Comparison

Tower Drill vs ATM Academy

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

Head to head
About

Tower Drill

Practice aviation radio communications with realistic ATC instructions. This app helps student pilots overcome mic fright through repeatable drills and structured lessons, offering different practice modes and an optional on-device AI for enhanced training.

Highlights
  • Realistic ATC instruction practice
  • Push-to-talk and readback scoring
  • Multiple practice modes (Training, Coached, Solo)
  • 15 structured lessons and 78 drills
  • On-device AI for varied phrasing
  • Aircraft placard for reference
  • Privacy-focused design
Features
Read full description

Tower Drill helps US student pilots practice ATC out loud before the next flight lesson. If radio calls make you tense, Tower Drill gives you a private place to rehearse. Hear a simulated controller, answer with push-to-talk, and get focused feedback on the runway, frequency, altitude, squawk code, hold-short instruction, and other details that matter. Tower Drill does not stream live ATC or issue operational clearances. START WITH THE HELP YOU NEED • Listen & Shadow lets you hear both sides and repeat without a score. • Training explains the call and shows the expected response. • Coached gives you key items when you need a prompt. • Solo removes the hints when you are ready to test yourself. PRACTICE AT YOUR HOME AIRPORT Choose from 577 US-towered practice airports, based on FAA data. Scenarios use runway and frequency references for the field you select, along with your aircraft details. Airport data is for training only; always verify current official sources before flight. PREPARE FOR FLIGHT DAY Check current weather and official airport sources, choose the operation you expect to fly, then rehearse its radio sequence as a clearly labeled simulation. REVIEW WHAT YOU ACTUALLY SAID • Tape Review replays recent transmissions beside the expected readback. • Practice My Misses builds a short session around weak details. • Taxi Trainer reinforces route order, runway crossings, and hold-short restrictions. • Radio Skills and ACS Readiness show the areas you have practiced. • A CFI-ready PDF summarizes progress for your instructor. 18 LESSONS, 96 SPOKEN DRILLS Practice phonetics, aviation numbers, first contact, ATIS, taxi, takeoff, pattern work, flight following, Class B and C transitions, IFR clearances, approach calls, holds, CTAF operations, and abnormal situations. Details change between sessions so you learn the structure instead of memorizing one script. FREE TO START The first 5 lessons and 24 drills are free. A one-time $8.99 Pro purchase unlocks the complete course, all 577 practice airports, Flight Day mission rehearsal, Radio Checkride, Commute Mode, and the CFI report. No subscription. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account, ads, analytics, or tracking. Speech evaluation happens on device. Practice recordings and transcripts stay on your device. Optional Apple Intelligence features use Apple's on-device system language model on supported devices; core guided lessons do not require it. Tower Drill is an educational practice aid, not a substitute for a flight instructor, current charts and publications, regulations, or real ATC instructions.

About

ATM Academy

Features
Read full description

ATM Academy is an educational aviation app designed to help students, aviation enthusiasts, and future air traffic controllers learn the fundamentals of Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Air Traffic Control (ATC). The app combines structured lessons, quizzes, radar-style simulation, and operational concepts into an interactive learning experience. Topics include: • Air traffic control basics • Flight phases and procedures • ATC phraseology • Separation and conflict awareness • Tower, approach, and en-route operations • Runway safety • Radar simulation exercises • Future ATM automation concepts Features: • Beginner to advanced ATM lessons • Interactive quiz system • Radar-style training simulation • Scenario-based learning • Clean dark aviation-inspired interface • Multilingual support This app is for educational and training purposes only. It is not connected to real-world aviation systems and must not be used for operational air traffic control.

Screenshots

Tower Drill4 screens
ATM Academy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ATM Academy at none against Tower Drill's 1. ATM Academy also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads 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. Tower Drill sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ATM Academy asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Tower Drill ships an update monthly, ATM Academy every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Tower Drill versus ATM Academy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTower DrillATM Academy
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTXN LLCYANTAO ZHAO

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Tower Drill

One-time1
  • Tower Drill Pro$8.99
None

ATM Academy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tower Drill free?
Tower Drill is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ATM Academy free?
ATM Academy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Tower Drill or ATM Academy have ads?
Neither Tower Drill nor ATM Academy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tower Drill or ATM Academy?
Tower Drill ships an update monthly, and ATM Academy every 5 days. Most recently, Tower Drill was updated on October 24, 2026 and ATM Academy on October 25, 2026.

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