# Derby Madness vs Drift Runner

The clearest difference is rating: Derby Madness at 4.8 against Drift Runner's 3.4. Derby Madness also leads on ratings volume (7.9K vs 30) and review sentiment (85% vs 61%). Drift Runner's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Derby Madness sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and Drift Runner sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Derby Madness holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Derby Madness has 7.9K ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Derby Madness's written reviews are positive against 61% of Drift Runner's.

Derby Madness ships an update every 6 weeks, Drift Runner monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Derby Madness | Drift Runner |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (7.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/derby-madness/id1280965727/reviews)** | [3.4 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drift-runner-racing-masters/id6450405611/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.9K** | 30 |
| Positive reviews | **84.9% of reviews** | 60.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1.4 GB | 2.0 GB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dimension Technics](https://appshunter.io/developer/372972949) | [Road Burn Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/691816064) |

## What reviewers say

### Derby Madness

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/derby-madness/id1280965727)

Experience intense, real-time demolition derby action with realistic car deformations and crashes. Engage in various game modes, customize and upgrade vehicles, and enjoy dynamic pile-ups and destructions on diverse tracks.

**Highlights:** Real-time simulated driving and crashes, Upgradeable and customizable vehicles, Multiple racing tracks and locations, 8 diverse racing game modes, Up to 32 cars in a single race, Replay mode

**Features:** Game Controller support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starter Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| 200,000 Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| 10 Diamonds | $2.99 | one-time |
| Ad Free | $4.99 | one-time |
| 500,000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 30 Diamonds | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1000,000 Coins | $7.99 | one-time |
| 60 Diamonds | $7.99 | one-time |
| 3000,000 Coins | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great game
- 🚀 Awesome physics
- 🚀 Realistic damage
- 👍 Fun gameplay
- 👍 Addictive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unstable after in-app purchases
- 🐛 Overheating issues
- 🐛 Unresponsive controls
- 🐛 Unfair AI behavior
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Crashing after in-app purchases
- Ads muting the game audio
- Inconsistent cornering physics
- Respawn time issues

**Requested features**

- Multiplayer mode
- More tracks and cars
- Customization options
- Demolition derby mode
- Steering wheel/controller support


### Drift Runner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drift-runner-racing-masters/id6450405611)

Experience the thrill of drifting with this simulator, featuring real-world locations and official pro cars. Customize and build your dream drift car with extensive modification options. Compete against rivals online and master advanced drifting techniques to become the ultimate champion.

**Highlights:** Drifting simulator with street, track, and pro events, Build and customize drift cars with extensive modifications, Tune engines and fine-tune suspension, Race at real-world famous drifting locations, Unlock and drive a wide range of JDM, Euro, and Muscle cars, Multiplayer online drift battles, Master advanced drifting techniques

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Luke Fink's C6 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 100,000 Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Engine Tuning | $1.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Adam LZ's E36 | $2.99 | one-time |
| LZ Compound | $3.99 | one-time |
| Engine Swaps | $4.99 | one-time |
| 400,000 Coins | $5.99 | one-time |
| 1,000,000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| 4,000,000 Coins | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Impressive vehicle customization options
- 🏎️ Good selection of cars and tracks
- 🎮 Engaging and challenging gameplay
- 💰 No ads (mentioned positively by some users)
- 🖼️ Detailed car models and graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Black screen/grey screen loading issues
- ⚙️ Poor driving physics and handling
- 🎮 Arcade-like drifting mechanics
- 💨 Excessive smoke obscuring visibility
- 🔋 Causes phone overheating

**Reported bugs**

- Black screen on game load
- Grey screen on startup
- Car disappears/not visible on track
- Engine swap resulting in negative horsepower
- Engine swap functionality broken after update

**Requested features**

- Controller/gamepad support
- Transmission and gear tuning options
- More cars (Holdens, Falcons, Skylines, Laurels, Japanese classics)
- Customizable button/control layout
- Livery and custom car wrap options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Derby Madness free?

Derby Madness is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Drift Runner free?

Drift Runner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Derby Madness or Drift Runner?

Derby Madness is rated higher. Derby Madness averages 4.8 out of 5 from 7.9K ratings, while Drift Runner averages 3.4 from 30 ratings.

### Do Derby Madness or Drift Runner have ads?

Both Derby Madness and Drift Runner show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Derby Madness or Drift Runner?

Derby Madness ships an update every 6 weeks, and Drift Runner monthly. Most recently, Derby Madness was updated on November 4, 2026 and Drift Runner on November 3, 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.*