ATC Radar vs Hello Tower
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ATC Radar
Experience realistic air traffic control by guiding aircraft through airspace, assigning routes, altitudes, and speeds. Manage departures and arrivals, and utilize real-world weather overlays for an immersive simulation.
- Realistic air traffic control simulation
- Manage aircraft departures and arrivals
- Assign altitudes, speeds, and routes
- Real-world weather overlay
- Visual approach assignments
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Be the air traffic controller. Now free to play. ATC Radar puts you in the radar room as an approach controller. Tap traffic, issue commands, and keep the metal moving — safely separated and on the ground. Start working Kansas City Approach right now, free. How it plays • Sequence arrivals onto visual and instrument approaches • Issue headings, altitudes, speeds, and direct-to clearances in real time • Release departures and hand them off to Center • Accept handoffs as traffic enters your airspace • Keep 3 miles and 1,000 feet — a loss of separation is a "deal" • Earn your controller rating across clean shifts, from Trainee to Area Manager Free • Full gameplay at Kansas City Approach • Unlimited 5-minute shifts • Optional: watch a short ad to extend a shift ATC Radar Pro • New York TRACON (N90) — JFK, LGA, EWR, TEB and more • Choose your shift length — 3 to 30 minutes • Instant shift extends, no ads • Every new airspace we add The most realistic ATC approach sim on iPhone and iPad. Take the scope.
Hello Tower
Experience realistic airport ground control with this simulation app. Manage aircraft movements, issue clearances, and handle emergencies across over 40 diverse airports. Progress from simple single-runway operations to complex hub airports.
- Airport ground maneuvering simulation
- Over 40 different airports
- Simplified and real-size airport versions
- Pushback, taxi, and take-off clearances
- Emergency handling
- Level-based progression
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Airport ground maneuvering simulation of more than 40 different airports including London Heathrow LHR, Philadelphia PHL, Miami Intl. MIA, Singapore, New York JFK, Las Vegas LAS, São Paulo GRU, Montreal YUL, Boston BOS, and many more. Different versions of airports included: - Play the simplified version, where the airport is scaled down to an easy playable experience. - Play the real thing. Here the whole airport is in real size displayed, where all your skills are required. Features - Give pushback, taxi, holding and take-off clearances. - Handle emergencies and try to release all flights on time in order to release the next level. From an easy single-runway operation at the beginning to demanding hub airports with multiple active runways where all your skills are required.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Hello Tower at 71% against ATC Radar's 0%. Hello Tower also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). ATC Radar's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and iOS requirement (14.3 vs 18.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
ATC Radar is free to download; Hello Tower costs $2.99 up front. ATC Radar sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month and Hello Tower sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
ATC Radar ships an update monthly, Hello Tower every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ATC Radar | Hello Tower |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $2.99 |
| Rating | — | 4.4 (66 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 70.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 66 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.3 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 50 MB | 412 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bryan Heitman | Sascha Trachsel |
Customer experience
ATC Radar
Hello Tower
Bugs and requests
ATC Radar
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Hello Tower
Reported bugs
37 issues- Flight freezing on runway holding and turns
- Aircraft getting stuck and blocking routes
- 30-second departure timer disappearing
- Aircraft crashing with held aircraft on taxiway
- Levels not unlocking
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- Game freezes/crashes, especially at Heathrow
- Separation logic errors
- Aircraft not selectable
- Game hangs/freezes after updates
- New UI is confusing and unreadable
- Sounds missing after update
- Focus on aircraft and readability worsened
- Aircraft symbols obscured by labels
- Tapping messages only selects aircraft once
- Parking spots shown as available when occupied
- Planes crossing paths and getting stuck
- Aircraft becoming 'ghosts' blocking routes
- Runway timer resets to zero before 30 seconds
- Departure separation timer sometimes fails to appear
- Recent updates have made the game fiddly and difficult
- UI is worse after recent updates
- Levels changed after recent updates
- Game becomes unplayable after updates
- Aircraft roll with extreme speed
- UI for iPhones is terrible
- Previous version was better
- Custom game mode is buggy
- Some airport orientations are off
- Ground radars not oriented to true north
- Cannot make aircraft move
- Cannot park landed aircraft
- Game ends with blocked runway when it's not
- Impossible timings leading to penalties
- Aircraft launching in both directions on the same runway simultaneously
- Departure slot timer bug
- Aircraft on final approach not being able to be directed away
- Aircraft on runway preventing others from crossing
Requested features
23 requests- Add more airports (US, European, Asian, Indian cities)
- Add an endless/sandbox mode
- Add AI voice recognition and ATC dialogues
- Implement a tutorial or walk-through
- Add a 'continue game' or save progress option
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- Add more realistic separation rules and traffic patterns
- Improve UI and controls (smaller buttons, better organization)
- Add option to designate departure/arrival runways
- Add rejected takeoffs, emergency vehicles, emergency inbounds
- Add ability to call a go-around
- Allow custom stop points
- Add more sounds for aircraft
- Add a smaller tutorial airport
- Add day/night environment switching
- Add towing/pushback option for stuck aircraft
- Add Chinese language support
- Add more content/levels, possibly a sequel
- Improve graphics and aircraft dynamics
- Add music and better menu
- Add indication when flights actually depart
- Add beacon lights to taxiway hotspots
- Add more realistic taxi speeds and turnaround times
- Add runway vacation instructions
In-app purchases
ATC Radar
- ATC Radar$2.991 Month
Hello Tower
- Hello Tower Test$0.99
- Airport Pack$0.99
- Sandbox test2 variants$0.99
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- Airport Pack$1.99
