Comparison

ATC ACADEMY vs ATC

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

Head to head
About

ATC ACADEMY

An interactive simulation app designed for aspiring air traffic controllers. It teaches fundamental communication, radar interpretation, and decision-making skills through step-by-step lessons and realistic scenarios. Prepare for ATC training with hands-on practice anytime, anywhere.

Highlights
  • Intro to ATC Basics
  • Interactive Scenarios
  • Radar Simulations
  • Advanced Options
  • Progress Tracking
Features
Read full description

ATC Academy – Air Traffic Control Simulator ATC Academy is your first step into the world of Air Traffic Control. Designed for future controllers, aviation enthusiasts, and students preparing for ATC training, this interactive app teaches the fundamentals of air traffic communication, radar interpretation, and decision-making through hands-on learning. Master the basics before entering ATC school with step-by-step lessons, live scenario simulations, and advanced practice modules that bring real-world tower and radar operations to life. Whether you are just starting out or looking to sharpen your phraseology and situational awareness, ATC Academy provides the perfect foundation for success in the skies. Learn air traffic control skills anytime, anywhere with realistic simulations and guided practice modules. Features: • Intro to ATC Basics: Learn terminology, phraseology, and procedures used by real controllers • Interactive Scenarios: Experience realistic tower and radar situations that test your skills • Radar Simulations: Track aircraft, issue clearances, and manage traffic flow • Advanced Options: Unlock complex airspace scenarios and high-traffic environments • Progress Tracking: Monitor your performance and see how you improve over time Prepare with confidence, control with precision - ATC Academy makes learning the skies simple, engaging, and authentic. Disclaimer: ATC Academy is an educational simulation app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

About

ATC

Features
Read full description

Designed For Student Pilots who are leaning to talk on the radio! ATC Trainer helps pilots practice radio communication in common towered and non-towered airport scenarios. Work through realistic ATC calls, listen to clearances out loud, and practice responding with speech. The app checks your readback and lets you know what was correct or what was missed, helping you build cleaner, more confident radio habits. Practice scenarios include ground operations, in-air instructions, and airport arrivals. You can also set your aircraft tail number and airplane make so calls are personalized to your aircraft. Features • Towered and non-towered airport scenarios • Ground, in-air, and approaching airport practice • Speech-to-text readback practice • Feedback for missing or incorrect readback items • Optional spoken ATC clearances • Custom tail number and airplane make • Voice selection support for installed iOS voices • Practice for taxi, takeoff, traffic, approach, landing, and pattern calls

Screenshots

ATC ACADEMY4 screens
ATC4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: ATC at every 4 days against ATC ACADEMY's fortnightly. ATC also leads on iOS requirement (18.6 vs 26.2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ATC ACADEMY ships an update fortnightly, ATC every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
ATC ACADEMY versus ATC: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterATC ACADEMYATC
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.218.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size704 MB1 MB
Age rating12+4+
Developerjames edwardsDaniel Moran

In-app purchases

None

ATC ACADEMY

No in-app purchases

None

ATC

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ATC ACADEMY free?
ATC ACADEMY is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ATC free?
ATC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do ATC ACADEMY or ATC have ads?
Neither ATC ACADEMY nor ATC shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ATC ACADEMY or ATC?
ATC ACADEMY ships an update fortnightly, and ATC every 4 days. Most recently, ATC ACADEMY was updated on November 5, 2026 and ATC on October 25, 2026.

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