# Subway Idle vs Idle Light Bulb

Subway Idle and Idle Light Bulb both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 82% of Idle Light Bulb's written reviews are positive against 33% of Subway Idle's. Subway Idle's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, rating, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Idle Light Bulb sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Subway Idle asks for nothing beyond the download.

Idle Light Bulb holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Subway Idle has 24K ratings behind it against 3.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Subway Idle's written reviews are positive against 82% of Idle Light Bulb's.

Subway Idle ships an update every 3 weeks, Idle Light Bulb every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 12, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Subway Idle | Idle Light Bulb |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subway-idle/id1460612230/reviews) | **[4.8 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-light-bulb/id6449452892/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **24K** | 3.3K |
| Positive reviews | 32.9% of reviews | **81.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 198 MB | 221 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [seven technologies S.L](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529440417) | [Solid Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1625798412) |

## What reviewers say

### Subway Idle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subway-idle/id1460612230)

Build and manage a subway network in a growing city. Connect stations, upgrade your lines, and earn money to expand your metro. Keep the city moving by strategically investing in your network.

**Highlights:** Upgrade and connect subway stations, Earn money while offline, Progress through multiple cities, Expand your metro network, Strategic cash flow management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast gameplay
- 👍 Fun and addictive
- 💡 Potential for more content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Too many ads
- ⏱️ Slow progression
- 💰 Expensive premium subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezing and crashing
- Progression issues and level locks
- Inconsistent ad experiences

**Requested features**

- More subway lines and cities
- Ability to customize subway routes
- Offline progress tracking


### Idle Light Bulb

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-light-bulb/id6449452892)

Build and manage a light bulb production empire. Start with a single line, upgrade efficiency, and expand your operations. Hire managers to automate and grow your business into the world's largest.

**Highlights:** Produce light bulbs, Upgrade production lines, Transport and sell bulbs, Hire administrators, Expand company operations, Become a bulbs tycoon

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Diamond Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| No Ads Lite | $3.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 3 | $9.99 | one-time |
| No Ads Plus | $9.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 4 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 5 | $49.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack 6 | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and addictive game
- 💡 Unique concept with light bulbs
- 🚀 Fast progression for new players
- 🤩 Enjoyable gameplay experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Excessive ads and pop-ups
- 🐛 Offline earnings not always credited
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to scroll up and purchase new lines
- Bulb upgrades not allowing players to sell
- Inconsistent performance and crashes

**Requested features**

- Improve offline earnings tracking
- Reduce frequency of ads
- Add more levels and content
- Implement save/restore progress feature


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Subway Idle free?

Subway Idle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Idle Light Bulb free?

Idle Light Bulb is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Subway Idle or Idle Light Bulb?

Idle Light Bulb is rated higher. Subway Idle averages 4.6 out of 5 from 24K ratings, while Idle Light Bulb averages 4.8 from 3.3K ratings.

### Do Subway Idle or Idle Light Bulb have ads?

Both Subway Idle and Idle Light Bulb show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Subway Idle or Idle Light Bulb?

Subway Idle ships an update every 3 weeks, and Idle Light Bulb every 3 months. Most recently, Subway Idle was updated on November 12, 2026 and Idle Light Bulb on November 12, 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.*