# Tiny Rails vs Train Simulator

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Tiny Rails at 13.0 against Train Simulator's 15.0. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Tiny Rails sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and Train Simulator sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Tiny Rails against 4.7 for Train Simulator. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.2K and 5.2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of Tiny Rails's written reviews are positive against 66% of Train Simulator's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tiny Rails | Train Simulator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (6.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tiny-rails/id1159072426/reviews) | **[4.7 (5.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/train-simulator-railroad-game/id1587704770/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6.2K** | 5.2K |
| Positive reviews | **73.1% of reviews** | 66.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 502 MB | 820 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Trophy Games Canada Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/892108904) | [Azur Interactive Games Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1296347323) |

## What reviewers say

### Tiny Rails

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tiny-rails/id1159072426)

Build a global train empire from a single engine to a multi-car masterpiece. Deliver passengers and cargo worldwide, customize your trains, and explore beautiful locations. Enjoy a relaxing retro pixel art experience that continues even when you're offline.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of train set combinations, Global travel and landmark exploration, Train car customization for passenger happiness, Background gameplay, Retro pixel art and relaxing music

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP Gold Pass | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Kickstarter Deal | $1.99 | one-time |
| Eurotrip Deal | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gems (Tiny) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Care Package | $4.99 | one-time |
| Booster Deal Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Gems (Small) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Care Package 2 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Gems (Medium) | $19.99 | one-time |
| Care Package 3 | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Relaxing and enjoyable gameplay
- 🚀 Addictive and hard to put down
- 💎 Generous with in-game currency rewards
- 🎨 Beautiful pixel art and visuals
- 🕹️ Fun and unique train management mechanics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches, especially with crashes and progress loss
- 💰 Monetization feels too aggressive, with high costs for upgrades
- 🕰️ Slow progression and long wait times for upgrades
- 🗺️ Confusing or unclear objectives in later checklists
- 🔍 Lack of organization and sorting options for train cars

**Reported bugs**

- Train not progressing when left unattended
- Rewards not properly awarded after watching ads
- Checklist progress not updating correctly
- UI elements becoming hidden or overlapping
- Crashes when trying to take in-game photos

**Requested features**

- Ability to set custom routes or waypoints for the train
- More frequent or varied obstacles and challenges
- Better organization and filtering options for train cars
- Improved UI and optimization for newer devices
- Ability to have multiple save files or profiles


### Train Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/train-simulator-railroad-game/id1587704770)

Become a train driver in this 2D simulator, delivering cargo and revitalizing regional economies. Upgrade your locomotives, manage infrastructure, and explore diverse landscapes. Experience realistic train gameplay with dynamic weather.

**Highlights:** Cargo delivery and economic management, Train upgrades and modifications, Diverse game world exploration, Realistic train simulation gameplay, Dynamic weather conditions, Challenging tasks and contracts

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Engine Boost | $0.99 | one-time |
| Crew 4 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Starter pack sale | $2.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| ChME3 Sale | $3.99 | one-time |
| WDM2 Sale | $5.99 | one-time |
| ChME3 Locomotive | $5.99 | one-time |
| More gold boxes | $7.99 | one-time |
| WDM2 Locomotive | $7.99 | one-time |
| EMD SD70 Sale | $7.99 | one-time |
| More silver boxes | $7.99 | one-time |
| FD20 Sale | $7.99 | one-time |
| EMD SD70 Locomotive | $9.99 | one-time |
| FD20 Locomotive | $10.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐️ Enjoyable and fun game
- 🚂 Realistic train simulation
- 👍 Good graphics and gameplay
- 💯 Great for train enthusiasts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🙄 Annoying ads
- 🚧 Difficult hills and terrain
- 🔧 Frequent need for repairs
- 🤔 Limited train selection

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes on startup for some users
- Inability to save progress or sync across devices
- Glitches with train performance and handling

**Requested features**

- Add more train types (steam, electric, etc.)
- Implement passenger service
- Improve hill climbing and traction
- Reduce reliance on ads or provide ad-free option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tiny Rails free?

Tiny Rails is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Train Simulator free?

Train Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Tiny Rails or Train Simulator?

Train Simulator is rated higher. Tiny Rails averages 4.6 out of 5 from 6.2K ratings, while Train Simulator averages 4.7 from 5.2K ratings.

### Do Tiny Rails or Train Simulator have ads?

Both Tiny Rails and Train Simulator show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tiny Rails or Train Simulator?

Tiny Rails ships an update every 2 months, and Train Simulator every 2 months. Most recently, Tiny Rails was updated on September 30, 2026 and Train Simulator on September 30, 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.*