# Approach Control vs Extreme Plane Flight Simulator

The clearest difference is rating: Extreme Plane Flight Simulator at 4.2 against Approach Control's 3.2. Extreme Plane Flight Simulator also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ratings volume (923 vs 18). Approach Control's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (47% vs 38%). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Approach Control sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Extreme Plane Flight Simulator asks for nothing beyond the download.

Extreme Plane Flight Simulator holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Extreme Plane Flight Simulator has 923 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 47% of Approach Control's written reviews are positive against 38% of Extreme Plane Flight Simulator's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Approach Control | Extreme Plane Flight Simulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/approach-control/id590289016/reviews) | **[4.2 (923 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/extreme-plane-flight-simulator/id1659641123/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 18 | **923** |
| Positive reviews | **46.6% of reviews** | 37.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 26 MB | 201 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Big Fat Simulations Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/578114758) | [Ahmed Abdullah](https://appshunter.io/developer/1724958020) |

## What reviewers say

### Approach Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/approach-control/id590289016)

Experience the thrill of managing air traffic in a realistic simulation. Guide passenger jets to safe landings by controlling their heading, speed, and altitude, adhering to strict separation rules. This app offers an authentic taste of air traffic control.

**Highlights:** Realistic radar simulation, Authentic pilot voices, Manage heading, speed, and altitude, Maintain aircraft separation, Simulates final approach procedures, Earn points for efficiency

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Airport 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Airport 3 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Airport 4 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Level 5 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Level 6 | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Realistic feel
- 👍 Good for passing time
- 👍 Challenging gameplay
- 👍 Addictive
- 👍 Professional interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🐛 Game freezes
- 🐛 Does not save progress
- 🐛 Lacks realism in procedures
- 🐛 Limited space for traffic

**Reported bugs**

- Game ends without user awareness
- End game screen broken
- Try again/replay button doesn't work
- Game feels like crashing
- Game is frozen

**Requested features**

- Random VFR traffic
- Varying runway alignment
- More traffic
- Two runways or more
- Departures


### Extreme Plane Flight Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/extreme-plane-flight-simulator/id1659641123)

Experience a next-generation flight simulator with realistic 3D graphics. Take off, navigate to nearby airports, and land various airliners. Manage an aircraft fleet and encounter diverse flight situations with real-time air traffic.

**Highlights:** Realistic 3D graphics and runways, Multiple airport environments, Dozens of airliners, Thousands of flight situations, Real-time aircraft traffic, Simplified and advanced flight systems

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Interesting game concept
- 👍 Easy to control

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Misleading screenshots
- 🚨 Excessive ads
- 🔥 Poor graphics quality
- 🤔 Unresponsive controls

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes
- Coins not awarded properly

**Requested features**

- Improved graphics and realism
- More airport and plane options
- Reduced ads or ad-free version
- Free flight mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Approach Control free?

Approach Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Extreme Plane Flight Simulator free?

Extreme Plane Flight Simulator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Approach Control or Extreme Plane Flight Simulator?

Extreme Plane Flight Simulator is rated higher. Approach Control averages 3.2 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Extreme Plane Flight Simulator averages 4.2 from 923 ratings.

### Do Approach Control or Extreme Plane Flight Simulator have ads?

Extreme Plane Flight Simulator shows ads; Approach Control does not.

### Which is updated more often, Approach Control or Extreme Plane Flight Simulator?

Approach Control ships an update every 2 weeks, and Extreme Plane Flight Simulator every 2 weeks. Most recently, Approach Control was updated on October 23, 2026 and Extreme Plane Flight Simulator on October 21, 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.*