Model Railroad Set vs Train Sim Builder
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Model Railroad Set
Experience the nostalgic joy of a virtual model train set. Drive trains on pre-made or shared layouts, control speed, honk the horn, and operate switches. Capture and share snapshots of your railway adventures.
- Drive trains on built-in layouts
- Operate switches and control speed
- Multiple camera angles
- Take and share snapshots
- Build custom train layouts
- Share layouts via email
- Animated scenery elements
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Relive the childhood joy of playing with a virtual model train set. Free version allows driving the train on our several built-in layouts or any that you receive via email from friends. Move the train forwards and backwards, faster or slower. Honk the horn. Operate upcoming switches. Instantly change between multiple camera angles to view and follow the train. Easily take in game snapshots to share via text, email, or social media. Purchase the optional Train Builder Kit to build your own train layout and share it via email with your friends. Others only need the free version and your email. Create your own model railroad from our extensive menu of train cars, track pieces, roadways, automobiles, rivers, buildings, trees and other items. Automobiles automatically follow the roadway, and stop at train crossings. Windmills and Merry Go Rounds are animated. Purchase the Train Builder Kit as an In-App purchase on either iOS or Apple TV and use on both. Layouts are stored in the cloud and accessible from both. Email your layout (using iOS version) to a friend and they can easily download the free version to play. They can later purchase the Train Builder Kit to add additional features themselves. Fun for all ages. Universal App - supports all iPhone and iPad models, including standard and Retina displays. Works with iOS 6, 7, 8 or 9.
Train Sim Builder
Design and operate your own train world with realistic 3D graphics. Build custom layouts, place hundreds of items, and drive over 80 different trains with detailed cabin views. Enjoy regular content updates and exciting train derailments.
- Realistic 3D graphics
- Customizable track layouts
- Hundreds of decorative items
- Drive 80+ trains and locomotives
- Interior cabin views
- Train derailment physics
- Regular content updates
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Train Sim Builder includes everything you need to build and operate your own dream train world. You can build a fun layout in minutes, or spend hours perfecting your own train environment. Then drive one of the 80+ trains included in Train Sim Builder. Control speed, direction, sound horn and bell, control train lights, switch between night and day mode all with multiple camera angles. Watch as the train goes by from a station or sit inside a realistc 3D cabin. - Awesomely realistic 3D graphics - Customize the track layouts - Place 100s of items to complete your perfect Train Environments - Drive one of the 80+ included Trains and historical Locomotives - 60+ Rolling Stock Train Cars - Play or customize one of the pre-made Train Levels - Interior cabin views for all trains - Train derailments - No in app purchases - Regular content updates
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Train Sim Builder at 100% against Model Railroad Set's 11%. Train Sim Builder also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.6) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Model Railroad Set's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (73 vs 3). On price 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
Both are free to download. Model Railroad Set sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Train Sim Builder asks for nothing beyond the download.
Train Sim Builder holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Model Railroad Set has 73 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of Model Railroad Set's written reviews are positive against 100% of Train Sim Builder's.
Model Railroad Set ships an update every 5 weeks, Train Sim Builder daily. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Model Railroad Set | Train Sim Builder |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.6 (73 ratings) | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 11.1% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 73 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | Daily — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 6.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 72 MB | 346 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | Magnin & Associates | 1788918 Alberta Ltd |
Customer experience
Model Railroad Set
Train Sim Builder
Bugs and requests
Model Railroad Set
Reported bugs
10 issues- Won't take to the actual game
- Zoomed in, out of shape, glitched
- Buttons off screen
- Freezes phone
- Cannot be shut down, requires reboot
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- Items disappear when playing
- Tracks don't meet
- Purchase button does nothing
- Crashes frequently
- Tracks don't always connect
Requested features
8 requests- Make the game free to build
- Connect roads, waterways, and railways
- Better overall design
- Improve graphics
- Make own track functionality
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- Add hills
- List add-on details and prices clearly
- Combine building bits for custom creations
Train Sim Builder
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Model Railroad Set
- Train Builder Kit$3.99
Train Sim Builder
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Model Railroad Set free?
Is Train Sim Builder free?
Which has better reviews, Model Railroad Set or Train Sim Builder?
Do Model Railroad Set or Train Sim Builder have ads?
Which is updated more often, Model Railroad Set or Train Sim Builder?
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