# Subway Surfers vs Light

The clearest difference is monetization model: Subway Surfers at free with in-app purchases against Light's subscription. Subway Surfers also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (3.9M vs 194K). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Subway Surfers sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Light sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Subway Surfers against 4.7 for Light. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Subway Surfers has 3.9M ratings behind it against 194K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 87% of Subway Surfers's written reviews are positive against 75% of Light's.

Subway Surfers ships an update weekly, Light every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Subway Surfers | Light |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (3.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subway-surfers/id512939461/reviews) | **[4.7 (194K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/light-it-up/id1438413584/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.9M** | 194K |
| Positive reviews | **86.5% of reviews** | 75.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#8** | — |
| Size | 392 MB | 185 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Sybo Games ApS](https://appshunter.io/developer/471259040) | [Crazy Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/721307559) |

## What reviewers say

### Subway Surfers

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

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Free · Action, #17 Top Free · Casual, #39 Top Free · Games, #118 Top Grossing · Action, #206 Top Free (US App Store)

Embark on an exhilarating endless running adventure. Dash through vibrant environments, dodge obstacles, and outrun pursuers. Utilize power-ups like jetpacks and hoverboards to enhance your escape and achieve high scores.

**Highlights:** Endless running gameplay, Dodge oncoming trains, Grind trains, Colorful HD graphics, Hoverboard surfing, Paint powered jetpack

**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


### Light

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/light-it-up/id1438413584)

Guide a stickman through a neon world, jumping and flipping between shapes to make them glow. Navigate increasingly complex levels with moving obstacles and avoid hazards to achieve a high score. Unlock new challenges and benefits through a weekly subscription.

**Highlights:** Jump, flip, and slide between neon shapes, Make shapes glow, Collect stars to raise score, Navigate moving, rotating, and exploding shapes, Avoid lethal spikes, Unlock new levels weekly

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Lit Pack | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Gem Pack 1 for subs | $0.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| MEGA-LIT Pack for subscribers | $1.99 | one-time |
| MEGA-LIT Pack (no-ads) | $3.99 | one-time |
| MEGA-LIT Pack second purchase | $3.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 2 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Booster Deluxe for subs | $3.99 | one-time |
| Super Booster for subs | $5.99 | one-time |
| Booster Deluxe | $7.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 3 | $7.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate Bundle for subs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 5 for subs | $9.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 4 | $11.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate Bundle | $19.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 5 | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and visuals
- 🕹️ Fun and addictive gameplay
- 🕰️ Relaxing and calming experience
- 👍 Unique and creative concept
- 🕹️ Satisfying and challenging levels

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Excessive ads and in-app purchases
- 🔒 Paywall blocking progression
- 🐛 Glitches and bugs in some levels
- 🔍 Limited camera controls
- 🕰️ Levels get repetitive after a while

**Reported bugs**

- Revive button spawning in unreachable areas
- Certain levels being unbeatable or glitchy
- Ad banners obstructing gameplay

**Requested features**

- More frequent level updates
- Endless/procedurally generated mode
- Level editor and sharing functionality
- Ability to customize character skins
- Difficulty settings and challenge modes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Subway Surfers free?

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

### Is Light free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Subway Surfers or Light?

Light is rated higher. Subway Surfers averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.9M ratings, while Light averages 4.7 from 194K ratings.

### Do Subway Surfers or Light have ads?

Both Subway Surfers and Light show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Subway Surfers or Light?

Subway Surfers ships an update weekly, and Light every 6 weeks. Most recently, Subway Surfers was updated on November 1, 2026 and Light on November 1, 2026.

---

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