# Playing Train vs NYC Subway Sounds

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Playing Train at none against NYC Subway Sounds's 3. Playing Train also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). NYC Subway Sounds's advantage is ratings volume (516 vs 2). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NYC Subway Sounds sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Playing Train asks for nothing beyond the download.

Playing Train holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NYC Subway Sounds has 516 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Playing Train ships an update every 2 weeks, NYC Subway Sounds every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Playing Train | NYC Subway Sounds |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playing-train/id1487309376/reviews)** | [4.8 (516 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nyc-subway-sounds/id1508073006/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **516** |
| Positive reviews | — | 97.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 33 MB | 41 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shoichi Namba](https://appshunter.io/developer/987221487) | [Later Creative LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1444959285) |

## What reviewers say

### Playing Train

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playing-train/id1487309376)

A simple and casual train game for children. Players can easily connect and customize train cars, drive them on the railway, and build structures by tapping. Save and load your favorite train designs.

**Highlights:** Connect and customize train cars, Drive trains on the railway, Build structures by tapping, Save and load train patterns, Simple tap controls for children

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### NYC Subway Sounds

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nyc-subway-sounds/id1508073006)

Relive the iconic sounds of the New York City subway from anywhere. This app offers a collection of authentic subway audio, including announcements and track noises, perfect for enthusiasts or those nostalgic for the commute. Enjoy ambient loops, iMessage stickers, and customizable icons.

**Highlights:** Authentic subway sounds, Train ambience loop, iMessage stickers, Customizable app icon, 43 unique sounds

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bread-sized tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Peanut Butter-Sized Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Jam-Sized Tip | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Satisfying subway sounds
- 👍 Brings back nostalgic memories
- 👍 Great for creating videos/ambience
- 👍 Helpful for those with autism/sensory needs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes/compatibility issues
- 🔍 Limited sound variety

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Some sounds are not clear/high quality

**Requested features**

- Add more station announcements and sound effects
- Allow users to submit their own sounds
- Add ability to download sounds as ringtones
- Expand to other transit systems (e.g. LIRR)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Playing Train free?

Playing Train is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is NYC Subway Sounds free?

NYC Subway Sounds is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Playing Train or NYC Subway Sounds?

Playing Train is rated higher. Playing Train averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while NYC Subway Sounds averages 4.8 from 516 ratings.

### Do Playing Train or NYC Subway Sounds have ads?

Neither Playing Train nor NYC Subway Sounds shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Playing Train or NYC Subway Sounds?

Playing Train ships an update every 2 weeks, and NYC Subway Sounds every 4 months. Most recently, Playing Train was updated on October 12, 2026 and NYC Subway Sounds on October 22, 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.*