SimCity BuildIt review

SimCity BuildIt is the free pick for city management rather than farming or driving. EA's listing has you place buildings to keep taxes flowing, solve traffic and pollution, and supply power plants and police departments while the skyline grows. You can build Tokyo, London or Paris style neighborhoods, earn landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty, add trains and rail networks, and expand into regions like the Sunny Isles and Frosty Fjords. Social play comes through Mayor's Clubs, Club Wars and the weekly Contest of Mayors. It is an App Store Editors' Choice and rated 9+. The weak point is the store: EA notes in-game purchases and random items, SimCash packs climb to $49.99, and the 4.1 out of 5 rating from 88K US ratings is the lowest on this list. Purchases start at $0.99 for Small Daily SimCash. It still covers more city simulation than any other free mobile game here.

Who it is for

Players who want a free city management sim on mobile

Price

Free to play; in-app purchases start at $0.99 on the US App Store.

Small Daily SimCash $0.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Build skyscrapers, parks and bridges and manage taxes
• Solve traffic and pollution, and provide power and police
• Add landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Statue of Liberty
• Club Wars and the Contest of Mayors
• Trains and rail networks you can expand

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: App Store Editors' Choice
• Strength: Rated 9+ on the US App Store
• Strength: Regions such as Sunny Isles and Frosty Fjords with their own architecture
• Weakness: Lowest rating here at 4.1 out of 5 from 88K ratings
• Weakness: Includes in-game purchases and random items
• Weakness: SimCash packs run up to $49.99

Key facts

• Developer: Electronic Arts
• Price: Free, in-app purchases from $0.99
• App Store rating: 4.1 out of 5, 88K ratings
• Age rating: 9+
• Download size: 366.9 MB

Where it ranks

SimCity BuildIt is No. 8 in our Best Free Simulator Games verdict.