# Hello Tower vs The Airline Simulator

The clearest difference is price: The Airline Simulator at Free against Hello Tower's $2.99. The Airline Simulator also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (90% vs 71%). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

The Airline Simulator is free to download; Hello Tower costs $2.99 up front. Hello Tower sells 4 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.

The Airline Simulator holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Airline Simulator has 968 ratings behind it against 66, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Hello Tower's written reviews are positive against 90% of The Airline Simulator's.

Hello Tower ships an update every 9 days, The Airline Simulator every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hello Tower | The Airline Simulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.4 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hello-tower/id1572719445/reviews) | **[4.7 (968 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-airline-simulator/id6741754157/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 66 | **968** |
| Positive reviews | 70.7% of reviews | **90.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 412 MB | 180 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sascha Trachsel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1572719447) | [HyungMoon Ko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1685531059) |

## What reviewers say

### Hello Tower

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hello-tower/id1572719445)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hello Tower Test | $0.99 | one-time |
| Airport Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sandbox test | $0.99 | one-time |
| Airport Pack | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Realistic simulation
- 👍 Challenging gameplay
- 👍 Good graphics
- 👍 No ads
- 👍 Addictive and fun

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🐛 Unintuitive UI
- 🐛 Steep learning curve
- 🐛 Frequent game over on small mistakes
- 🐛 Lack of tutorial

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### 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 Hello Tower free?

Hello Tower costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is The Airline Simulator free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hello Tower or The Airline Simulator?

The Airline Simulator is rated higher. Hello Tower averages 4.4 out of 5 from 66 ratings, while The Airline Simulator averages 4.7 from 968 ratings.

### Do Hello Tower or The Airline Simulator have ads?

Neither Hello Tower nor The Airline Simulator shows ads.

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

Hello Tower ships an update every 9 days, and The Airline Simulator every 4 days. Most recently, Hello Tower was updated on October 25, 2026 and The Airline Simulator on October 26, 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.*