# SteamTrains vs Railstream

The clearest difference is rating: Railstream at 4.1 against SteamTrains's 3.5. Railstream also leads on review sentiment (58% vs 37%). SteamTrains's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Railstream sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. SteamTrains asks for nothing beyond the download.

Railstream holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 76 and 128 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of SteamTrains's written reviews are positive against 58% of Railstream's.

SteamTrains ships an update every 3 months, Railstream every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and August 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SteamTrains | Railstream |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (76 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steamtrains/id486523969/reviews) | **[4.1 (128 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/railstream/id1520484749/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 76 | **128** |
| Positive reviews | 36.7% of reviews | **58.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Size | 287 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kathrin Brock](https://appshunter.io/developer/453722600) | [Railstream, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1520484751) |

## What reviewers say

### SteamTrains

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steamtrains/id486523969)

Watch 3D trains race on scenic landscapes and interact with them. Features simple driving games for younger children and collection challenges for older ones, offering a realistic train play experience.

**Highlights:** 3D train simulation, Multiple camera angles, Simple train driving game, Wagon collection game, Interactive railroad junctions

**In-app purchases:** none


### Railstream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/railstream/id1520484749)

Experience live railcams from across the United States and Canada. Watch over two dozen cameras in real time, with a selection available for all viewers and premium content for members. Keep your devices entertained with continuous railway action.

**Highlights:** Live railcams, United States and Canada coverage, Real-time streaming, Multiple camera views, Membership-exclusive content

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $149.99 | per year |
| Railstream Feed 95 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Railstream Feed 96 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Railstream Feed 93 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Railstream Feed 94 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Railstream Feed 97 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Railstream Feed 98 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Railstream Feed 99 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Railstream Feed 100 | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good app for entertainment
- 👍 Crisp picture quality
- 👍 Excellent audio quality
- 👍 App is improving
- 👍 Great for railfans

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Ads are too frequent
- 👎 App is not worth the membership cost
- 👎 Difficult to log in
- 👎 App crashes or freezes
- 👎 Slow app performance

**Reported bugs**

- Boyce Cam stuck at night
- Sound bugs on Fostoria Ohio free cams
- App crashes or freezes
- App gets slow
- Login issues, doesn't recall membership

**Requested features**

- Add Thomasville NC railcam for free
- Lower membership price
- Add Metra camera
- Add multi-view cams back
- Add more multi-view cams


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SteamTrains free?

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

### Is Railstream free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SteamTrains or Railstream?

Railstream is rated higher. SteamTrains averages 3.5 out of 5 from 76 ratings, while Railstream averages 4.1 from 128 ratings.

### Do SteamTrains or Railstream have ads?

Railstream shows ads; SteamTrains does not.

### Which is updated more often, SteamTrains or Railstream?

SteamTrains ships an update every 3 months, and Railstream every 4 months. Most recently, SteamTrains was updated on September 14, 2026 and Railstream on August 25, 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.*