# SteamTrains vs Backwards Talk

The clearest difference is price: Backwards Talk at Free against SteamTrains's $2.99. Backwards Talk also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months). SteamTrains's advantage is rating (3.0 vs 2.3) and ratings volume (16 vs 3). On review sentiment, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Backwards Talk is free to download; SteamTrains costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

SteamTrains holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SteamTrains has 16 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 32% of SteamTrains's written reviews are positive against 33% of Backwards Talk's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

SteamTrains ships an update every 3 months, Backwards Talk every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SteamTrains | Backwards Talk |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[3.0 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steamtrains-complete/id486066185/reviews)** | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backwards-talk/id6448702592/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **16** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 31.8% of reviews | **33.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 287 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kathrin Brock](https://appshunter.io/developer/453722600) | [Sebastian Ekstrom](https://appshunter.io/developer/1436175676) |

## What reviewers say

### SteamTrains

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steamtrains-complete/id486066185)

Explore a 3D railroad world with functioning trains. Engage in simple driving games or challenging collection quests, all designed for children aged 3-12. Enjoy an ad-free, in-app purchase-free experience.

**Highlights:** 3D train simulation, Multiple camera angles, Simple train driving game, Wagon collection game, Ad-free experience, No in-app purchases

**In-app purchases:** none


### Backwards Talk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backwards-talk/id6448702592)

This app reverses typed phrases, allowing you to record yourself speaking them backward. It then plays back your recording forwards, so you can hear how close you were to the original. It's a fun and addictive way to challenge your speaking and listening skills.

**Highlights:** Reverse typed phrases, Record yourself speaking backwards, Hear playback forwards, Challenge friends, Train your ear

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SteamTrains free?

SteamTrains costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Backwards Talk free?

Backwards Talk is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SteamTrains or Backwards Talk?

SteamTrains is rated higher. SteamTrains averages 3.0 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Backwards Talk averages 2.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do SteamTrains or Backwards Talk have ads?

Neither SteamTrains nor Backwards Talk shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SteamTrains or Backwards Talk?

SteamTrains ships an update every 3 months, and Backwards Talk every 5 days. Most recently, SteamTrains was updated on October 10, 2026 and Backwards Talk on September 26, 2026.

---

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