BLADE vs HeliNY
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BLADE
Experience faster and more convenient travel by booking seats on helicopters, seaplanes, or jets. Access exclusive events, bypass traffic, and enjoy private charters for a premium travel experience. Includes a dedicated car service for seamless last-mile transportation.
- Airport transfers in 5 minutes
- Weekend and holiday getaways
- Access to special events
- On-demand private charters
- Black Car Service
- Private BLADE Lounges
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Fly in ways you never thought possible. Save time, see more, and arrive better. - Fly to or from the airport. BLADE helicopters will get you there in 5 minutes, all day long, from $195. - Get away for the weekend or holiday. BLADE transportation is a highlight—book seats in helicopters, seaplanes, or jets to your destination. - Access special events or concerts. Land directly on property at music festivals, sporting events, ski slopes, and more. - Fly private. A fleet of BLADE jets, helicopters, turboprops, and seaplanes are available on-demand for charters and crowdsourcing. - Get there with BLADE Black Car Service. Our last-mile car service provides uniformity in high-end vehicles, driver training, expedited routes (including police escorts when needed), as well as industry leading health and safety protocols. - Enjoy a network of private BLADE Lounges before and after your trip. - No membership fees, ever. Download the BLADE app and fly the future today. ------------ BLADE Urban Air Mobility, Inc. (“BLADE”) is an air charter broker and indirect air carrier, not a direct air carrier, and does not have operational authority of aircraft. All flights are operated by DOT/FAA licensed direct air carriers. For select routes, BLADE acts as an indirect air carrier in accordance with 14 CFR Part 380. Please refer to BLADE’s Operator-Participant Agreement at https://www.blade.com for details
HeliNY
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HeliNY is one of New York City’s most established, largest, and successful premier helicopter sightseeing tour companies. We have been operating helicopter tours since 1994, with one of the largest fleets of Bell helicopters, highly skilled experienced pilots, and a highly dedicated staff. We provide the best, most thrilling, and safest helicopter flight experience to our customers without compromise. In addition to our New York City sightseeing tours, HeliNY provides: Custom Charter Services – for privately chartered flights Specialized Destination Tours – providing specialized destination experiences Medical Logistics and Organ Transport – (FAA Approval Pending) Bespoke Commercial Services – a variety of commercial helicopter services. HeliNY operates services from two primary locations – The Downtown Manhattan Heliport (NYC) and Linden Municipal Airport (Linden, NJ). Our sightseeing tours provide an exciting and exhilarating experience while relaxing in spacious cabins with unparalleled views. HeliNY has flown 15,000 flights and serviced over 78,000 customers annually, all in a comfortable modern aircraft with extended high-visibility windows and Bose noise-cancelling headsets – at the most competitive prices. We fly over 200 tours weekly, 7 days a week at several locations throughout the year. Our tour and other flight services are provided by a pilot crew that has over 80,000 hours of combined flying experience, providing best-in-class service and experience in the industry. Our charter flights provide a safe and faster transportation alternative for our clients to reach their destinations by significantly reducing travel times. We provide custom charters, catering to our clients’ busy schedules and need for short travel and convenience, during highly congested periods.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: HeliNY at 13.0 against BLADE's 15.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BLADE ships an update every 2 months, HeliNY monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BLADE | HeliNY |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (17 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 74.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 17 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 164 MB | 132 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Fly Blade, LLC. | Hornblower Cruises & Events |
Bugs and requests
BLADE
Reported bugs
7 issues- App is buggy
- Booked wrong dates
- App not compatible with newer phones
- App forces login every time
- App is not native
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- App UI is pathetic
- App crashes device
Requested features
5 requests- Fewer clicks on the app
- Auto-apply credits/returns
- More upfront marketing about costs
- Improve app UI/UX
- Remember login details
HeliNY
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
BLADE
No in-app purchases
HeliNY
No in-app purchases









