Comparison

Reading Train vs Train Drill

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

Head to head
About

Reading Train

This app offers a comprehensive reading program for young learners, featuring interactive ABC books, engaging games, and songs. It helps children develop foundational reading skills, build vocabulary, and boost their confidence through a fun, safe, and ad-free experience.

Highlights
  • 24 ABC books at 3 reading levels
  • Interactive train game for word learning
  • Built-in picture/audio dictionary
  • 18 song books
  • Professional narration
  • User recording of books
  • Student reporting tools
Features
Read full description

Listen, read, and record 24 fun ABC books at 3 easy reading levels: 72 books in all! Play the train game; win coins for the music store; collect and learn new words in the train yard. "Beautifully designed storybooks and related games that teach foundational reading": Appolicious.com Books, songs and games to build skills, self confidence and a love of reading. Real reading, for fun and information, right from the start. "A dynamic tool to augment any beginning readers program": Teachers With Apps Safe for Kids: The Learning Station is a Proud Member of Moms With Apps Kid tested and teacher approved. We are ad-free and take our users privacy seriously. View our Privacy Policy here: http://www.readingtrain.org * Listen, read and record books at 3 different beginning reading levels to grow as a reader. * Play the train game after every book to learn letters and words * Built-in picture/audio dictionary * 18 song books * Professional narration- American English. All books can be recorded by users. * Unlimited user accounts * Powerful student reporting tools Books Kids CAN Read. Written by Libby Curran, a People Magazine Teacher of the Year, these engaging little books are field tested in real classrooms to get kids started on the path to reading independence. Books Kids LOVE to Read and Re-read. Children are naturally curious, so encourage them to explore our ABC books to learn new vocabulary and build the foundational knowledge they need to succeed in school. After reading stories they can play the train quiz game, explore the picture/audio dictionary and listen to song books. Give Your Kids the Tools to Succeed. Stuck on a word? Tap and hold to hear every word and access the built in audio dictionary filled with hundreds of words. Play a unique quiz game at the end of every book to extend the learning. The Reading Train Alphabet is packed full of tools to help children succeed, all on their own. Read to Learn- Meet Common Core Standards Read beginning level books with purpose and understanding. Develop the concepts of print: reading left to right and matching written words with spoken words. Learn letter names and sounds, build background knowledge and improve reading comprehension and foundational skills. Quizzes Disguised as Games. Play the train game after finishing every book, but don't tell them it's a quiz! Check progress on the parent's page to see all the books children have read and recorded as well as detailed scores on the quizzes. The Right Team For the Job Created by award winning master teacher and early literacy expert, Libby Curran,The Reading Train Alphabet is the culmination of 20+ years of teaching experience. Backed by an all-star team of teachers turned iOS developers and a professional children's musician, The Reading Train Alphabet is serious about making learning fun. Keep in Touch We welcome your feedback, to keep up with all things Reading Train check out: readingtrain.org facebook.com/readingtrain email: support@readingtrain.org We welcome suggestions on future books and curriculum. Contact Libby with suggestions about new content at: libby@readingtrain.org

About

Train Drill

Features
Read full description

Learn addition and subtraction through train coupling and uncoupling. Two trains couple with a satisfying "clunk!" — how many cars in all? Cars uncouple from the consist — how many are left? The coupling and uncoupling animations turn numbers into something you can see and count, so arithmetic sinks in through play. ■ Features - Adventure map with 9 routes: forest, mountains, sea, and the stars - Clear every addition route to unlock Subtraction mode - Train collection: stainless, two-tone liveries, and special cars - Special showcase: Shinkansen, steam locomotive, and a luxury cruise train - Rank up as you answer: Trainee -> Local -> Express -> Limited Express -> Shinkansen Driver - Parents' dashboard: weekly play counts and tricky problems - Built-in daily limits (Free: 3 stages/day) - No ads, all data stays on the device ■ Plans - Free: 3 stages/day - Mini: 10 stages/day + Subtraction mode - Unlimited: unlimited + Subtraction mode ■ Terms & Privacy - Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ - Privacy Policy: https://kuromojilabs.github.io/traindrill-site/privacy.html

Screenshots

Reading Train4 screens
Train Drill2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Train Drill at Free against Reading Train's $3.99. Train Drill also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 5 months). Reading Train's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.1). On ads 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

Train Drill is free to download; Reading Train costs $3.99 up front. Train Drill sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Reading Train asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reading Train ships an update every 5 months, Train Drill every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Reading Train versus Train Drill: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReading TrainTrain Drill
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size698 MB34 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Learning Station, LLCKuromoji LLC

In-app purchases

None

Reading Train

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Train Drill

Subscriptions2
  • Mini$0.991 Month
  • Unlimited$1.991 Month

Questions

Is Reading Train free?
Reading Train costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Train Drill free?
Train Drill is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Reading Train or Train Drill have ads?
Neither Reading Train nor Train Drill shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reading Train or Train Drill?
Reading Train ships an update every 5 months, and Train Drill every 2 months. Most recently, Reading Train was updated on October 29, 2026 and Train Drill on October 25, 2026.

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