# SimCity BuildIt vs TheoTown

The clearest difference is rating: TheoTown at 4.8 against SimCity BuildIt's 4.1. TheoTown also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 50%) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). SimCity BuildIt's advantage is ratings volume (88K vs 19K). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

TheoTown holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 88K and 19K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of SimCity BuildIt's written reviews are positive against 79% of TheoTown's.

SimCity BuildIt ships an update every 3 weeks, TheoTown every 9 days. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimCity BuildIt | TheoTown |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (88K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simcity-buildit/id913292932/reviews) | **[4.8 (19K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theotown/id1459639864/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **88K** | 19K |
| Positive reviews | 49.7% of reviews | **79.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#72** | #150 |
| Size | 350 MB | 171 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Electronic Arts](https://appshunter.io/developer/284800461) | [blueflower GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1459639863) |

## What reviewers say

### SimCity BuildIt

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

**Currently charting:** #72 Top Grossing · Simulation, #85 Top Grossing · Strategy, #109 Top Free · Strategy (US App Store)

Design and build your dream city, managing resources and citizen happiness. Trade with other players, compete in challenges, and defend your metropolis from disasters and rivals. Unlock new buildings and regions to expand your unique urban landscape.

**Highlights:** Design and build cities, Manage resources and services, Trade with other players, Compete in challenges and wars, Unlock landmarks and regions, 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


### TheoTown

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/theotown/id1459639864)

**Currently charting:** #150 Top Free · Strategy (US App Store)

Build and manage your own cities, from small towns to vast metropolises. As mayor, design transportation networks, prepare for emergencies, and construct famous landmarks. Expand your game with user-created plugins for endless customization.

**Highlights:** City building and management, Complex transportation networks, Emergency preparedness, Famous landmark construction, User-made plugin expansion, Mayor role simulation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 diamonds | $2.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack 2 | $3.99 | one-time |
| 250 diamonds | $4.99 | one-time |
| Landmarks II | $5.99 | one-time |
| Landmarks IV | $5.99 | one-time |
| 550 diamonds | $6.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Fast Speed | $6.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Tunnels | $6.99 | one-time |
| 2,630 diamonds | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Best city builder on mobile
- 👍 Pixel art style and retro vibe
- 🎨 Highly customizable with plugins
- 💰 No microtransactions or ads
- 🎮 Engaging and addictive gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and performance issues
- 🔍 Lack of clear instructions and tutorials
- 🎨 Outdated or basic graphics for some users
- 🔋 High battery drain on larger cities
- 🛑 Limitations on city size and terraforming

**Reported bugs**

- Placement of power lines and pipes can be finicky
- Buildings sometimes fail to construct properly
- Occasional audio glitches and music bugs
- Difficulty deleting or modifying existing structures

**Requested features**

- Add more transportation options (trams, subways, etc.)
- Improve road and infrastructure customization
- Implement multiplayer and regional interactions
- Expand disaster and environmental management
- Introduce more advanced building types and specializations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SimCity BuildIt free?

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

### Is TheoTown free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SimCity BuildIt or TheoTown?

TheoTown is rated higher. SimCity BuildIt averages 4.1 out of 5 from 88K ratings, while TheoTown averages 4.8 from 19K ratings.

### Do SimCity BuildIt or TheoTown have ads?

Both SimCity BuildIt and TheoTown show ads.

### Which is updated more often, SimCity BuildIt or TheoTown?

SimCity BuildIt ships an update every 3 weeks, and TheoTown every 9 days. Most recently, SimCity BuildIt was updated on November 7, 2026 and TheoTown on November 7, 2026.

### Which is more popular, SimCity BuildIt or TheoTown?

SimCity BuildIt currently peaks at #72 in the App Store charts, and TheoTown at #150. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*