As of October 23, 2026, Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator cost the same (€19.99 on Steam Spain and Mex$ 266 on Steam Mexico), have the same PC requirements and share the same engine, stable version (1.61) and Convoy multiplayer mode. The real difference is the map and the trucks: pick ETS2 if you want to drive across Europe in cab-over trucks and have the biggest mod library, ProMods included; pick ATS if you prefer the United States, long-hood trucks and, especially if you play from Mexico, the free Reforma map, which adds the country through mods. Neither one has a console version.
ETS2 vs ATS: comparison with official data
Data from Steam and the official SCS Software blog, checked on October 23, 2026:
| Item | Euro Truck Simulator 2 | American Truck Simulator |
|---|---|---|
| PC release | Oct 12, 2012 | Feb 2, 2016 |
| Price on Steam Spain | €19.99 | €19.99 |
| Price on Steam Mexico | Mex$ 266 | Mex$ 266 |
| Stable version | 1.61 (since Sep 17, 2026) | 1.61 (since Sep 17, 2026) |
| 1.62 open beta | Since Oct 22, 2026 | Since Oct 20, 2026 |
| Base game map | A good chunk of Central and Western Europe | California, Nevada and Arizona |
| Paid map expansions | 10 (from Going East! to Nordic Horizons) | 18 states (from New Mexico to South Dakota) |
| Maps announced with no date | Iceland, Isle of Ireland and Soul of Anatolia | British Columbia, Indiana and North Dakota |
| Trucks | European brands, cab-over-engine | American brands, long hood |
| Minimum requirements (Windows) | Core i5-6400 or Ryzen 3 1200, 8 GB RAM, GTX 660, 25 GB | The same |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS and Linux | Windows, macOS and Linux |
| Consoles and mobile | No official version | No official version |
| Official multiplayer | Convoy, up to 8 players | Convoy, up to 8 players |
| Mexico | Not on the map | No official DLC; the Reforma mod covers it |
Sources: the Steam pages for both games, the SCS Software blog and our guides to ETS2 DLC and ATS DLC. Prices change with Steam sales, which are frequent for these two games.
The biggest difference: the map
In ETS2 the base game already covers a wide area of Europe, and the ten expansions add Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, France, Italy, the Baltics, the Black Sea (with European Turkey), the Iberian Peninsula, the Western Balkans, Greece and the Nordic north. For a player in Spain, Iberia is the key expansion.
In ATS you start with three free states (California, Nevada and Arizona), and each new state is a separate DLC: today there are 21 states between the base game and expansions. Distances are longer, highways are straighter and the scenery shifts between desert, mountains and plains. SCS doesn’t have Mexico, not even announced; the official map reaches border cities like Nogales, El Paso or Laredo, but doesn’t cross over. That’s why Mexican players use Reforma, which is free and requires most of the state DLC.
In both cases the base game is enjoyable on its own, but completing the map costs a lot more than the game. If you’re on a tight budget, compare how many DLC you need for what you want to play: in ETS2 the big mod maps require almost every expansion, and the same goes for ATS.
Trucks and driving style
ETS2 has European cab-over trucks, shorter trailers and cities with narrow streets, roundabouts and precision maneuvers. ATS has American long-hood trucks with longer wheelbases, longer trailers and longer highway routes. The driving is the same at its core (same engine, same job, company and garage systems), but the feel is very different: ETS2 is more technical in the city; ATS is more about the open road.
The two 1.62 betas reflect this: ETS2’s brings new DAF XG+ editions and new garages across the whole map; ATS’s brings new viewpoints and the 2025 Volvo VNL in traffic. The details are in ETS2 1.62.
Mods: both have plenty, but they’re not interchangeable
Both games support Steam Workshop and mods downloaded from each author’s page, and they install the same way: .scs file in the mod folder and activation in the Mod Manager. But an ETS2 mod won’t work in ATS, or vice versa. ETS2 has been around longer and has a bigger catalog, with standouts like ProMods Europe, RusMap or Real Companies & Gas Stations. ATS has fewer mods, but some are essential for Latin America: Reforma for Mexico, Mapkalo for Colombia and Real MX Graphics. In both, every major update breaks some mods: check the lists of mods for ETS2 1.61 and mods for ATS 1.61.
Pick Euro Truck Simulator 2 if…
- You want to drive across Europe, especially Spain and Portugal with the Iberia DLC.
- You like cities, parking maneuvers and European trucks.
- You want the largest number of mods and big maps like ProMods.
- You’re going to play online with friends in Europe: almost all of them have ETS2.
Pick American Truck Simulator if…
- You prefer long routes, highways and US landscapes.
- You like long-hood trucks like Peterbilt or Kenworth.
- You play from Mexico and want to drive through your country with Reforma.
- You want a base game that’s very enjoyable with just the three free states.
What if you want both?
That’s what most people end up doing in the medium term: they cost the same, share requirements and what you learn in one carries over to the other. A good strategy is to buy the one that fits your region at full price and wait for a Steam sale for the other. Saves, profiles and mods are separate for each game.
More ETS2 guides: PC requirements, how to install mods, how to play online and American Truck Simulator with Mexico.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, ETS2 or ATS?
It depends on what you want to drive. Technically they’re the same game with a different map and trucks: same price, same requirements and same version. ETS2 has more mods and more map in the base game; ATS has longer routes and, for Mexican players, the Reforma mod.
Can you use ETS2 mods in ATS?
No. Each game has its own mods. An ETS2 truck, map or trailer won’t load in ATS, even though the file format (.scs) is the same.
Does either one have official Mexico?
No. ATS has no Mexico DLC, neither released nor announced, and ETS2 is Europe only. For Mexico, players use the free Reforma mod in ATS; we explain it in American Truck Simulator with Mexico.
Are ETS2 or ATS on PS5, Xbox or mobile?
No. As of October 23, 2026, both are PC only (Windows, macOS and Linux). We explain it in ETS2 on PS5 and Xbox and ETS2 on Android.
Which one needs a better PC?
Neither: according to Steam, ATS asks for the same processor, the same RAM, the same graphics card and the same 25 GB as ETS2. With graphics mods or big maps, both go up equally.