# Fighter Pilot vs Helicopter Simulator 2026

The clearest difference is rating: Fighter Pilot at 4.5 against Helicopter Simulator 2026's 2.9. Fighter Pilot also leads on ratings volume (3K vs 32) and review sentiment (48% vs 40%). Helicopter Simulator 2026's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Fighter Pilot sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Helicopter Simulator 2026 sells 19 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Fighter Pilot holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fighter Pilot has 3K ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Fighter Pilot's written reviews are positive against 40% of Helicopter Simulator 2026's.

Fighter Pilot ships an update every 2 months, Helicopter Simulator 2026 weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fighter Pilot | Helicopter Simulator 2026 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fighter-pilot-heavyfire/id1555426750/reviews)** | [2.9 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helicopter-simulator-2026/id1579511621/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3K** | 32 |
| Positive reviews | **48.0% of reviews** | 39.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 786 MB | 568 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Threye](https://appshunter.io/developer/903373264) | [Thetis Consulting](https://appshunter.io/developer/339173067) |

## What reviewers say

### Fighter Pilot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fighter-pilot-heavyfire/id1555426750)

Engage in fast-paced arcade aerial combat as a fighter pilot. Command iconic modern jet aircraft, unleash heavy firepower, and dominate the skies. Progress through levels, upgrade your planes, and customize them with real-world inspired weaponry.

**Highlights:** Iconic modern jet aircraft, Progressive hangar system, Aircraft performance upgrades, Real-world inspired weaponry, Immersive visuals and environments, Progressive difficulty levels

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 50 Gold Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| 750 Gold Coins | $5.99 | one-time |
| Premium User Discounted Price | $9.99 | one-time |
| Premium User Without Discount | $11.99 | one-time |
| 3000 Gold Coins | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Good graphics
- 🚀 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 👍 No ads
- 👍 Free epic crates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and loading issues
- 🐛 Lost progress and unlocked planes
- 🐛 Unresponsive controls
- 🐛 Unavoidable missiles

**Reported bugs**

- Crashing on launch
- Losing progress and unlocked content
- Bugs in specific levels (Chapter 5, Level 6)
- Planes becoming locked after unlocking

**Requested features**

- More aircraft variety (fighter jets, helicopters)
- Advanced maneuverability (loops, barrel rolls)
- Multiplayer mode
- More levels and chapters
- Improved physics and realism


### Helicopter Simulator 2026

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helicopter-simulator-2026/id1579511621)

Experience realistic helicopter flight in virtual reality. Learn to pilot various helicopters, master instruments, and complete challenging rescue missions in diverse mountain environments. Enjoy detailed cockpits, advanced physics, and immersive landscapes.

**Highlights:** Realistic VR flight simulation, Detailed helicopter cockpits, Interactive flight instruments, Challenging rescue missions, Advanced physics engine, Diverse mountain landscapes, Weather condition simulation

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (19)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Club Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Club Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Club Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| U.F.O. | $2.99 | one-time |
| Trump Sikorsky S-76 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Boeing AH-64 Apache | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bell 407 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Mil Mi-28 Havoc | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sikorsky MH-53 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bell UH-1 Iroquois | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bell AH-1Z Viper | $4.99 | one-time |
| McDonnell Douglas 500 | $4.99 | one-time |
| CAIC WZ-10 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bell 222 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bell 206 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Boeing CH-47 Chinook | $9.99 | one-time |
| Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin | $9.99 | one-time |
| WingFoot Blimp | $9.99 | one-time |
| Unlocks all helicopters! | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fighter Pilot free?

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

### Is Helicopter Simulator 2026 free?

Helicopter Simulator 2026 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Fighter Pilot or Helicopter Simulator 2026?

Fighter Pilot is rated higher. Fighter Pilot averages 4.5 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while Helicopter Simulator 2026 averages 2.9 from 32 ratings.

### Do Fighter Pilot or Helicopter Simulator 2026 have ads?

Both Fighter Pilot and Helicopter Simulator 2026 show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fighter Pilot or Helicopter Simulator 2026?

Fighter Pilot ships an update every 2 months, and Helicopter Simulator 2026 weekly. Most recently, Fighter Pilot was updated on October 8, 2026 and Helicopter Simulator 2026 on October 5, 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.*