# On Instruments vs Approach Control

The clearest difference is price: Approach Control at Free against On Instruments's $2.99. Approach Control also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). On Instruments's advantage is rating (4.4 vs 2.9) and review sentiment (75% vs 36%). On ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Approach Control is free to download; On Instruments costs $2.99 up front. Approach Control sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. On Instruments asks for nothing beyond the download.

On Instruments holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of On Instruments's written reviews are positive against 36% of Approach Control's.

On Instruments ships an update every 8 months, Approach Control every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | On Instruments | Approach Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.4 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-instruments/id907222098/reviews)** | [2.9 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/approach-control-remastered/id6756545492/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 9 | 9 |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 36.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 13 MB | 174 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aircraft Training Aids, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/692999325) | [Big Fat Simulations Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/578114758) |

## What reviewers say

### On Instruments

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/on-instruments/id907222098)

Hone your instrument flying skills with this simulator. Navigate various courses by precisely managing heading, altitude, and airspeed. Features multiple difficulty levels, including courses with instrument failures.

**Highlights:** Instrument scanning practice, Multiple course difficulties, Heading, altitude, airspeed control, Attitude Indicator failure simulation, Score maximization

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Approach Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/approach-control-remastered/id6756545492)

Experience a realistic air traffic control simulation with genuine ATC procedures and pilot voice recordings. Make critical decisions under pressure, manage traffic across 10 unique sectors, and test your skills with challenging scenarios. Includes training modules and career tracking.

**Highlights:** Realistic radar simulation, Genuine ATC procedures, Actual pilot voice recordings, 10 unique approach sectors, 10 ATC challenges, In-built training modules, Career statistics and trophy case

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Advanced | $1.99 | one-time |
| Ninja | $1.99 | one-time |
| Approach Control: Remastered | $1.99 | one-time |
| Cornered | $1.99 | one-time |
| Insanity | $1.99 | one-time |
| Windy | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pandemonium | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gridlock | $1.99 | one-time |
| Full Unlock | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is On Instruments free?

On Instruments costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Approach Control free?

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

### Which has better reviews, On Instruments or Approach Control?

On Instruments is rated higher. On Instruments averages 4.4 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Approach Control averages 2.9 from 9 ratings.

### Do On Instruments or Approach Control have ads?

Neither On Instruments nor Approach Control shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, On Instruments or Approach Control?

On Instruments ships an update every 8 months, and Approach Control every 3 weeks. Most recently, On Instruments was updated on October 6, 2026 and Approach Control on October 15, 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.*