# iRunTrains Lite vs Heritage Units

The clearest difference is ads: iRunTrains Lite at none against Heritage Units's shown. iRunTrains Lite also leads on rating (4.3 vs 4.1) and review sentiment (78% vs 58%). Heritage Units's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (258 vs 40). On price, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iRunTrains Lite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Heritage Units sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

iRunTrains Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Heritage Units has 258 ratings behind it against 40, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of iRunTrains Lite's written reviews are positive against 58% of Heritage Units's.

iRunTrains Lite ships an update every 5 months, Heritage Units every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iRunTrains Lite | Heritage Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iruntrains-lite/id462272017/reviews)** | [4.1 (258 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heritage-units/id1117504088/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 40 | **258** |
| Positive reviews | **77.5% of reviews** | 58.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 116 MB | 122 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.3** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Onomaly LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/314686981) | [Brian Minnich](https://appshunter.io/developer/1117504087) |

## What reviewers say

### iRunTrains Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iruntrains-lite/id462272017)

Experience a realistic 3D train simulator with intuitive controls. Drive, ride, and manage multiple trains across dynamic layouts. Enjoy immersive sound and physics, with options to customize scenery and add personal touches.

**Highlights:** 3D train simulation, Intuitive train controls, Run multiple trains, Track switching, Variable speed throttle, Ride the trains, Dynamic views

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All Tracks | $2.99 | one-time |


### Heritage Units

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heritage-units/id1117504088)

This app allows users to track and report special interest locomotives from major US railroads. View reported units on a map within a 200-mile radius and contribute new sightings directly from your device.

**Highlights:** Track heritage units, Report new locomotive locations, View locomotives on maps, Search within 200 miles, Support for major railroads

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad Free | $0.99 | per year |
| Premium Membership | $5.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎯 Excellent tool for tracking heritage units and special locomotives
- 📍 Real-time location reporting from community users
- 👍 User-friendly interface and intuitive navigation
- 📸 Ability to upload photos of locomotives
- 🚀 Responsive developer support and regular updates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing
- 🔓 Persistent login/logout issues
- ⚠️ Confusing error messages without clear explanations
- 📵 Limited photo upload capacity for free users
- 🚫 Arbitrary account suspensions and bans

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when refreshing or loading reports
- Persistent 'You've reached your limit for spots' error that lasts weeks or months
- Login credentials rejected despite correct password/username
- Automatic logout after 1-2 months of inactivity
- Premium subscription purchases not recognized by app

**Requested features**

- Dark mode and light mode toggle
- Report timestamp visibility to distinguish old vs new reports
- Edit and delete buttons for submitted reports
- Increase daily/monthly report submission limits
- Ability to favorite or star specific locomotives


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iRunTrains Lite free?

iRunTrains Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Heritage Units free?

Heritage Units is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iRunTrains Lite or Heritage Units?

iRunTrains Lite is rated higher. iRunTrains Lite averages 4.3 out of 5 from 40 ratings, while Heritage Units averages 4.1 from 258 ratings.

### Do iRunTrains Lite or Heritage Units have ads?

Heritage Units shows ads; iRunTrains Lite does not.

### Which is updated more often, iRunTrains Lite or Heritage Units?

iRunTrains Lite ships an update every 5 months, and Heritage Units every 10 days. Most recently, iRunTrains Lite was updated on November 1, 2026 and Heritage Units on November 2, 2026.

---

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