cell pedals pay off in ACC for brake modulation, and iRacing benefits too. Spend on force feedback quality before cosmetics.
Recommendations:
- Budget (EUR 250-350): Logitech G923 or Thrustmaster T248
- Midrange (EUR 350-600): Moza R5 Bundle or Fanatec CSL DD
- Premium (600+): Moza R9 or Simucube 2 Pro
Pedals:
- Budget: Fanatec CSL Pedals
- Midrange: Moza SR-P or Thrustmaster T-LCM
- Premium: Fanatec CSL Elite V2 or Heusinkveld Ultimate+
Which to pick for your goal?
- Beginners / tight budget: ACC. One purchase leaves more for hardware.
- Serious competition: iRacing. Officials, licenses, and a big player base.
- GT and endurance fans: ACC for authenticity; iRacing if you also want structured GT3 officials.
- All-rounders: iRacing for variety; ACC alongside for GT depth.
- Console racers: ACC (PS5/Xbox). iRacing is PC-only.
Finish and next step
There is no absolute winner, only the sim that fits your budget, time, and favorite discipline. Pick one, commit for a few weeks, and review your data. Want to test your reactions? Try the Start Lights Simulator and compare launches across both sims.
Tell us where you land; see you on the grid.