# Idle Highway vs State Railroad

The clearest difference is rating: Idle Highway at 4.4 against State Railroad's 4.1. Idle Highway also leads on monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). State Railroad's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Idle Highway sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and State Railroad sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Idle Highway holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.2K and 1.8K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Idle Highway's written reviews are positive against 35% of State Railroad's.

Idle Highway ships an update every 2 weeks, State Railroad every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Idle Highway | State Railroad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-highway/id1476946557/reviews)** | [4.1 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/state-railroad-train-game/id1625690613/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.2K | **1.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **42.9% of reviews** | 35.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 137 MB | 229 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Adept Games Cezary Tabota](https://appshunter.io/developer/1333194573) | [DEVGEIM](https://appshunter.io/developer/1462267626) |

## What reviewers say

### Idle Highway

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-highway/id1476946557)

Build and manage your own highway empire in this engaging idle game. Earn money and expand your network to become a wealthy tycoon. Simple to learn and fun to master.

**Highlights:** Control highway traffic, Build highway networks, Manage highway operations, Earn in-game currency, Expand your empire

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Simple and intuitive design
- 💡 Interesting traffic control concept

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of content and progression
- 🔍 Abandoned by developers
- 🔍 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Short gameplay experience

**Reported bugs**

- Cars phasing through each other
- Blocked in-game reviews
- Crashes after ads
- Locked new maps despite meeting requirements

**Requested features**

- More levels and maps
- Improved offline earnings
- Better progression and content
- Reduced ads or optional ad-free mode


### State Railroad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/state-railroad-train-game/id1625690613)

Build a vast railway network by connecting points on a map. Expand your transportation system, upgrade stations, and manage train length in this engaging strategy game. Experience an exciting adventure as you conquer new lands and connect states with your railway lines.

**Highlights:** Connect map points with railway lines, Build and upgrade train stations, Expand transportation system, Manage train length, World road connect mechanics, Simple operation and traffic control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| First Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Second Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Disable Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| Super Pack | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast-paced gameplay
- 👍 Simple and intuitive concept
- 💡 Relaxing and enjoyable experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Excessive ads interrupting gameplay
- 🔒 Locked content behind paywall
- ⏱️ Slow progression and long wait times

**Reported bugs**

- Glitches after recent updates
- Purchased ad-free version not working as expected

**Requested features**

- More continents and levels to explore
- Ability to connect same-colored routes
- Offline income generation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Idle Highway free?

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

### Is State Railroad free?

State Railroad is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Idle Highway or State Railroad?

Idle Highway is rated higher. Idle Highway averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while State Railroad averages 4.1 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Idle Highway or State Railroad have ads?

Both Idle Highway and State Railroad show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Idle Highway or State Railroad?

Idle Highway ships an update every 2 weeks, and State Railroad every 3 weeks. Most recently, Idle Highway was updated on November 3, 2026 and State Railroad 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.*