# Subway Surfers vs Escalators

Subway Surfers and Escalators both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 87% of Subway Surfers's written reviews are positive against 27% of Escalators's. Subway Surfers also leads on ratings volume (3.8M vs 40K) and chart position (#5 vs unranked). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Subway Surfers sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Escalators sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Subway Surfers holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Subway Surfers has 3.8M ratings behind it against 40K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Subway Surfers's written reviews are positive against 27% of Escalators's.

Subway Surfers ships an update weekly, Escalators every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Subway Surfers | Escalators |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (3.8M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subway-surfers/id512939461/reviews)** | [4.4 (40K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/escalators/id1483009256/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.8M** | 40K |
| Positive reviews | **86.5% of reviews** | 26.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | — |
| Size | 407 MB | 410 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Sybo Games ApS](https://appshunter.io/developer/471259040) | [SUPERSONIC STUDIOS LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499845738) |

## What reviewers say

### Subway Surfers

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

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Free · Action, #19 Top Free · Casual, #31 Top Free · Games, #111 Top Grossing · Action (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


### Escalators

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/escalators/id1483009256)

Guide people onto boats by strategically using escalators. Navigate the flow of passengers to ensure efficient boarding and clear the docks.

**Highlights:** Escalator movement, People guiding, Boat boarding, Dock clearing, Strategic placement

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| Holiday Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun game concept
- 👍 Satisfying gameplay
- 💡 Different game modes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔥 Excessive ads
- 🐛 Frequent glitches and crashes
- 🔋 Game performance issues

**Reported bugs**

- People getting stuck on escalators
- Game freezing when too many people
- Multiplier not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Reduce frequency of ads
- Improve game stability and performance
- Add more level variety and challenges


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Subway Surfers free?

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

### Is Escalators free?

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

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

Subway Surfers is rated higher. Subway Surfers averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.8M ratings, while Escalators averages 4.4 from 40K ratings.

### Do Subway Surfers or Escalators have ads?

Both Subway Surfers and Escalators show ads.

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

Subway Surfers ships an update weekly, and Escalators every 2 weeks. Most recently, Subway Surfers was updated on September 25, 2026 and Escalators on September 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.*