Comparison

John Allen's Timesaver Lite vs Sid Meier’s Railroads!

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

John Allen's Timesaver Lite

This app combines train simulation with strategic puzzle-solving. Players manage train movements in confined spaces to fulfill switching orders, facing increasing challenges like worker strikes and new regulations. It offers a nostalgic model train experience with a focus on logic and quick thinking.

Highlights
  • Train switching puzzles
  • Logic and strategy challenges
  • Increasing difficulty levels
  • Nostalgic model train theme
  • iCloud score syncing
  • Lively soundtrack
Features
Read full description

Train game meets puzzle game in this challenging world of the RG&H Railroad. Enjoy the nostalgia of a model train as you test your puzzle solving skills. This classic strategy puzzle, a favorite in the model railroading world for decades, has been re-imagined for iOS. Just a few examples of what other players are saying about John Allen’s Timesaver Puzzle: • “An excellent puzzle game.” • “Challenges your thinking and logic skills.” • “Great game!” • “I love the game!” • “Totally different from any puzzle game I have ever tried.” In John Allen’s Timesaver Lite you will move trains in tight quarters to complete switching orders as you go from town to town. Of course, no job is without its complications and the RG&H Railroad is no exception. Your difficulties grow and the workload increases as you navigate worker strikes, new safety regulations and more. But never fear, our engineer, Slim, will be there to keep you on track and remind you that the clock is ticking. • Try for free! Buy the full version once hostling is in your blood! • 20 puzzles, each playable at 2 difficulty levels. • Sync game scores and progress across devices with iCloud. • Enjoy our lively soundtrack or listen to your own music as you play. Buy the full version of John Allen’s Timesaver Puzzle now and get: • 100 challenging puzzles, playable at 4 difficulty levels • Game Center leader boards and challenges Download John Allen’s Timesaver Lite now and see if you have what it takes to be a ‘hostler’!

About

Sid Meier’s Railroads!

Become a railroad tycoon by building and managing intricate railway networks. Optimize routes, transport goods and passengers, and grow your profits through shrewd business decisions and innovation. Compete with historical figures to become the greatest rail baron.

Highlights
  • Lay tracks and design routes
  • Transport freight and passengers
  • Acquire patents and trade stocks
  • Build or buy industries
  • Compete with historical figures
  • Collect 40 famous trains
  • Train Table Mode for creative building
Read full description

Become history’s greatest rail baron in Sid Meier’s Railroads!, a classic of the tycoon genre now available for iPhone and iPad. In this captivating mix of model train set and railway management simulator, lay tracks and optimise routes to establish lucrative networks of cities and industries, transporting passengers, raw materials and goods across continents. Grow profits through efficiency, innovation, and shrewd business decisions as you acquire valuable patents, trade stocks, and build or buy industries. Compete with world leaders and industrial titans to achieve the ultimate goal — becoming the greatest railroad tycoon of the age! === TRY BEFORE YOU BUY Lay the foundations of your railroad empire during the Gold Rush, then unlock the full game for more maps, trains, and 16 charming scenarios spanning the golden age of rail. CREATE AN EMPIRE OF THE RAILS Carefully lay tracks and design routes to transport freight and passengers, refining and improving operations until your railroad runs like clockwork. STEAM ACROSS 16 CHALLENGING SCENARIOS Test your entrepreneurial mettle in a mix of historical and fictional scenarios, each with a distinctive map and unique objectives. Establish the first passenger line in 1830s Great Britain, stitch together the American West during the Gold Rush, or help Santa with the Christmas rush at the North Pole! COMPETE WITH HISTORY’S BEST Take on world leaders and captains of industry. Grow your business by acquiring industries and railroad-revolutionising patents, or play the stock market and buy out the competition. BRING 40 FAMOUS TRAINS TO LIFE Play with historically important engines from early steam locomotives like Stephenson’s Planet, to the high-speed French TGV, and many iterations and innovations in between. BUILD THE MODEL RAILROAD OF YOUR DREAMS Take the pressure off in Train Table Mode. No competition, time limits, or financial constraints — just all you need to create a railroad that’s as fun to watch as it is satisfying to build. === We recommend playing Sid Meier's Railroads! on iOS 15.5 or later. You need 1.7GB of free space on your device, though we recommend at least double this to avoid initial installation issues. Supported iPhones: • iPhone 6S / 6S Plus and later • Any iPhone SE • iPod Touch (7th generation, 2019) Supported iPads: • iPad mini (5th generation, 2019) and later • iPad Air (3rd generation, 2019) and later • iPad (5th generation, 2017) and later • Any iPad Pro • If you require assistance, please contact our support team at support@feralinteractive.com © 2006-2024 Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Originally developed by Firaxis Games. Sid Meier’s Railroads!, Firaxis Games, 2K, Take-Two Interactive Software and their respective logos are trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. All rights reserved. Developed for and published on iOS by Feral Interactive. iOS and the iOS logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Feral and the Feral logo are trademarks of Feral Interactive Ltd. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Screenshots

John Allen's Timesaver Lite4 screens
Sid Meier’s Railroads!4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: John Allen's Timesaver Lite at none against Sid Meier’s Railroads!'s 1. John Allen's Timesaver Lite also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 59%) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.5). Sid Meier’s Railroads!'s advantage is ratings volume (1.4K vs 94). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Sid Meier’s Railroads! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. John Allen's Timesaver Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

John Allen's Timesaver Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sid Meier’s Railroads! has 1.4K ratings behind it against 94, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of John Allen's Timesaver Lite's written reviews are positive against 59% of Sid Meier’s Railroads!'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

John Allen's Timesaver Lite ships an update every 4 months, Sid Meier’s Railroads! every 5 months. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
John Allen's Timesaver Lite versus Sid Meier’s Railroads!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJohn Allen's Timesaver LiteSid Meier’s Railroads!
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (94 ratings) — better4.7 (1.4K ratings)
Positive reviews89.5% of reviews — better59.4% of reviews
Number of ratings941.4K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.5
Further details — not scored
Size93 MB1.6 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperScott LagalyFeral Interactive Ltd

Customer experience

John Allen's Timesaver Lite

All ratings91 ratings
Positive97.8%
Neutral1.1%
Negative1.1%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive89.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.5%

Sid Meier’s Railroads!

All ratings1,304 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral2.7%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews187 reviews
Positive59.4%
Neutral16.0%
Negative24.6%

Bugs and requests

John Allen's Timesaver Lite

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Sid Meier’s Railroads!

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Disappearing tracks
  • Routing issues and inability to connect stations
  • Map freezing and becoming unresponsive

Requested features

5 requests
  • Larger maps
  • More scenarios and campaigns
  • Multiplayer mode
  • Ability to buy/sell shares
  • More train and engine variety

In-app purchases

None

John Allen's Timesaver Lite

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Sid Meier’s Railroads!

One-time1
  • Full Game Unlock$12.99

Questions

Is John Allen's Timesaver Lite free?
John Allen's Timesaver Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sid Meier’s Railroads! free?
Sid Meier’s Railroads! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, John Allen's Timesaver Lite or Sid Meier’s Railroads!?
John Allen's Timesaver Lite is rated higher. John Allen's Timesaver Lite averages 4.8 out of 5 from 94 ratings, while Sid Meier’s Railroads! averages 4.7 from 1.4K ratings.
Do John Allen's Timesaver Lite or Sid Meier’s Railroads! have ads?
Neither John Allen's Timesaver Lite nor Sid Meier’s Railroads! shows ads.
Which is updated more often, John Allen's Timesaver Lite or Sid Meier’s Railroads!?
John Allen's Timesaver Lite ships an update every 4 months, and Sid Meier’s Railroads! every 5 months. Most recently, John Allen's Timesaver Lite was updated on November 2, 2026 and Sid Meier’s Railroads! on November 2, 2026.

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