Comparison

Absolute RC Plane Simulator vs RC Plane Explorer

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

Head to head
About

Absolute RC Plane Simulator

Master the skies with a realistic flight simulator for radio-controlled aircraft. Practice maneuvers and improve your flying skills without the risk of costly crashes. Enjoy a variety of models and environments, with options to expand your collection.

Highlights
  • Realistic RC plane physics
  • Learn to fly RC models
  • Improve flying skills
  • Variety of included models
  • Multiple landscape environments
  • Option to purchase extra models
  • Includes bonus helicopters, boats, and cars
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

This Professional RC Simulator is a must have for anyone flying RC. The models fly like real RC planes, and can be used to learn to fly and to improve your flying. A lot of fun for not much money! Any plane crash cost many times more, and you will be able to fly in the sim no matter what is the weather outside! Get 12 models and 3 landscapes with this value pack edition of our Absolute RC Plane Sim, for big savings compared to buying them one by one. In addition to the included content, you can still buy extra models if needed. As free bonus, we added free helicopters, RC boats and RC cars. The following models are included: Planes: Advantage (Trainer) Aquila Low Wing Sport Model AT-6 Harvard (Low Wing Intermediate) P-51 Mustang (War bird scale - Intermediate-Advanced) A-10 Warthog (Electric fan scale - Advanced) Helicopter and Drones: Model CX Coaxial Helicopter Bell 47 Scale Model Racing Drone Quadcopter Boats and Cars Rebel Boat Easy Cat Catamaran Rage 2WD Car Lego Car Included free landscapes in this version: : Osage Park Tangamanga Island Fliers Please try our full featured professional RC flight simulator ClearView for PC here: http://rcflightsim.com - see the video of ClearView bellow. Notes: 1. This is not a game. You are controlling flying RC models that reacts like real flying models. It takes some time to learn, and again, do not expect "arcade" style controls. 2. The onscreen control sticks are just indicators! They are made small so they do not obscure the screen. *** You do not need to keep your fingers on them *** Sliding your finger anywhere on the right screen half affects the right control stick , the same for the left screen part - sliding finger there moves the left control stick. We suggest selecting beginner settings at first few days before you can comfortably progress further. 3. iPad 1 users should not purchase extra landscapes, due to lack of memory. Getting extra planes is OK.

About

RC Plane Explorer

Explore vast, procedurally generated landscapes with realistic RC plane physics. Discover hidden secrets, collect coins, and document your adventures with a new photo mode. Enjoy a vast selection of aircraft and dynamic environmental conditions.

Highlights
  • Realistic RC plane physics
  • Procedural terrain engine
  • Vast explorable scenarios
  • Real-time day/night cycle
  • Customizable wind and thermals
  • Photo Studio mode
  • Test planes with reward videos
Features
Read full description

From the creators of the RC Plane and Heli series, RC Plane Explorer brings : Realistic RC Plane physics, huge scenarios (8X8 Kms) to explore and generate, a vast selection of planes and quadcopters, realtime day/night cycle, customisable wind and thermal currents simulation, and graphics pushing the limits of iOS devices are the signature elements of RC Plane Explorer ! Built over the solid physics simulation of RC Plane 3, and sharing all vehicles with it, RC Plane Explorer introduces a whole new and fully custom procedural terrain engine allowing virtually infinite scenarios for you explore and customise. Free Flight and exploration are the core elements of the gameplay, and while more adrenalinic game modes will come in the near future, RC Plane Explorer already rewards players with score for the each area of the map he explores, each animal species he discovers (tap on an animal to “discover it”) and each “secret coin” he collects (a few will be hidden in each scenario you generate). Large score bonuses will be granted for competition of some exploration aspects (EX: reveal 100% of the map, discover all animal species etc) . Scenarios are fully procedural and biome based with more biomes coming in the future. One of the many goals of this project was to reduce the very large download and install size of RC Plane 3, and we are happy to say that RC Plane Explorer is less than 1/5 the download and install size of RC Plane 3, while bringing larger scenarios to fly over, more animals, more biomes , denser vegetation and a much better performances. We have been working on, thinking about, planning and finally implementing our new Scenario/Terrain engine since quite a few years, and while already impressive, we have many plans to extend and improve it in the future, so expect a constant stream of improvements both in current biomes and in future ones. Debuting in RC Plane Explorer, and suggested by many users, is the possibility to “test” a plane without the need to purchase it, as long as “reward videos” will be available you will will be able to try all planes that previously required an in-app purchase. Now with "Photo Studio" mode: freeze time, tweak camera settings, customise effects and save or share gorgeous high rest screenshots of your flight adventures ! *** We hope you will enjoy RC Plane Explorer, and please don’t be shy, we immensely appreciate any suggestion, feedback, comment, idea, bug report, critic etc… email us RCPExplorer@frozenpepper.it, contact us on our Facebook page (FrozenPepper), Twitter (FrozenPepper), via the comments on our website or any other way you prefer.

Screenshots

Absolute RC Plane Simulator4 screens
RC Plane Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RC Plane Explorer at Free against Absolute RC Plane Simulator's $2.99. RC Plane Explorer also leads on update cadence (every 10 days vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). Absolute RC Plane Simulator's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 3.9) and review sentiment (54% vs 40%). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

RC Plane Explorer is free to download; Absolute RC Plane Simulator costs $2.99 up front. Absolute RC Plane Simulator sells 12 one-off in-app purchases and RC Plane Explorer sells 20 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Absolute RC Plane Simulator holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 122 and 57 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Absolute RC Plane Simulator's written reviews are positive against 40% of RC Plane Explorer's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Absolute RC Plane Simulator ships an update every 6 weeks, RC Plane Explorer every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Absolute RC Plane Simulator versus RC Plane Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAbsolute RC Plane SimulatorRC Plane Explorer
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (122 ratings) — better3.9 (57 ratings)
Positive reviews53.6% of reviews — better40.0% of reviews
Number of ratings122 — better57
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#144 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size174 MB383 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHappy Bytes LLCFrozenPepper

Customer experience

Absolute RC Plane Simulator

All ratings122 ratings
Positive87.7%
Neutral4.1%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews179 reviews
Positive53.6%
Neutral14.5%
Negative31.8%

RC Plane Explorer

All ratings57 ratings
Positive70.2%
Neutral10.5%
Negative19.3%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative56.0%

Bugs and requests

Absolute RC Plane Simulator

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • Planes disappear after update
  • Undercarriage issues
  • F-15 model broken
  • Trim/CG problems
Show 1 more
  • Herky jerky performance

Requested features

11 requests
  • More planes
  • More fields/scenery
  • Flaps
  • Retractable landing gear
  • More nitro planes
Show 6 more
  • Customizable controls
  • Adjustable trim
  • Ability to see/move camera view
  • Plane breakup on crash
  • Multiplayer mode
  • FPV mode

RC Plane Explorer

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

Absolute RC Plane Simulator

One-time12
  • Vacca Valley RC Club$2.99
  • Sky Surfer$2.99
  • Piper Cub$2.99
Show 9 more
  • AH-64 Apache$2.99
  • Cesna Skyline$2.99
  • Montana 3D$2.99
  • Frendly Rigger$2.99
  • Airbus A380 EDF$2.99
  • F15 Eagle$2.99
  • B-25 Mitchell$2.99
  • P-38 Lighting$2.99
  • F16 Thunderbird$2.99
20 purchases

RC Plane Explorer

One-time20
  • F 181 - Carrier King$0.99
  • Red Baron$0.99
  • CP-350$0.99
Show 17 more
  • Mountain Biome$0.99
  • Airbus$1.99
  • DroneGP GameMode$1.99
  • EDF Sparrow$1.99
  • F-53B$1.99
  • Firefighter bundle$1.99
  • Flying Dorito$1.99
  • Stealth$1.99
  • Canyon Biome$1.99
  • Tropical Biome$1.99
  • Concorde$1.99
  • C-310$1.99
  • F 141 - Combo$2.99
  • Flying Fortress$2.99
  • Warbirds Bundle$2.99
  • Stunt Pack$2.99
  • Ventus Glider$3.99

Questions

Is Absolute RC Plane Simulator free?
Absolute RC Plane Simulator costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is RC Plane Explorer free?
RC Plane Explorer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Absolute RC Plane Simulator or RC Plane Explorer?
Absolute RC Plane Simulator is rated higher. Absolute RC Plane Simulator averages 4.5 out of 5 from 122 ratings, while RC Plane Explorer averages 3.9 from 57 ratings.
Do Absolute RC Plane Simulator or RC Plane Explorer have ads?
Neither Absolute RC Plane Simulator nor RC Plane Explorer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Absolute RC Plane Simulator or RC Plane Explorer?
Absolute RC Plane Simulator ships an update every 6 weeks, and RC Plane Explorer every 10 days. Most recently, Absolute RC Plane Simulator was updated on October 17, 2026 and RC Plane Explorer on October 13, 2026.

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