Comparison

SteamTrains vs Bob the train

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SteamTrains

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
Read full description

SteamTrains Junior is a fun new app for kids aged from 3- 10. Small kids can watch the trains race around the railroad! Its all made in 3D so you can see everything from all angles. Its just like playing with the real thing ! The SteamTrains have properly functioning wheel mechanisms and race around the scenic landscape at high speed. It can all be viewed from different positions just by clicking the camera button. There are very simple games for small kids which involves driving a train around a railroad. The train can be driven as fast as you like and its course can be changed by clicking on the junction points matching buttons. For older kids there are more difficult games that involves trying to collect as many wagons as possible from around the traintrack. Loads of fun for kids !

About

Bob the train

This app features a friendly talking train that entertains and educates young children. It teaches basic concepts like alphabets, colors, shapes, and numbers through songs and rhymes. The train also introduces animal sounds and healthy eating habits.

Highlights
  • Interactive talking train character
  • Educational content (alphabets, colors, shapes, numbers)
  • Children's songs and nursery rhymes
  • Introduction to animal sounds
  • Promotes healthy eating habits
  • Designed for toddlers
Features
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Every kid is fascinated by a train, especially when it comes chug chugging into the railway station. How would they feel if they could actually meet a train that can talk, sing and dance just like how we do? That is where Bob the Train comes in. Similar to the beloved Thomas the train, Bob loves toddlers as much as they love him, and his favorite time of the day is to visit the kindergarten school and play with his baby friends during their playtime! He is a good friend, the one who teaches your children valuable lessons like their alphabets, colors, shapes and numbers, as well as one who sings a variety of children songs and nursery rhymes to introduce your kids to the different types of animal sounds, opposites as well as the vegetables that they must eat. Bob chugs throughout the land of rhymes with a smile on his face, hoping to turn every kid’s frown into a smile. To allow him to do that, parents, you must subscribe to this channel quickly!

Screenshots

SteamTrains4 screens
Bob the train4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SteamTrains at 3.5 against Bob the train's 2.5. SteamTrains also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (84 vs 2). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SteamTrains holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SteamTrains has 84 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
SteamTrains versus Bob the train: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSteamTrainsBob the train
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (84 ratings) — better2.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews36.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings84 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size287 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKathrin BrockCASTIFY LTD

Customer experience

SteamTrains

All ratings76 ratings
Positive56.6%
Neutral7.9%
Negative35.5%
Written reviews49 reviews
Positive36.7%
Neutral8.2%
Negative55.1%

Bob the train

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

SteamTrains

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Game lags a lot
  • Graphics glitch like mad
  • Train catches on imperfections
  • Carriages travel independently
  • No collision detection
Show 1 more
  • Crashing

Requested features

13 requests
  • Bring back LMS 3F Jinty
  • Bring back little blue tank engine
  • Put back a whistle
  • More trains, especially tender train
  • Put a face on engines
Show 8 more
  • Add missions
  • Add inside train camera view
  • Put train model in other rows
  • No eyes
  • Paid version needs to be free
  • More levels
  • Choose where to go
  • More control

Bob the train

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

SteamTrains

No in-app purchases

None

Bob the train

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SteamTrains free?
SteamTrains is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bob the train free?
Bob the train is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SteamTrains or Bob the train?
SteamTrains is rated higher. SteamTrains averages 3.5 out of 5 from 84 ratings, while Bob the train averages 2.5 from 2 ratings.
Do SteamTrains or Bob the train have ads?
Bob the train shows ads; SteamTrains does not.
Which is updated more often, SteamTrains or Bob the train?
SteamTrains ships an update every 3 months, and Bob the train every 3 months. Most recently, SteamTrains was updated on October 20, 2026 and Bob the train on October 24, 2026.

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