# SimCity BuildIt vs Roller Coaster Builder Mobile

The clearest difference is rating: Roller Coaster Builder Mobile at 4.6 against SimCity BuildIt's 4.1. Roller Coaster Builder Mobile also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 49%) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 13.0). SimCity BuildIt's advantage is ratings volume (86K vs 7.4K) and chart position (#64 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. SimCity BuildIt sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Roller Coaster Builder Mobile sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Roller Coaster Builder Mobile holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SimCity BuildIt has 86K ratings behind it against 7.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of SimCity BuildIt's written reviews are positive against 70% of Roller Coaster Builder Mobile's.

SimCity BuildIt ships an update every 3 weeks, Roller Coaster Builder Mobile monthly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimCity BuildIt | Roller Coaster Builder Mobile |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (86K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simcity-buildit/id913292932/reviews) | **[4.6 (7.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roller-coaster-builder-mobile/id1452199913/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **86K** | 7.4K |
| Positive reviews | 49.2% of reviews | **70.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#64** | — |
| Size | 345 MB | 128 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Electronic Arts](https://appshunter.io/developer/284800461) | [Rabbit Mountain](https://appshunter.io/developer/1111284315) |

## What reviewers say

### SimCity BuildIt

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simcity-buildit/id913292932)

**Currently charting:** #64 Top Grossing · Simulation, #72 Top Free · Strategy, #80 Top Grossing · Strategy, #159 Top Free · Simulation (US App Store)

Design and build a bustling city metropolis, managing resources, citizen happiness, and urban challenges like traffic and pollution. Trade with other players, compete in city wars, and unlock unique landmarks and regional styles to create your dream city.

**Highlights:** Design and build city metropolis, Manage citizen happiness and services, Solve urban challenges like traffic, Trade with other players, Compete in Club Wars and contests, Unlock landmarks and regional styles, Build and customize train networks

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Daily SimCash | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pocketful of SimCash 3 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Premium Vu Pass Level I | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pocketful of SimCash | $4.99 | one-time |
| Premium Vu Pass Level II | $5.99 | one-time |
| Premium Mayor's Pass + | $8.99 | one-time |
| Little Stack of SimCash | $9.99 | one-time |
| Nice Pile of SimCash | $19.99 | one-time |
| Briefcase of SimCash | $34.99 | one-time |
| Big Sack of SimCash | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Great game
- 🌇 Beautiful graphics
- 🕹️ Enjoyable gameplay
- 🤝 Supportive club community
- 🕰️ Relaxing and not too demanding

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🕰️ Slow progression without paying
- 🔍 Difficult to find needed items
- 🤖 Aggressive monetization tactics
- 🤯 Frustrating club war mechanics

**Reported bugs**

- Cars phasing through trains
- Inconsistent traffic patterns
- Disappearing delivery trucks
- Frequent crashes and connection issues

**Requested features**

- Add city layout editor
- Allow raising/lowering train tracks
- Improve free-to-play experience
- Introduce search function for trade depot
- Add option to disable construction bubbles


### Roller Coaster Builder Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/roller-coaster-builder-mobile/id1452199913)

Design and construct your own thrilling roller coasters. Customize tracks, add scenery, and then experience your creations through a virtual ride or even in VR. Explore a vast library of coasters built by the community.

**Highlights:** Build custom roller coasters, Lay track and add scenery, Ride your creations, Experience in VR, Explore user-created rides

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Starter Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Small Cash Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Small Diamond Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Cash Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Medium Diamond Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer | $3.99 | one-time |
| Large Cash Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Large Diamond Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Millionaire Combi Pack | $16.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer | $16.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun game
- 🎢 Ability to create own roller coasters
- 🎮 Enjoyable VR experience
- 🎨 Good graphics
- 🤩 Awesome game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🛑 Limited track elements
- 🐌 Slow gameplay and cart speed
- 🤖 Unrealistic physics and coaster behavior
- 📺 Too many ads

**Reported bugs**

- Coaster builder freezes or has a black screen
- Glitches that delete or corrupt coaster designs
- Compatibility issues with older devices
- Crashes and performance issues

**Requested features**

- Add more track elements and customization options
- Implement a sandbox mode with unlimited money
- Allow users to search and view other players' coasters
- Improve the in-game economy and make it easier to earn currency
- Add more background scenery and theming options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SimCity BuildIt free?

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

### Is Roller Coaster Builder Mobile free?

Roller Coaster Builder Mobile is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SimCity BuildIt or Roller Coaster Builder Mobile?

Roller Coaster Builder Mobile is rated higher. SimCity BuildIt averages 4.1 out of 5 from 86K ratings, while Roller Coaster Builder Mobile averages 4.6 from 7.4K ratings.

### Do SimCity BuildIt or Roller Coaster Builder Mobile have ads?

Both SimCity BuildIt and Roller Coaster Builder Mobile show ads.

### Which is updated more often, SimCity BuildIt or Roller Coaster Builder Mobile?

SimCity BuildIt ships an update every 3 weeks, and Roller Coaster Builder Mobile monthly. Most recently, SimCity BuildIt was updated on September 25, 2026 and Roller Coaster Builder Mobile 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.*