# Temple Run vs Subway Surfers

The clearest difference is update cadence: Subway Surfers at weekly against Temple Run's every 2 months. Subway Surfers also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.4) and review sentiment (87% vs 72%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Temple Run sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Subway Surfers sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Subway Surfers holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Subway Surfers has 3.9M ratings behind it against 420K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Temple Run's written reviews are positive against 87% of Subway Surfers's.

Temple Run ships an update every 2 months, Subway Surfers weekly. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Temple Run | Subway Surfers |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (420K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/temple-run/id420009108/reviews) | **[4.6 (3.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subway-surfers/id512939461/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 420K | **3.9M** |
| Positive reviews | 72.3% of reviews | **86.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #28 | **#7** |
| Size | 373 MB | 394 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Imangi Studios, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/284899742) | [Sybo Games ApS](https://appshunter.io/developer/471259040) |

## What reviewers say

### Temple Run

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/temple-run/id420009108)

**Currently charting:** #28 Top Free · Action, #96 Top Free · Casual (US App Store)

Embark on a thrilling adventure to steal a cursed idol and escape relentless pursuers through ancient temples and treacherous ruins. Navigate a maze of obstacles, collect coins, and unlock new characters in this fast-paced endless running game.

**Highlights:** Swipe to turn, jump, and slide, Race through ancient temples and ruins, Collect coins and unlock characters, Boost power-ups, Challenge friends and climb leaderboards

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Handful of Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ad Removal | $1.99 | one-time |
| Bag of Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Chest of Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| Pile of Coins | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast-paced gameplay
- 🎮 Nostalgic and addictive
- 💎 Customizable characters
- 🌳 Detailed jungle environments

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Repetitive obstacles
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🔇 Intrusive ads

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent controls and unresponsive swipes
- Crashes and freezes on some devices
- Incorrect score tracking and display

**Requested features**

- More character and environment variety
- Ability to disable ads for a one-time fee
- Leaderboards and achievements
- Offline mode


### Subway Surfers

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subway-surfers/id512939461)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Free · Action, #28 Top Free · Casual, #52 Top Free · Games, #98 Top Grossing · Action (US App Store)

Embark on an exhilarating endless running adventure, dodging trains and outsmarting a persistent guard. Utilize hoverboards, jetpacks, and acrobatic moves to achieve high scores and compete with friends in this visually vibrant game.

**Highlights:** Endless running gameplay, Dodge oncoming trains, Grind on trains, Hoverboard surfing, Paint-powered jetpack, Fast swipe acrobatics, Challenge friends

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 7,500 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 12 500 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coin Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| 45,000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Double Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 65 000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| 25 Keys | $4.99 | one-time |
| 40 Keys | $4.99 | one-time |
| Key Pack 1 | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Addictive and fun gameplay
- 📱 Works well offline
- 🎨 Diverse characters and themes
- 🎢 Challenging and fast-paced
- 🎁 Rewarding progression system

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🕰️ Frequent updates can be disruptive
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🕹️ Difficulty controlling character at times
- 🔍 Lack of save/sync across devices

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes after updates
- Disappearing high scores and progress
- Unresponsive controls during gameplay
- Ads that redirect to App Store unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- Ability to save progress across devices
- More customization options for characters
- Difficulty settings or modes
- Multiplayer/competitive features
- Reduced ad frequency or ad-free option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Temple Run free?

Temple Run is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Subway Surfers free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Temple Run or Subway Surfers?

Subway Surfers is rated higher. Temple Run averages 4.4 out of 5 from 420K ratings, while Subway Surfers averages 4.6 from 3.9M ratings.

### Do Temple Run or Subway Surfers have ads?

Both Temple Run and Subway Surfers show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Temple Run or Subway Surfers?

Temple Run ships an update every 2 months, and Subway Surfers weekly. Most recently, Temple Run was updated on November 5, 2026 and Subway Surfers on November 5, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Temple Run or Subway Surfers?

Temple Run currently peaks at #28 in the App Store charts, and Subway Surfers at #7. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*