Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Airport City Manager Simulator vs Airlines Manager

Airport City Manager Simulator 4.6★ · Free + IAP 60
Winner Airlines Manager
Airlines Manager 4.6★ · Free + IAP 70

Airlines Manager offers a more detailed and realistic simulation for aviation enthusiasts, despite some UI and ad issues, while Airport City Manager Simulator is a more casual, city-building experience that struggles with aggressive monetization and slow progression.

Full reviews: Airport City Manager Simulator · Airlines Manager

Airport City Manager Simulator focuses on city building alongside airport management, but many users find its progression too slow and monetized. Airlines Manager provides a deeper, more realistic airline simulation, though it faces complaints about its user interface and frequent ads.

Head to head

Features & Realism edge: Airlines ManagerR1R2R5R7
Airport City Manager Simulator Airport City Manager Simulator is praised for its city-building aspects and overall fun, relaxing, and engaging gameplay, appealing to avgeeks and casual players alike R2R5. However, some users desire more realistic planes, customization options like plane paint, and the ability to fly planes R20. Recent updates have been criticized for making the game less rewarding and more grind-heavy, with new star systems requiring thousands of flights R1R7.
Airlines Manager Airlines Manager is lauded for its detailed and realistic simulation, including emergencies and supply/demand mechanics, which appeals to aviation fans . Users appreciate the ability to make their own liveries, though the new in-app painter is considered worse than the old dedicated app and requires payment for more slots . There are requests for more diverse aircraft, flight path realism, and features like flight delays or stopovers . Some users also point out unrealistic airport categories and missing airports .
Ease of Use & Progression tieR1R7R9R11
Airport City Manager Simulator Airport City Manager Simulator is described as easy to learn but hard to progress without spending money R9R21. Many players report ridiculously slow progress, high costs for planes and upgrades, and a constant need for specific, hard-to-find items R11R13R21. Recent updates have made progression even slower by increasing star requirements and doubling prices R1R7.
Airlines Manager Airlines Manager has a complex interface with poor tutorials, making it difficult for new users to navigate . While some find it fast-paced and not impossible to accomplish things without paying, many reach a point where they are stuck waiting for money or needing to spend real money to advance . The game has also been criticized for paywalls on features and for removing previously free daily rewards .
Reliability & Performance tieR12R16R19R45
Airport City Manager Simulator Airport City Manager Simulator users report frequent issues with the game not loading, freezing, or getting stuck on loading screens after updates R12R16R19. Some players also experience problems with account progress not transferring or being lost R45.
Airlines Manager Airlines Manager also suffers from reliability issues, with users reporting the game freezing, losing connection, and ads causing the app to crash or get stuck in loops . There are serious complaints about lost progress, with accounts starting over or losing years of gameplay . Login errors are also reported .
Price & Value (Free + IAP) tieR3R4R6R8
Airport City Manager Simulator Airport City Manager Simulator is heavily criticized for being a 'pay to win' or 'money grab' game, with many features and progression locked behind high costs or in-app purchases R4R6R8. Ads are frequent and intrusive, sometimes covering the screen or lacking an 'X' button to close them, forcing app restarts R3R25R33R34.
Airlines Manager Airlines Manager is also criticized for its aggressive monetization, with too many ads that often lack an 'X' button, forcing users to close and restart the app . Some users feel the game has become more focused on money, with features like mass pricing moved behind paywalls . There are complaints about the cost of liveries and the need for multiple subscriptions for different game modes .
Support & Updates tieR1R36R37R55
Airport City Manager Simulator Airport City Manager Simulator users complain about a lack of meaningful updates, with some features remaining unchanged for years R1R36R37R55. Customer support is also criticized, with reports of no help for lost planes and developers blocking users for asking questions R55.
Airlines Manager Airlines Manager users report issues with customer support, stating there's no way to get help for errors, even after spending money . There are also complaints about a lack of true development, with new challenges often costing money to complete, and moderators bullying players in community channels . Users frequently request Chinese language support, indicating a lack of localization for a significant player base .
Pick Airport City Manager Simulator if

you prefer a casual city-building game with airport management elements, enjoy a relaxing experience, and are willing to tolerate slow progression or frequent in-app purchase prompts .

Pick Airlines Manager if

you are an aviation enthusiast looking for a more detailed and realistic airline management simulation, appreciate features like supply/demand mechanics and custom liveries, and can overlook a complex UI and frequent ads .

Evidence note: Both apps are free-to-play with in-app purchases, and many negative reviews for both stem from the friction of free-tier limitations, aggressive monetization, and intrusive ads. The lifetime ratings are similar, but recent reviews for both show a decline in satisfaction due to these issues.

Frequently asked

Do these games allow you to fly planes?
No, neither Airport City Manager Simulator nor Airlines Manager allows players to fly planes; they are management and simulation games focused on building and running an airport or airline R20R72.
Are there many ads in these games?
Yes, both games are heavily criticized for frequent and intrusive ads, with users reporting issues like ads covering the screen, lacking an 'X' button to close, or causing the app to crash R3R25R33R34.
Is it possible to progress without spending money?
While it is technically possible to progress without spending money in both games, users frequently report that progression becomes extremely slow and difficult, often requiring significant waiting times or making the game feel like a 'money grab' R6R8R13R21.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] Airport City Manager Simulator 2/5 · US End if an Era: I played this game for 10+ years and it’s time to hang it up. What was once a fun game to play and build has turned into a game that lacks creativity and meaningful reward. The ads are one thing but the recent switch from 3 stars per destination to 5 stars removed the sense of accomplishing something. I wish there was an upgrade that honored overflying these cities back when 3 stars
  2. [R2] Airport City Manager Simulator 5/5 · US Yall should get this game: Im an avgeek, and it can be a bit triggering seeing 747 Concorde with Boom Overture engines, but this game is a vibe, five stars
  3. [R5] Airport City Manager Simulator 5/5 · US great: Great for avgeeks, ads are optional! best. game. ever.
  4. [R7] Airport City Manager Simulator 1/5 · US Stressful.: This latest update is the final nail for me. Over the many years playing I found myself feeling accomplished fully completing a destination and earning the stars/rewards. The developers have now added two extra sets of stars, some flights requiring over 1,000 completed flights. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Just when I thought I was progressing; I find myself having to return to small or sold of
  5. [R9] Airport City Manager Simulator 3/5 · US B+: It is fun but hard to play. But that means IT NEEDS HELP!
  6. [R11] Airport City Manager Simulator 5/5 · US Great game,But: I like this game and it is pretty good I’m not gonna lie to you but sometime the things are pretty costly like repairing the planes,upgrading the runways etc, I would be really happy if you guys just kept the cost of stuff low
  7. [R12] Airport City Manager Simulator 3/5 · US Airport city: I play every day but today game is not loading
  8. [R16] Airport City Manager Simulator 2/5 · US Frozen: I used to play this game years ago and decided to give it a try again, unfortunately the game is frozen with the only button available being the settings, other than that I can’t move or touch other buttons
  9. [R19] Airport City Manager Simulator 2/5 · US Stuck loading: This is a very enjoyable game to play, but I cannot play it after the latest update. The screen stays “loading” after opening the app. Please fix this ASAP.
  10. [R45] Airport City Manager Simulator 3/5 · US My Gameplay: I can’t get my original game play using Game Center . I’m level 23+ but still it won’t allow me to get that progress please help.
  11. [R3] Airport City Manager Simulator 3/5 · US Awesome game hooked for life… but the ads: Playing this game is fun it brings back the joy of having a game that is really fun to play and this is definitely my number one favorite game to play and also make the ads for the free stuff at the end of the ad there is no x to get off the ad and get the reward and it probably is going to take me at least 100 try’s so please. Fix the glitch
  12. [R4] Airport City Manager Simulator 1/5 · US Pay to win: I am a some one with child settings and it sad I can’t play this game even though I’ve had it for 5 years that makes no sense so that means this it pay to win because like I sad if played this game before and it is child friendly but now it’s more pay to win
  13. [R6] Airport City Manager Simulator 3/5 · US Good Game: The game is fun. But you have to spend money to grow up
  14. [R8] Airport City Manager Simulator 4/5 · US Fun and Time consumer: You have to either pay right away to really advance or be okay waiting a few days before you really build up your wealth. I do like it though.
  15. [R36] Airport City Manager Simulator 3/5 · US New levels?: The last update that included new levels was in 2016. When will we see new levels?
  16. [R37] Airport City Manager Simulator 1/5 · US Terrible Game: I have been playing it for several years not sure why you never have any updates. You’re wanting us to spend money but if you’re not doing anything to do updates, why would we want to give you money terrible game I will probably soon be quitting.
  17. [R55] Airport City Manager Simulator 1/5 · US Ads & Challenges: Overall it’s a fun game. The challenges haven’t changed in at least 2 years so it’s like Groundhog Day every year. Also, there are certain ads that if you click to watch, your phone is hijacked for over 2 minutes (unless you close and restart the app). Bring back the 30 second ads!! The feedback from the developer I received on Facebook for this was: blocked me for asking this qu
  18. [R20] Airport City Manager Simulator 5/5 · US One of the best games I’ve ever had but: One of the best games I’ve ever had but I thought you could fly planes and land
  19. [R72] Airlines Manager 3/5 · US Uhh🫥🫥😐🫤: Can you fly the airplanes?please answer me.
  20. [R25] Airport City Manager Simulator 1/5 · US Too Greedy: Downloaded game about a year ago. Yes things were pricey but as updates came you had to watch a video every time you click to another screen. The prices you pay for things is outrageous compared to what you get for sending flights! Stay away from this game as all this is is a money grab! Also 2 minute ads? Ridiculous
  21. [R33] Airport City Manager Simulator 3/5 · US Ads are a time sump: Have been playing this game over 10 years and love it. I am downgrading to 2 stars though. The ad platform in the game is fecal. Spending 5 minutes of my life mashing the X or Done buttons to affirm I don’t want “Royal Match” or “Royal Kingdom” or Facebook (which I already have) is annoying. I’m happy to amend this assessment if/when it is fixed; but life is too short to s
  22. [R34] Airport City Manager Simulator 1/5 · US Fun, but…: I very rarely write reviews on games, especially 1 stars, I believe devs always have a chance to make it up, but this game is ridiculous, played for about an hour and within that time I had so many ads for in app purchases that it covered up more than half my screen. I’m uninstalling immediately, there is no reason to advertise for n app purchases, especially not on the main screen to t
  23. [R13] Airport City Manager Simulator 1/5 · US Ridiculously slow progress: Been playing for about 2 weeks and it’s become clear to me this just another money grab game, the concept and mechanics are fun, but the waiting and waiting is not for me.
  24. [R21] Airport City Manager Simulator 3/5 · US Fun game but……: A fun game to play, Easy to learn, always keeping you busy with different challenges, keeps you wanting to come back for more. But you get to a point where unless you start spending money it is almost impossible to advance. Items needed to upgrade buildings are almost impossible to find, and even after a week you cannot find what you need and have to buy it. If this was less of a m

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store