Comparison

Command The Stack vs Air Combat Online

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Command The Stack

Engage in a real-world strategy game where you command three distinct aircraft stacks to achieve mission success. Gather intelligence, neutralize threats, and deliver aid in a sprawling single-player campaign. Discover unique aircraft capabilities and enhance your aviation knowledge.

Highlights
  • Command three aircraft stacks
  • Single-player campaign story
  • Real-world strategy gameplay
  • Discover aircraft capabilities
  • Learn about Air Force roles
Features
Read full description

Every mission in the Air Force takes a team. The Stack is a real-world strategy: Airmen in the top, middle and bottom stacks work together to gather intelligence, neutralize enemies, deliver aid and ultimately achieve mission success. Command all three stacks in a sprawling single-player campaign story. As you play, discover more about each aircraft's unique capabilities. Strengthen your aviation knowledge and Command The Stack today. Learn more about what Airmen in the Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve do every day.

About

Air Combat Online

Engage in thrilling 4v4 aerial combat with modern jet fighters. Experience intense dogfights, various game modes, and customize your aircraft with extensive upgrade systems and weaponry. Compete with friends or solo in this high-flying adventure.

Highlights
  • 4v4 modern jet fighter combat
  • Multiple game modes (Ranked, Event, Group, Single Player)
  • Over 100 customizable aircraft
  • Extensive tech tree and equipment upgrades
  • Arsenal of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles
  • Intuitive controls and maneuvers
Features
Read full description

Immerse yourself in the exhilarating world of air combat and become the ace fighter in this extraordinary game that combines the thrill of dogfight and WW2 plane games. Get ready for an epic air war in Metalstorm style and unleash your skills in this high-flying adventure. Prepare for intense dogfights, showcase your aerial prowess, and join the ranks of the sky warriors! Engage in various thrilling game modes: - Ranked Match: Engage in fast-paced 4v4 Team Death Match, intense 2v2 Duels, or challenging 1v1 Solo battles against friends and foes alike. - Event Mode: Choose from cooperative and competitive modes such as Free For All, Last Man Standing, Last Team Standing, Capture the Flag, and Defend the Base. - Group Battle: Invite your friends to join you online and train together to become master pilots, showcasing your skills against players from around the world. - Single Player Mode: Embark on an unrivaled collection of dogfight missions, including Death Match, Bonus Hunt, Devil Regiment Challenge, Cannon Only, and Duel! Highlighted Features: - New Event: Participate in exciting seasonal events to unlock exclusive and rewarding content. - Friend System: Invite and add friends within the game, team up with them to partake in thrilling online battles. - Upgraded Team System: Join a team and compete for glory on the Top Team leaderboard. - Impressive Aircraft Fleets: Choose from a vast selection of over 100 fighters, each based on real modern prototyped aircraft, for adrenaline-pumping dogfights. - Extensive Tech Tree: Explore a deep and unique upgradable tech system for each aircraft, enhancing your skills and capabilities. - Customized Equipment System: Enhance your combat power by equipping advanced wings, engines, armor, and radar. - Arsenal of Weapons: Arm your aircraft with powerful air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and cannons for peak performance. Use flares to decoy enemy fire. - Personalized Paintings: Stand out in the sky with famous airshow paintings and unique seasonal paintings, giving you a competitive edge. - Graphics Selection: Tailor the game's graphics settings to optimize performance on your device. - Intuitive Maneuvers: Execute thrilling barrel rolls and backflips by swiping in different directions to evade enemy fire. - Smooth Controls: Enjoy easy and responsive controls by customizing the accelerometer or virtual pad to your preference.

Screenshots

Command The Stack4 screens
Air Combat Online4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Air Combat Online at 4.7 against Command The Stack's 3.9. Air Combat Online also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (62% vs 50%). Command The Stack's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 24). On price, update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Air Combat Online sells 24 one-off in-app purchases. Command The Stack asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Air Combat Online holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Air Combat Online has 404 ratings behind it against 68, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Command The Stack's written reviews are positive against 62% of Air Combat Online's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Command The Stack ships an update every 5 months, Air Combat Online every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Command The Stack versus Air Combat Online: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCommand The StackAir Combat Online
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (68 ratings)4.7 (404 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews61.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings68404 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 6 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size781 MB1.4 GB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperHQ United States Air Force Recruiting ServiceVOLV LLC

Customer experience

Command The Stack

All ratings65 ratings
Positive73.8%
Neutral1.5%
Negative24.6%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative45.0%

Air Combat Online

All ratings404 ratings
Positive93.1%
Neutral3.0%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews39 reviews
Positive61.5%
Neutral7.7%
Negative30.8%

Bugs and requests

Command The Stack

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Air Combat Online

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Cannot log in to account
  • Account suspended for alleged item duplication due to app bugs
  • App disappeared from App Store previously
  • Monthly/season card items not compensated after previous bug
  • Double billing for season card, no response from support
Show 5 more
  • Items taken away after refund for double billing
  • Game full of mods and hackers
  • Cannot register an account or play as guest
  • Connection issues during ranked matches
  • WiFi connection causes ping to jump

Requested features

8 requests
  • Add a bombing mission mode
  • Support for controllers
  • Add new Mirage aircraft variants
  • Allow solo play for campaign missions
  • Make legendary planes easier to acquire
Show 3 more
  • Customization options for planes (paint jobs, etc.)
  • Allow name changes after errors
  • Superpower airplanes

In-app purchases

None

Command The Stack

No in-app purchases

24 purchases

Air Combat Online

One-time24
  • Bonus Weekly Card$0.99
  • Bonus Open Ticket$0.99
  • Handful of Diamonds$0.99
Show 21 more
  • Daily Special$0.99
  • Festival Energy Pack 1$1.99
  • Daily Growth Package$1.99
  • Survival challenge advanced manual$2.99
  • Weekend Special 2$2.99
  • Monthly diamond card$2.99
  • Daily Selection$3.99
  • Weekend Special 5$4.99
  • Festival Selection$4.99
  • A pile of friendship coin$4.99
  • Festival Energy Pack 3$4.99
  • Pile of Diamonds$4.99
  • Ace Treasure$4.99
  • Festival Energy Pack 4$9.99
  • Weekend Special 7$9.99
  • Bag of Diamonds$9.99
  • Quarterly card$9.99
  • Festival Promotion$19.99
  • Box of Diamonds$19.99
  • Crate of Diamonds$49.99
  • Container of Diamonds$99.99

Questions

Is Command The Stack free?
Command The Stack is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Air Combat Online free?
Air Combat Online is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Command The Stack or Air Combat Online?
Air Combat Online is rated higher. Command The Stack averages 3.9 out of 5 from 68 ratings, while Air Combat Online averages 4.7 from 404 ratings.
Do Command The Stack or Air Combat Online have ads?
Command The Stack shows ads; Air Combat Online does not.
Which is updated more often, Command The Stack or Air Combat Online?
Command The Stack ships an update every 5 months, and Air Combat Online every 6 months. Most recently, Command The Stack was updated on September 28, 2026 and Air Combat Online on October 1, 2026.

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