# Approach Control vs Aviateur

The clearest difference is rating: Aviateur at 4.7 against Approach Control's 3.2. Aviateur also leads on review sentiment (87% vs 47%) and ratings volume (106 vs 18). Approach Control's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 15.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Approach Control sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Aviateur sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Aviateur holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aviateur has 106 ratings behind it against 18, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 47% of Approach Control's written reviews are positive against 87% of Aviateur's.

Approach Control ships an update every 2 weeks, Aviateur every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Approach Control | Aviateur |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.2 (18 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/approach-control/id590289016/reviews) | **[4.7 (106 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aviateur-flight-simulation/id6444638830/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 18 | **106** |
| Positive reviews | 46.6% of reviews | **86.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 793 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Big Fat Simulations Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/578114758) | [Rajatdeep Bakshi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1655806172) |

## 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


### Aviateur

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aviateur-flight-simulation/id6444638830)

Experience realistic flight simulation with a variety of aircraft and diverse, accurate real-world locations. Engage in air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, master challenging landings, and customize weather conditions for an immersive adventure.

**Highlights:** Multiple aircraft types, Geographically accurate locations, Air combat (WWII and Modern), Dynamic weather system, Challenging landings, Customizable flight dynamics, Day/Night cycle

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fishbed | $0.49 | one-time |
| Lightning II Carrier Variant | $0.49 | one-time |
| Blackbird | $0.49 | one-time |
| MH-6E | $0.49 | one-time |
| Mi-28N | $0.49 | one-time |
| Airbus A380 | $0.49 | one-time |
| Boeing 787 | $0.49 | one-time |
| Chinook | $0.49 | one-time |
| Concorde | $0.49 | one-time |
| Douglas DC-3 | $0.49 | one-time |
| F-16C | $0.49 | one-time |
| Extra 330sc | $0.49 | one-time |
| SU-27S | $0.49 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Amazing flight simulator experience
- 🚫 No forced ads
- 🎮 Agile interface with many controls
- ✈️ Large variety of aircraft
- 🗺️ Evocative graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Most good planes cost money
- 💸 Pay to win aspect
- 🗺️ Limited maps
- 🛬 Landing on terrain can be difficult
- 💥 Unrealistic explosions on impact

**Reported bugs**

- Plane explodes when hitting a tree
- Enemy ground units lock on from too far
- Planes cannot be unlocked (network issue)
- Cannot purchase/restore plane purchases (internet connection required)
- Sun breaks the game (makes everything pink)

**Requested features**

- Add 747 400, 747 8, 777
- Add 747
- Add 777
- Add AH64 Apache
- Add cars that drive on the streets


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Approach Control free?

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

### Is Aviateur free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Approach Control or Aviateur?

Aviateur is rated higher. Approach Control averages 3.2 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Aviateur averages 4.7 from 106 ratings.

### Do Approach Control or Aviateur have ads?

Neither Approach Control nor Aviateur shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Approach Control or Aviateur?

Approach Control ships an update every 2 weeks, and Aviateur every 2 months. Most recently, Approach Control was updated on October 10, 2026 and Aviateur on October 13, 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.*