•Midwives must have breech birth management skills and knowledge to minimize complications that can affect maternal and infant health.•Computer-based childbirth simulators are more effective than pelvic simulators in reducing anxiety levels and improving breech birth management skills of students.•Simulation techniques used in breech birth management training are effective in increasing the self-efficacy and knowledge levels of students. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of two different simulation techniques used to improve the breech birth management skills of midwifery students and their levels of anxiety, self-efficacy, skill, and knowledge. A randomized controlled study (Clinical Trial number: NCT05827627). The study was conducted with two groups (n = 75); namely, a pelvic simulator group and a computer-based simulator group. While no difference was found between the anxiety levels of the groups before the training, the anxiety level of the pelvic simulator group was higher after the training. The self-efficacy and knowledge levels of students increased after the training compared to pretraining level; however, no difference was found between the groups. The skill score for breech birth management was higher in the computer-based simulator group. The results of this study showed that high-fidelity simulators in particular reduce the anxiety levels of students, increase their self-efficacy and knowledge levels, and are effective in improving their skills.