# Steam Railway vs Fermentation

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Steam Railway at 52% against Fermentation's 0%. Steam Railway also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 months vs every 23 months). Fermentation's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Steam Railway sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Fermentation sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Fermentation holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Steam Railway has 29 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of Steam Railway's written reviews are positive against 0% of Fermentation's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Steam Railway ships an update every 5 months, Fermentation every 23 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Steam Railway | Fermentation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steam-railway-trains/id590436867/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fermentation/id1515589211/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **29** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | **52.2% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 23 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 73 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Bauer Media (Publishing)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1753963887) | [Ogden Publications, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/450808661) |

## What reviewers say

### Steam Railway

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/steam-railway-trains/id590436867)

Explore the world of steam railways with news, features, and historical content. Access exclusive member rewards, discounts, and a vast archive of past issues. Enjoy articles with audio options and switch between digital and magazine views.

**Highlights:** Latest steam railway news, Topical and historical features, Unlimited archive access, Member-exclusive rewards, Read or listen to articles, Browse current and back issues, Switch between Digital and Magazine View

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Steam Railway 1 Month | $2.99 | per month |
| Free trial - 1 Month | $4.99 | per month |
| Steam Railway Subscriptions | $11.99 | per 3 months |
| Steam Railway Subscriptions | $24.99 | per 6 months |
| SR Annual - 20% discount | $28.49 | per year |
| Steam Railway -50% Annual Sub | $34.99 | per year |
| Steam Railway Subscriptions | $43.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| Steam Railway 2016 Issue 455 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Steam Railway 2016 Issue 456 | $3.99 | one-time |


### Fermentation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fermentation/id1515589211)

Explore the world of culinary fermentation with this magazine app. Discover recipes, expert tips, and in-depth features on creating delicious and healthy fermented foods at home. Perfect for beginners and small business owners alike.

**Highlights:** Expert tips and tricks, Extensive recipes, In-depth features on concoctions, Editorial board insights, Money-saving culinary techniques, Health benefits of fermented foods

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Fermentation Feed 1 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Fermentation Feed 2 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Fermentation Feed 4 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Fermentation Feed 96 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Fermentation Feed 97 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Fermentation Feed 98 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Fermentation Feed 99 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Fermentation Feed 100 | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Steam Railway free?

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

### Is Fermentation free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Steam Railway or Fermentation?

Fermentation is rated higher. Steam Railway averages 4.4 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while Fermentation averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Steam Railway or Fermentation have ads?

Fermentation shows ads; Steam Railway does not.

### Which is updated more often, Steam Railway or Fermentation?

Steam Railway ships an update every 5 months, and Fermentation every 23 months. Most recently, Steam Railway was updated on November 10, 2026 and Fermentation on November 3, 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.*