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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Airlines Manager vs Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc.

Airlines Manager 4.6★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Airlines Manager
Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. 4.7★ · Free + IAP 55

Airlines Manager is better for players seeking a complex, realistic airline simulation, while Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. is for those who prefer a simple, casual idle game despite its aggressive ad monetization.

Airlines Manager offers a detailed and realistic airline management simulation, appealing to players who enjoy strategic depth and complex gameplay, though it suffers from bugs and a steep learning curve. Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. provides a simple, addictive idle merging experience, but its user experience is heavily marred by an overwhelming number of ads and aggressive in-app purchase prompts.

Head to head

Features & Gameplay edge: Airlines ManagerR1R5R6R23
Airlines Manager Airlines Manager offers a detailed simulation with realistic supply/demand, emergencies, and the ability to create custom liveries R5R50. Players appreciate the depth, including managing routes, aircraft types, and hubs R5R47. However, some find the game too complex, grindy, or lacking certain realistic elements like flight paths or specific aircraft models R1R6R23.
Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. is praised for its simple, addictive merge gameplay where users combine planes to create higher-level ones . It's considered a relaxing idle game . However, some users report issues with progression, such as planes making less money at higher levels or the score stopping entirely after filling slots .
Ease of Use & User Interface tieR1R17R20R37
Airlines Manager Users find Airlines Manager's interface complex and tutorials poor, making it difficult to learn R1R17. Some menus are confusing, requiring trial and error to understand R17. There are also requests for better language support, specifically Chinese R20R37.
Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. is generally considered easy to play due to its idle nature . However, the user experience is severely hampered by aggressive pop-ups and ads that block the gameplay area R73R91.
Reliability & Bugs tieR2R4R7R13
Airlines Manager Airlines Manager has frequent bug reports, including routes showing zero profit, demand glitches, freezing, and ads lacking an 'X' button R2. Some users experience login errors, account resets, or loss of progress R4R7R13R38.
Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. also has reliability issues, with users reporting servers being down, ads not delivering promised rewards (like free planes), and earnings not being credited .
Price & Value (Free vs. Paid) edge: Airlines ManagerR9R16R18R25
Airlines Manager Airlines Manager is free with in-app purchases and an 'AM Gold' membership R9. Users complain about excessive ads, especially for basic actions, and paywalls on features that were previously free, like livery slots R9R16R18. Some feel the game has become more 'pay to win' R25.
Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. is free with IAP, but users are highly critical of its aggressive monetization tactics. There are constant pop-ups for overpriced items, misleading discounts, and an overwhelming number of ads that disrupt gameplay R63R73. Some users who purchased packages to remove ads felt no difference R63. There are also reports of being scammed for higher amounts than advertised for IAPs .
Support & Community tieR10R34R85
Airlines Manager Airlines Manager users report a lack of support, especially during limited-time events with errors R10. There are also complaints about moderators bullying players in their Discord server R34.
Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. users report unresponsiveness from support, particularly regarding membership benefits not working or issues with earnings R85.
Pick Airlines Manager if

Pick Airlines Manager if you want a deep, complex airline management simulation with realistic elements and strategic depth, and you are willing to navigate a somewhat complex interface and occasional bugs R5R17R47.

Pick Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. if

Pick Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. if you are looking for a simple, casual, and addictive idle game for short bursts of play, and you can tolerate a very high volume of ads and aggressive in-app purchase prompts R91.

Evidence note: Airlines Manager has a higher volume of detailed reviews discussing gameplay mechanics, bugs, and monetization, while Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. reviews are often short, enthusiastic, or intensely focused on the pervasive ad problem.

Frequently asked

Does Airlines Manager offer a realistic simulation experience?
Yes, Airlines Manager aims for realism by simulating details like emergencies, supply/demand, and various aircraft types, though some users desire even more realistic flight paths and airport categories R5R6R23R47.
Are there many ads in Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc.?
Yes, Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. is heavily criticized for an overwhelming number of ads and aggressive pop-ups that frequently interrupt gameplay and block the screen, even for users who purchase packages to reduce them R63R73R89R91.
Can I customize aircraft liveries in Airlines Manager?
Yes, Airlines Manager allows users to create their own liveries and apply them to aircraft, which is a highly appreciated feature, though recent changes have made the new built-in painter worse and added paywalls for livery slots R3R15R16R50.
Do either of these games have issues with losing progress or account problems?
Both games have reports of account issues; Airlines Manager users mention accounts starting over, login errors, and deleted progress R4R7R13R38, while Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. users report server issues and an inability to log in .

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] Airlines Manager 1/5 · US Absolutely terrible: I have played other manager games and this is by far the worst. Complex interface, poor tutorials.. pass it by
  2. [R5] Airlines Manager 5/5 · US Fun game, some suggestions: I love this game, as it actually simulates the details like emergencies and realistic supply/demand. I have some suggestions though. -More Soviet/ Russian aircraft, like how if you are trying to make a Soviet state based airline like Bek air for example it’d be nice to have some more russian airplanes -Detailed emergencies, like showing if the gear or engines failed or
  3. [R6] Airlines Manager 3/5 · US Not great, not terrible.: Missing some airports such as those in the US Virgin Islands. Some of the airport categories are completely unrealistic when compared to what actually flies to those airports.
  4. [R23] Airlines Manager 5/5 · US Awesome Game but what I would like to see in the future: I would like to see a different flight path not just straight flight to and from make it a flight path. I would also like to see a satellite view so I can see where they are flying over exactly. and if you could add flight delays or cancellations due to a lack of maintenance. and if you could just add some more private jets and prop engines
  5. [R17] Airlines Manager 4/5 · US Read this!: Ok overall, I quite like this game. It’s fun, pretty fast-paced, and not impossible to accomplish anything in like some other tycoon games. I also really appreciate that it’s not P2W (Pay to win). But, BUT, some of the menus are VERY confusing. You can figure them out by tapping around for a while, but it would be awesome if there was a tutorial or something for every menu, because tha
  6. [R20] Airlines Manager 5/5 · US Waiting for 10 years still without Chinese: Chinese!please Chinese!thanks a lot! We need Chinese from China fans
  7. [R37] Airlines Manager 1/5 · US No Chinese: There's no Chinese. · translated
  8. [R2] Airlines Manager 4/5 · US Bugs: Every once in a while I’ll check in and just have zero profit made on a route I’ve had since the start or my demand amount glitches and has it as if I have no planes on the route it’s prevents me from knowing if anything is being ran properly and really ruins the experience.
  9. [R4] Airlines Manager 1/5 · US Nope: Can’t log in securely and they want your email address. Not happening! Uninstalled!
  10. [R7] Airlines Manager 2/5 · US Keeps starting over: I have made a account 3 times and it just keeps starting me over not even letting me sigh in Over all good game
  11. [R13] Airlines Manager 1/5 · US Scam: Game is a scam. You spend money and then are forced to start over and you lose the coins and the money you spent.
  12. [R9] Airlines Manager 3/5 · US Needs no ads option: Fun game nut way too many ads to really do anything. You can buy an AM Gold membership, which is nice, but how about for a few dollars more per month tomhave no ads? Then you could really sit down and enjoy the game. Gets old really quick having to watch an ad every time you try to do something.
  13. [R16] Airlines Manager 1/5 · US Paywalls on features that shouldn’t have them, and removing features that shouldn’t be removed: So, as if removing airlines painter and all non cloud saved liveries wasn’t bad enough, you make the new built-in painter worse in every aspect. You have to pay for more slots, which you didn’t have to do before in the painter app, and plus the new painter is horrible to use and adapt to for users who w
  14. [R18] Airlines Manager 3/5 · US Too many ads: It’s needs to have less ads but overall it’s a good management simulator
  15. [R25] Airlines Manager 2/5 · US It’s all about the money now: At first you could compete but, they’ve changed the game to now to be competitive you have to spend real money or your airline with slowly go bankrupt
  16. [R10] Airlines Manager 1/5 · US Error with no help: In the middle of a limited time event there is an error preventing me from collecting rewards. On top of this there is no way to get help. This after paying lots of money on content.
  17. [R34] Airlines Manager 1/5 · US Not near as good.: This game was great for a long time. Then the game was sold to a new, larger, developer, and it has gone down hill. No true development in last 12 months. Just new challenges that cost money to complete. The moderators bully players in their discord server, and they allow bullying from other members. They don’t follow their own ToS.
  18. [R85] Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. 2/5 · US Love the game..but: So I have played this game for a long time, I recently decided to pay for the membership. About once a week for 1-3 days my membership isn’t working like I’m not getting the benefits. I have tried to email and address this but there has not been a response or fix
  19. [R47] Airlines Manager 5/5 · US Amazing game to learn supply demand: Amazing game, the only thing I would want to see is to research more than 1. All planes can be unlocked which is amazing. And if you know supply and demand you can easily earn money.
  20. [R63] Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. 3/5 · US Fun base game. Insufferable ads: Fun idle game to play, enjoyed when I was younger and enjoying now. The base game atleast. The side games are in the way. My biggest gripe with this game, and most games now are that the ads are insufferable. Especially in this one. I bought a package that said “takes care of most ads” and I feel no difference.
  21. [R73] Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. 1/5 · US Aggressive pop ups: There are pop ups absolutely everywhere. Not only do they appear unprompted, but a designated pop up will fill one of your slots every couple minutes and make you open it just to make it go away. You can essentially beat the game by paying $100, of course marked down from $200 with the artificial price anchor method of dubious discounts. One of the most egregious examples I’ve
  22. [R89] Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. 1/5 · US Lots of ads: Ads for this ads for that don’t try this game you will be disappointed tired all
  23. [R91] Merge Planes Idle Tycoon Inc. 2/5 · US Way to many ads: You can’t enjoy the game, the little ad boxes take up spots on the track and you tap them to clear them. They drop every 10seconds, more frequently than the planes.. then once a minute the game takes you to a little video ad. There is so many popping up that you can’t purchase your planes faster than the game can bombard you with ads.
  24. [R3] Airlines Manager 3/5 · US Livery’s: I like this game so much but I want the livery system to be more realistic, you should only have to pay for one livery and be able to put it on all your aircraft instead of having to make new ones for each aircraft and paying for them.
  25. [R15] Airlines Manager 3/5 · US Paint jobs.: Why are we not able to have one paint job for our fleet? I would like my 777-ER the same color as my 797-9. I noticed the the British and France aircraft have the paint for 99% of the fleets from 777 to 320
  26. [R50] Airlines Manager 5/5 · US Artists dream: I wasn’t going to make a review since I rarely do anyways but after finding out that you can make your own liveries and apply them to your aircraft changes my mind. Since I’m a simple minded person who likes to create this mechanic was perfect for me and allowed for me to create liveries for aircraft designated to Germany for free by the way!
  27. [R38] Airlines Manager 5/5 · US Login error: Great game only problem I have is that somtimes when I try to open the app it says “cannot resolve destination host”

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