# Thomas & Friends™ vs Bloom

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Bloom at none against Thomas & Friends™'s 8. Bloom also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 5 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Thomas & Friends™ sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Bloom asks for nothing beyond the download.

Thomas & Friends™ ships an update every 5 weeks, Bloom daily. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Thomas & Friends™ | Bloom |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thomas-and-friends-lets-roll/id6469109492/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **10K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 71.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Size | 456 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [StoryToys Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/326301831) | [WonderKiln, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1047055105) |

## What reviewers say

### Thomas & Friends™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thomas-and-friends-lets-roll/id6469109492)

Children can drive their favorite trains, build custom tracks with scenery, and embark on exciting journeys across the Island of Sodor. This app is designed for preschoolers and neurodivergent children, fostering creativity and developmental skills in a safe, inclusive environment.

**Highlights:** Drive favorite engines like Thomas and Bruno, Build custom train tracks with scenery, Explore various locations on the Island of Sodor, Kid-friendly driving controls, Develops spatial awareness and fine motor skills, Inclusive design for neurodivergent children, Offline play available

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| UNLOCK EVERYTHING | $4.99 | per month |
| UNLOCK EVERYTHING-7 day trial | $6.99 | per month |
| UNLOCK EVERYTHING | $6.99 | per month |
| UNLOCK EVERYTHING - BEST VALUE | $6.99 | per month |
| 7day trial & UNLOCK EVERYTHING | $29.99 | per year |
| UNLOCK EVERYTHING - BEST VALUE | $29.99 | per year |
| UNLOCK EVERYTHING - BEST VALUE | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and engaging game
- 🎨 Faithful to the All Engines Go theme
- 👨‍🎨 Unique playable character (Bruno)
- 🎉 Potential for great future updates

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Excessive in-app purchases and subscription model
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches (loading issues, missing sounds, corrupted textures)
- 🚫 Limited content (only one playable character and map at launch)

**Reported bugs**

- Respawning issues at McColl's Farm
- Inability to complete the loop in Crystal Cave
- Character catchphrases turning back on after restart

**Requested features**

- Add more playable engines (James, Emily, Edward, etc.)
- Introduce new locations (Knapford, Vicarstown, etc.)
- Implement interactive journey scenarios (railroad crossings, traffic jams, etc.)
- Fix issues with cargo physics and character whistles/horns
- Improve performance and stability


### Bloom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bloom-early-learning/id6787833835)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Thomas & Friends™ free?

Thomas & Friends™ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Bloom free?

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

### Do Thomas & Friends™ or Bloom have ads?

Neither Thomas & Friends™ nor Bloom shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Thomas & Friends™ or Bloom?

Thomas & Friends™ ships an update every 5 weeks, and Bloom daily. Most recently, Thomas & Friends™ was updated on November 8, 2026 and Bloom on November 5, 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.*