# Absolute RC Simulator vs Helicopter Simulator 2018

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Absolute RC Simulator at 75% against Helicopter Simulator 2018's 16%. Absolute RC Simulator also leads on rating (4.5 vs 1.7) and update cadence (monthly vs every 34 months). Helicopter Simulator 2018's advantage is 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. Absolute RC Simulator sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Helicopter Simulator 2018 sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Absolute RC Simulator holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Absolute RC Simulator has 5.4K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Absolute RC Simulator's written reviews are positive against 16% of Helicopter Simulator 2018's.

Absolute RC Simulator ships an update monthly, Helicopter Simulator 2018 every 34 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Absolute RC Simulator | Helicopter Simulator 2018 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (5.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/absolute-rc-simulator/id534915930/reviews)** | [1.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helicopter-simulator-2018/id1264817328/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5.4K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | **75.2% of reviews** | 16.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 34 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 150 MB | 318 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Happy Bytes LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/509114226) | [Thetis Consulting](https://appshunter.io/developer/339173067) |

## What reviewers say

### Absolute RC Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/absolute-rc-simulator/id534915930)

Master RC flying with a realistic simulator. Practice with a wide variety of planes, helicopters, drones, boats, and cars without the risk of damaging real models. Save money and frustration while learning to fly in any weather.

**Highlights:** Realistic RC model behavior, Wide range of RC planes and helicopters, Includes RC boats and cars, Interactive landing objects, Multiple camera views, Intelligent Auto Pilot

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tangamanga | $2.99 | one-time |
| A10 Warthog | $2.99 | one-time |
| P51 Mustang | $2.99 | one-time |
| AH-64 Apache | $2.99 | one-time |
| Friendly Rigger | $2.99 | one-time |
| Airbus A380 EDF | $2.99 | one-time |
| F15 Eagle | $2.99 | one-time |
| F16 Thunderbird | $2.99 | one-time |
| Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet | $2.99 | one-time |
| All Plane Models | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Realistic simulation
- 🚀 Accurate flight dynamics
- 👍 Great for learning RC flying
- 👍 Smooth controls
- 👍 Variety of vehicles (planes, helicopters, cars, boats)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Many vehicles/planes require purchase
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🔍 Limited free content
- 🔍 Lack of free planes/vehicles
- 📢 Frequent ads

**Reported bugs**

- Restore purchases not working
- Glitches with certain plane models
- Inconsistent control responsiveness

**Requested features**

- More free planes and vehicles
- Ability to earn planes/vehicles through gameplay
- Multiplayer mode
- More varied environments and maps
- Improved graphics and physics


### Helicopter Simulator 2018

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/helicopter-simulator-2018/id1264817328)

Experience realistic helicopter flight with detailed 3D models and over 360 missions. Create your own flight plans, choose weather conditions, and fly through diverse cities. Master takeoff, landing, and complex maneuvers in this immersive simulator.

**Highlights:** Realistic helicopter controls, Detailed 3D helicopter and airport models, Over 360 created missions, Flight planner for custom missions, Dynamic weather and day/night cycles, Multiple camera views

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Restore Fuel | $1.99 | one-time |
| Premium Club | $2.99 | one-time |
| Trump Sikorsky S-76 | $2.99 | one-time |
| U.F.O. | $2.99 | one-time |
| Boeing AH-64 Apache | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bell 206 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bell 222 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sikorsky MH-53 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bell UH-1 Iroquois | $4.99 | one-time |
| Bell 407 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Boeing CH-47 Chinook | $9.99 | one-time |
| WingFoot Blimp | $9.99 | one-time |
| Unlocks all helicopters! | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Helicopter glitch to get free helicopters
- 👍 Good game, needs more free helicopters

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Difficult to control helicopters
- 🔒 Most helicopters are locked behind paywalls
- 🔋 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 👎 Poor graphics and unrealistic flight dynamics
- 👎 Lack of tutorial or instructions on how to play

**Reported bugs**

- Helicopters flying erratically or crashing on takeoff
- Inability to see altitude and speed information
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Glitches with purchased helicopters not working properly

**Requested features**

- More free helicopters to unlock
- Improved flight controls and responsiveness
- Better graphics and realistic environments
- In-depth tutorial for new players
- Ability to customize camera views


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Absolute RC Simulator free?

Absolute RC Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Helicopter Simulator 2018 free?

Helicopter Simulator 2018 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Absolute RC Simulator or Helicopter Simulator 2018?

Absolute RC Simulator is rated higher. Absolute RC Simulator averages 4.5 out of 5 from 5.4K ratings, while Helicopter Simulator 2018 averages 1.7 from 6 ratings.

### Do Absolute RC Simulator or Helicopter Simulator 2018 have ads?

Both Absolute RC Simulator and Helicopter Simulator 2018 show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Absolute RC Simulator or Helicopter Simulator 2018?

Absolute RC Simulator ships an update monthly, and Helicopter Simulator 2018 every 34 months. Most recently, Absolute RC Simulator was updated on October 16, 2026 and Helicopter Simulator 2018 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.*