# Pilot 9 vs Mining Tycoon 3D

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pilot 9 at 100% against Mining Tycoon 3D's 13%. Pilot 9 also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.3) and ads (none vs shown). Mining Tycoon 3D's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (46 vs 15). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pilot 9 sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Mining Tycoon 3D sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pilot 9 holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 46 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Pilot 9's written reviews are positive against 13% of Mining Tycoon 3D's.

Pilot 9 ships an update every 6 weeks, Mining Tycoon 3D every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pilot 9 | Mining Tycoon 3D |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pilot-9/id1115255482/reviews)** | [3.3 (46 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mining-tycoon-3d/id1556057188/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **46** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 12.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 505 MB | 199 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Craig Buck](https://appshunter.io/developer/1115255481) | [Sablo Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434408975) |

## What reviewers say

### Pilot 9

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pilot-9/id1115255482)

Engage in aerial combat as a pilot of advanced jet and helicopter fighters to thwart global domination. Select diverse aircraft, pilots, and gear to complete challenging missions and earn rewards for future battles.

**Highlights:** Pilot jet and helicopter fighters, Customizable vehicles with add-ons and skins, Upgradeable pilots for increased XP, Multiple levels and missions, In-game lottery and daily rewards, Multi-attribute vehicle rewards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coin Pile | $0.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cheddar | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tall Stacks! | $2.99 | one-time |
| Mint | $4.99 | one-time |


### Mining Tycoon 3D

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mining-tycoon-3d/id1556057188)

Dig deep into the earth to unearth precious gems, gold, and diamonds. Hire miners, upgrade their speed, and tap to accelerate your excavation. Become a wealthy mining tycoon by discovering hidden treasures and filling your carts.

**Highlights:** Mine and load carts, Discover various jewels, Dig and create paths, Explore a spiral world, Hire and upgrade workers, Tap to speed up mining

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Handful of Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Bucket of Gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| Barrel of Gems | $9.99 | one-time |
| Remove Unwanted Ads | $9.99 | one-time |
| Crate of Gems | $24.99 | one-time |
| Wheel Barrow of Gems | $44.99 | one-time |
| Truckload of Gems | $89.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pilot 9 free?

Pilot 9 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Mining Tycoon 3D free?

Mining Tycoon 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Pilot 9 or Mining Tycoon 3D?

Pilot 9 is rated higher. Pilot 9 averages 4.7 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Mining Tycoon 3D averages 3.3 from 46 ratings.

### Do Pilot 9 or Mining Tycoon 3D have ads?

Mining Tycoon 3D shows ads; Pilot 9 does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pilot 9 or Mining Tycoon 3D?

Pilot 9 ships an update every 6 weeks, and Mining Tycoon 3D every 2 weeks. Most recently, Pilot 9 was updated on June 1, 2026 and Mining Tycoon 3D on September 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*