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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Temple Run vs Subway Surfers

Temple Run 4.4★ · Free + IAP 60
Winner Subway Surfers
Subway Surfers 4.6★ · Free + IAP 75

Subway Surfers is the better choice for a classic endless runner, offering a more consistent and less ad-intrusive experience than Temple Run, despite both apps sharing similar user complaints.

Full reviews: Temple Run · Subway Surfers

Temple Run and Subway Surfers are both free-to-play endless runner games with in-app purchases. While both suffer from ad saturation and occasional glitches, Subway Surfers generally provides a more polished experience with fewer critical issues regarding ad removal and game-breaking bugs, leading to a higher lifetime rating and more positive user sentiment.

Head to head

Features and Gameplay edge: Subway SurfersR3R14R17R19
Temple Run Temple Run is praised for its classic and nostalgic gameplay, with users enjoying the simple, fun, and progressively faster runs R14R17. However, some find it boring after a while and wish for more variety R3. Issues like gaps on the ground and inability to move left or right without turning are reported R19, along with glitches preventing jumps R30.
Subway Surfers Subway Surfers is highly regarded as the 'best mobile game' by many, offering an entertaining experience with character unlocking and general gameplay . It's noted for being fun and relaxing . However, some users find the game repetitive and lacking challenge, wishing for more advantages, free characters, or designable characters . There are also complaints about the constant changing of locations, music, and backgrounds with monthly updates .
Ease of Use and Performance tieR21R34R40R65
Temple Run Temple Run users report significant performance issues, including long loading times on some devices R34, broken animations, and stuttering even on newer iPhones R40. Playing on iPhone can be problematic due to notification pull-downs interfering with gameplay R21.
Subway Surfers Subway Surfers is generally seen as easy to play and doesn't require internet, making it good for travel R65R98. However, users report glitches, including being unable to play at all , the game being super glitchy sometimes R66, and issues with leaderboards not updating scores . Some users also experience lag and even phone glitches that prevent closing the game or turning off the phone .
Reliability and Stability edge: Subway SurfersR7R28R30R37
Temple Run Temple Run has serious reliability issues, with ads often being unskippable or causing the app to require a full restart R7R37. Some users report random App Store openings that end a run R28. The game also has glitches where jumps don't register R30.
Subway Surfers Subway Surfers also faces reliability concerns, with users reporting glitches where rewards are not given after watching ads , and occasional game glitches . There are also reports of accounts being wiped, leading to loss of progress .
Price and Value (IAP/Ads) edge: Subway SurfersR7R9R12R13
Temple Run Temple Run is heavily criticized for its aggressive ad placement. Users report an excessive number of ads, even when declining to watch them for an extra life R9R12R24. Crucially, many who pay to remove ads still encounter pop-ups for extra lives that lead to ads, or unskippable ads that require restarting the app, leading to feelings of being misled and requests for refunds R7R13R37.
Subway Surfers Subway Surfers also has frequent complaints about 'too many ads' R66. Users mention repetitive ads and constant prompts to buy bundles R66. While ads are a significant issue, there are no explicit reports of paying to remove ads and still encountering them, unlike Temple Run.
Pick Temple Run if

you are seeking pure nostalgia for the original Temple Run and are willing to tolerate significant ad interruptions or workarounds like playing offline R47.

Pick Subway Surfers if

you want a more polished and generally better-received endless runner experience, despite still having many ads, and enjoy frequent content updates and character collection .

Evidence note: Both apps are free with in-app purchases, and both receive substantial criticism for ad frequency. However, Temple Run faces more severe complaints regarding ads, specifically about paying to remove them and still encountering them, which is not as prevalent in Subway Surfers' reviews. Subway Surfers has a significantly higher number of total ratings and a higher lifetime average rating, suggesting broader appeal and satisfaction.

Frequently asked

Do Temple Run and Subway Surfers have too many ads?
Yes, both Temple Run and Subway Surfers are heavily criticized by users for having too many ads R9R24R66. Temple Run users specifically report that even after paying to remove ads, they still encounter pop-ups for extra lives that lead to ads or unskippable ads that force them to restart the app R7R13R37.
Can I play these games offline?
Subway Surfers is explicitly mentioned by users as being playable without WiFi, making it suitable for travel or long car rides R65R98. For Temple Run, one user suggests turning off Wi-Fi to avoid ads R47, implying it can also be played offline.
Are there performance issues with Temple Run or Subway Surfers?
Yes, users report performance issues for both games. Temple Run has complaints about long loading times and stuttering, even on newer devices R34R40, and issues with iPhone notifications interfering with gameplay R21. Subway Surfers users mention the game being glitchy R66, experiencing lag , and in extreme cases, glitching phones to the point of being unable to close the app .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] Temple Run 3/5 · US Idk: When I was a kid I downloaded it it was fun but then deleted it😅 the reason is it’s kinda boring 😭 but like idm!
  2. [R14] Temple Run 5/5 · US GOATED: Just can’t beat the classic
  3. [R17] Temple Run 5/5 · US Nicer: This game is really fun and I enjoy it!
  4. [R19] Temple Run 1/5 · US I hat this game: When I started running there were gaps on the ground. And they wouldn’t let me go left or right inless I was turning!😡😡😡😡
  5. [R21] Temple Run 3/5 · US Playing this on iPhone is torture.: If you have an iPhone, don’t play this. Every time I swipe down, the notifications come down and I can see the screen.
  6. [R34] Temple Run 2/5 · US Fix this please: When I downloaded TempleRun on my old iPad Air it always loads longer on my dad’s iPhone 14 pro max it loads faster Please removed this loading screen please
  7. [R40] Temple Run 1/5 · US Y'all ruined it: I think it's best to play this unupdated on an old iPod Touch than whatever this updated version is. Ads, broken animations, STUTTERING???? An iPod Touch 4th gen runs this better than an iPhone 13? Be real
  8. [R65] Subway Surfers 5/5 · US Best game ever!!! 👍👍👍: This is the best game ever so much fun and WiFi free so perfect for traveling!!!
  9. [R7] Temple Run 1/5 · US A classic ruined by greed: The ad placement of this game is abysmal. Even if you pay to have them removed, you still get popups (that you cannot disable anywhere in settings) asking you to watch an ad for another life. Paired with how awful mobile ads have become nowadays, a single misclick on these popups (an easy mistake to make because of their lazy and poor design) now requires fully quitting
  10. [R28] Temple Run 2/5 · US App Store Randomly Opens: Not sure if this is something that you all can control, but the App Store has shown up out of nowhere despite me not tapping on anything and ended a run for me at least three times. It’s pretty frustrating and then I have to watch an ad regardless of pressing “No”. Nice nostalgic game, but the invasive opening of the App Store randomly is really annoying. Hopefully you
  11. [R30] Temple Run 3/5 · US Why I Don’t like this game and why I do: Why I don’t like this game is because this game glitches and when there is a gap, it won’t let me jump, and I fall. What I like about the game is that this is jungle themed and you have to escape from the monkeys. that is why I have a three star review.
  12. [R37] Temple Run 1/5 · US Ruined By Ads: I’ve loved this game for many years, but the new update is absolutely ridiculous and a waste of all time and enjoyment. It has become unplayable due to the unskippable ads. The game “gives you the option” to skip ads but it always plays them at the end of each round and they are continuous. The only way to end it or start a new game is to clear out the app and reopen it. Like I sai
  13. [R9] Temple Run 3/5 · US Ad: TO MANY ADS
  14. [R12] Temple Run 3/5 · US Watch an ad to continue?: Even though I say no it still shows ad but doesn’t even let you leave off where you stopped, otherwise great app
  15. [R13] Temple Run 1/5 · US Misleading: Paid to remove ads. Still have to view ads to recover from bad moves. Completely misleading and I’m asking for a refund.
  16. [R24] Temple Run 3/5 · US Temple run is cool I guess…: It’s a good way to pass time and it’s fun but I hate the ads that pop up whenever you die. The ads are like a minute long and they happen every run so it takes away my precious time. The game is 5 stars but this makes it 3 stars
  17. [R47] Temple Run 5/5 · US Man people are complaining for not knowing how to play the game. It’s a good game.: To prove my point, go to the most critical section and people will say you can’t go right or left, like people tilt your device right and left to move. This game is a classic and nostalgic as it brings back good memories. Sure it might have too many ads but just close the app and reopen it or turn off your Wi-Fi fo
  18. [R98] Subway Surfers 4/5 · US Love this game: I love this game so much I love that you don’t even need internet to play great
  19. [R66] Subway Surfers 3/5 · US Good but a lot of ads: Btw pls read!!! This game has a lot of ads but it’s a good idea for long car rides! Sometimes it is super glitchy tho and is constantly playing the same ads and asking me to buy the bundles! A good idea for this game is to have a starter pack for first timers so they can get like 10,000 coins 30 keys and like a couple of boards and characters!! In the showdown races I for s

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store