# OptiFlight vs The Airline Simulator

The clearest difference is update cadence: The Airline Simulator at every 4 days against OptiFlight's every 6 weeks. The Airline Simulator also leads on review sentiment (90% vs 80%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OptiFlight sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and The Airline Simulator sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for OptiFlight against 4.7 for The Airline Simulator. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.3K and 963 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 80% of OptiFlight's written reviews are positive against 90% of The Airline Simulator's.

OptiFlight ships an update every 6 weeks, The Airline Simulator every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OptiFlight | The Airline Simulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optiflight/id1490464625/reviews) | **[4.7 (963 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-airline-simulator/id6741754157/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.3K** | 963 |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | **90.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 131 MB | 180 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Krish Suchdev](https://appshunter.io/developer/1378468452) | [HyungMoon Ko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1685531059) |

## What reviewers say

### OptiFlight

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optiflight/id1490464625)

Design intricate flight networks to connect cities and guide passengers efficiently. Adapt your routes to dynamic events like airport rushes and closures across over 350 themed levels. Test your strategic planning skills in historical, present-day, and weather-simulated scenarios.

**Highlights:** Design flight networks, Create historical flight maps, Simulate inclement weather, Use real-world cities, 350+ levels, Analyze in-game statistics, Compete on leaderboards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $1.00 | one-time |
| OptiFlight Expansion | $1.99 | one-time |
| Large Tip | $5.00 | one-time |


### The Airline Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-airline-simulator/id6741754157)

Design your own airline, from aircraft liveries and logos to cabin configurations. Fly over 70 aircraft to more than 2,230 airports globally, with real-world data influencing flight demands. Track flights live on an interactive map.

**Highlights:** Design custom aircraft liveries and logos, Choose from 70+ modern airliners, Fly to 2,230+ global airports, Design unique cabin configurations, Interactive live flight tracking, Real-world data based flight demands

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Diamonds | $0.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Pack II | $2.99 | one-time |
| Narrowbody Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Small Pile of Diamonds | $4.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Ultra Long Range Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Flagship Aircraft Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Customization Points Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Daily Operations Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Acceleration Potion Package | $9.99 | one-time |
| Large Pile of Diamonds | $9.99 | one-time |
| Subsidiary Slot Pack | $10.99 | one-time |
| Small Chest of Diamonds | $19.99 | one-time |
| Large Chest of Diamonds | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✅ Engaging airline management mechanics with realistic economic decisions
- ✅ Great variety of aircraft models to choose from
- ✅ Free-to-play model makes the game accessible
- ✅ Strong potential to become the best airline simulation game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔹 Limited airline competition and alliances
- 🔹 Lack of airport upgrades and terminal customization
- 🔹 Absence of real-world airline challenges like delays and maintenance
- 🔹 Unrealistic aircraft unlocking system

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes when trying to buy planes
- Profit claiming issue where only $743 is added instead of $743K

**Requested features**

- Competitive airline market and alliances
- Airport and terminal upgrades
- Realistic airline operations and challenges
- Advanced aircraft customization and fleet management
- Improved route scheduling and revenue optimization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OptiFlight free?

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

### Is The Airline Simulator free?

The Airline Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, OptiFlight or The Airline Simulator?

The Airline Simulator is rated higher. OptiFlight averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while The Airline Simulator averages 4.7 from 963 ratings.

### Do OptiFlight or The Airline Simulator have ads?

Neither OptiFlight nor The Airline Simulator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OptiFlight or The Airline Simulator?

OptiFlight ships an update every 6 weeks, and The Airline Simulator every 4 days. Most recently, OptiFlight was updated on October 19, 2026 and The Airline Simulator on October 20, 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.*