Aviator vs Spaceman: Transparency or Brand Power?
Aviator by Spribe and Spaceman by Pragmatic Play represent two approaches to crash gaming: independent innovation vs. major studio adaptation. Spribe created the modern crash game category in 2019; Pragmatic Play, one of the world's largest iGaming companies, entered the market with Spaceman in 2022. The data reveals a clear winner — but Spaceman's distribution advantage keeps it competitive.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Aviator (Spribe) | Spaceman (Pragmatic Play) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| RTP | 97% | 95.5% | Aviator (+1.5%) |
| House Edge | 3% | 4.5% | Aviator |
| Max Multiplier | 1,000,000x | 5,000x | Aviator |
| Provably Fair | Yes (SHA-512) | No (RNG certified) | Aviator |
| Dual Bet | Yes (2 bets) | No | Aviator |
| Half Cashout | No | Yes | Spaceman |
| Auto-Bet | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Social Features | Chat, Rain, leaderboards, live bets | Live bets panel | Aviator |
| Casino Availability | 5,500+ | 3,000+ | Aviator |
| Developer Reputation | Spribe (indie, Georgia) | Pragmatic Play (major studio) | Spaceman |
| Regulatory Approvals | Multiple jurisdictions | UKGC, MGA, and 25+ licenses | Spaceman |
| Launch Year | 2019 | 2022 | — |
How Much Does the RTP Difference Cost You?
The 1.5% RTP difference between Aviator (97%) and Spaceman (95.5%) sounds small but compounds significantly:
| Total Wagered | Expected Loss (Aviator 3%) | Expected Loss (Spaceman 4.5%) | Extra Cost of Spaceman |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | $3.00 | $4.50 | $1.50 (50% more) |
| $500 | $15.00 | $22.50 | $7.50 |
| $1,000 | $30.00 | $45.00 | $15.00 |
| $5,000 | $150.00 | $225.00 | $75.00 |
| $10,000 | $300.00 | $450.00 | $150.00 |
For a casual player wagering $500 per month, Spaceman costs an extra $7.50/month — $90/year. For a high-volume player wagering $10,000/month, the difference is $150/month or $1,800/year. This is real money with no compensating benefit.
"The single most impactful decision a crash game player can make is choosing the game with the highest RTP. No strategy, bonus, or feature compensates for a permanently higher house edge."
Provably Fair vs RNG Certification — Why Does It Matter?
This is the most important difference between the two games beyond RTP:
- You can verify every single round independently
- SHA-256 hash commitment proves pre-determination
- SHA-512 crash calculation is fully transparent
- Three independent client seeds prevent manipulation
- No trust required — pure cryptographic verification
See our full verification guide
- You cannot verify individual rounds
- Trust relies on third-party audit reports
- RNG is tested statistically, not per-round
- Pragmatic Play's reputation is the guarantee
- Regulatory licensing provides oversight
RNG certification verifies overall fairness, not individual outcomes
RNG certification is not worthless — Pragmatic Play is a reputable company with 25+ regulatory licenses. But Provably Fair offers a fundamentally stronger guarantee: mathematical proof vs. institutional trust. If transparency matters to you, Aviator is the clear choice.
Feature Comparison
Betting Options
Aviator offers dual bet — two independent bets per round with separate auto-cashout targets. This enables hedging strategies like a safe 1.3x bet and an aggressive 3x+ bet simultaneously. Spaceman offers only a single bet per round. For strategy details, see our strategy guide.
Social Features
Aviator has a full social experience: live bet tracking (see what every player bets and when they cash out), in-game chat, Rain (random free bets), and leaderboards. Spaceman has a live bets panel but lacks chat, Rain, and leaderboards. The social dimension is a significant part of Aviator's appeal.
Mobile Experience
Both games are mobile-optimized and play well on smartphones. Pragmatic Play's mobile expertise (they're one of the top mobile casino developers) gives Spaceman a slight edge in some interface details, but both are fully functional on mobile.
Is Spaceman's Half Cashout Worth It?
Spaceman's unique feature is Half Cashout: at any point during a round, you can cash out 50% of your bet at the current multiplier while letting the remaining 50% ride. For example, with a $10 bet at 2.0x, you could cash out $10 (50% × $10 × 2.0) and let $5 continue.
This is psychologically appealing but mathematically irrelevant:
- The half cashout doesn't change the expected value — each portion of your bet still faces the same house edge
- It's equivalent to placing two separate bets (which Aviator's dual bet already enables)
- It reduces variance within a round but doesn't improve returns
The feature is a nice quality-of-life addition, but it doesn't compensate for the 1.5% higher house edge. Aviator's dual bet provides more flexibility (you choose the split, not forced 50/50) at a lower cost.
Which Should You Play?
The data is unambiguous: Aviator is the better choice for players who prioritize value and transparency. It wins on RTP (97% vs 95.5%), fairness verification (Provably Fair vs RNG-only), max multiplier (1Mx vs 5Kx), betting options (dual bet vs single), and social features.
The only reasons to choose Spaceman:
- Your casino offers Spaceman but not Aviator
- You strongly value Pragmatic Play's brand and regulatory track record
- You prefer the Half Cashout feature over dual bet (subjective)
- You prefer the astronaut theme over the airplane theme (also subjective)
If both games are available at your casino, choosing Spaceman costs you 50% more in house edge per dollar wagered, with no compensating mathematical benefit. For a complete comparison of all crash games, see our crash game comparison hub.