# Balloon Map Pilot vs Hot Air Crew

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hot Air Crew at none against Balloon Map Pilot's 3. Balloon Map Pilot's advantage is iOS requirement (8.2 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Balloon Map Pilot sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Hot Air Crew asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Balloon Map Pilot | Hot Air Crew |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hot-air-crew/id6478820054/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **2** |
| Positive reviews | 14.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 20 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.2** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andreas Schneider](https://appshunter.io/developer/375660826) | [Cato Technologies LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1725441929) |

## What reviewers say

### Balloon Map Pilot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/balloon-map-pilot/id447316356)

This application transmits a hot air balloon's current location to a central system, keeping chasers informed. It provides real-time tracking for balloon flights. Continued GPS use may impact battery life.

**Highlights:** Real-time balloon location transmission, Chaser information updates, Balloon Map system integration, Pilot tracking functionality

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 7 days | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1 month | $16.99 | one-time |
| 1 year | $99.99 | one-time |


### Hot Air Crew

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hot-air-crew/id6478820054)

This app connects hot air balloon pilots and crews with real-time location tracking and essential flight data. It enhances communication and coordination for a safer, more enjoyable adventure, allowing users to explore new horizons together.

**Highlights:** Live location sharing, Real-time flight data, Pilot live data screen, Crew and pilot collaboration, Explore new launch sites

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Balloon Map Pilot free?

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

### Is Hot Air Crew free?

Hot Air Crew is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Balloon Map Pilot or Hot Air Crew have ads?

Neither Balloon Map Pilot nor Hot Air Crew shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Balloon Map Pilot or Hot Air Crew?

Balloon Map Pilot ships an update every 2 months, and Hot Air Crew every 2 months. Most recently, Balloon Map Pilot was updated on October 30, 2026 and Hot Air Crew on October 24, 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.*